Bertha, the world's largest tunnel machine, will arrive in Elliott Bay today after cruising 5,000 miles from its construction site in Japan. After the ship carrying Bertha docks, it will take several days to unload the various parts of the machine. The State Department of Transportation is preparing for Bertha's arrival by digging an 80-foot launch pit in which it will be reassembled. After the reassembly and further testing, the tunneling will begin later this year. You can follow Bertha's progress here.
The deep bore tunnel is only one element of the massive effort underway to transform our central waterfront and reconnect it to the rest of the city by replacing the seawall, tearing down the viaduct and creating attractive public open spaces. Read more about the creation of a Waterfront for All.