Bon Voyage Party Draws 5,000 to SR 99 Tunnel Site

Start with some sun, soil and celebration. Then add Bertha, the massive machine that will dig the SR 99 tunnel beneath downtown Seattle, and 5,000 of her closest friends. The result is a party big enough for the biggest tunnel-builder the world has ever seen.

Thousands of people descended on the SR 99 tunnel launch pit on July 20 for a chance to see Bertha up-close before she starts tunneling. Guests talked to project staff, learned about the project and walked around the construction site, including one of the walkways that spans the 80-ft deep pit where Bertha will soon start tunneling.

“This is a historic day,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee told guests, before participating in a short ceremony to christen the machine. “When I look down into this pit, I don’t just see a big machine. I see determination, I see innovation, I see teamwork, I see a symbol of a community that worked together to move us forward.”

The event included activities designed to teach kids about science and engineering. Guests also had the opportunity to sign their name on one of the concrete segments that will form the tunnel’s walls.

Tunneling was scheduled to start after final testing is complete, which was expected by the end of July. The tunnel is scheduled to open to drivers in late 2015. For more information about the SR 99 Tunnel Project, visit www.alaskanwayviaduct.org.