Continue to Site »
Site will load in 15 seconds

Bertha Free, Ready for Repair

Machine digging the Alaskan Way Viaduct is ready to be dismantled and removed for repair

Mar 5, 2015

Bertha, the machine that was supposed to dig the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel, has traveled 57 feet since February 17 and has finally made it to a tunnel access pit. Bertha, which was damaged in 2013 while digging the tunnel, will be taken apart, removed from the pit and then repaired. The process could take several weeks.

(more on Bertha's rescue and repair...)

Latest in Business
Professional headshot of a smiling man in dark blazer and light shirt against gray background
CNH Names Kris Dahl to Lead North America Construction Business
October 5, 2026
Two people smiling at an industrial trade show with machinery and equipment visible in the background
From Barbecue to Blacktop: A Journey Through Asphalt
October 5, 2026
White Studson protective climbing helmet with neon green interior padding and black straps
STUDSON Unveils SHK-2 Safety Helmet with KOROYD Interior
October 4, 2026
Heavy construction equipment including tan asphalt rollers and compactors lined up at a work site with autumn foliage in background
PC-12 Engine Oil Shift Puts Off-Highway OEMs on Notice
October 4, 2026
Related Stories
Crews worked Monday, Aug. 24, 2015 to begin one of four crane operations to lower Bertha's cutter head and drive unit back into the ground. Once the giant tunnel boring machine is back together and tested, it will start tunneling again Nov. 23, nearly two years after it stopped 1,000 feet into the nearly two-mile tunnel project. This wide shot shows the giant 'super crane' used to first pull the 4-million-pound cutter head out of the ground and now to lower it back in.
Business
Bertha Cutter Head Going Back Underground for Seattle Tunnel Digging
Field-cured test cylinders should be cured in the same manner as the concrete they represent. The temperature-time history of the test cylinders should match the in-place concrete curing conditions. In this case, the field-cured test cylinders overestimated the in-place concrete strength because they were sitting adjacent to a jobsite heater..
Concrete Equipment & Products
How to Estimate In-place Strength of Concrete
Equipment rental businesses need to do their homework in order to get financing in this economic climate.
Rental
Do Your Homework to Get Financing
Cold planers, such as this Bradco unit, are used for asphalt and concrete pothole and frost heave repair, curb cutting, pavement texturing and the removal of traffic lane stripes and roadway around manholes.
Cold Planers
Cold Planer Attachment Maintenance for Best Performance
More in Business
Labor & Workforce Development
CNH Names Kris Dahl to Lead North America Construction Business
CASE Construction Equipment - CNH
Dahl will succeed Terry Dolan, who plans to retire at the end of 2026, overseeing the CASE Construction Equipment and New Holland Construction brands.
Professional headshot of a smiling man in dark blazer and light shirt against gray background
Workforce
From Barbecue to Blacktop: A Journey Through Asphalt
Verde Resources
Cindy Powell reflects on her 20-year asphalt career, her path from restaurant owner to industry leader, and her work advancing sustainability, pavement preservation and opportunities for women in asphalt.
Two people smiling at an industrial trade show with machinery and equipment visible in the background
Hard Hats & Headwear
STUDSON Unveils SHK-2 Safety Helmet with KOROYD Interior
STUDSON
The Type II helmet replaces EPS foam with KOROYD material and adds airflow pathways designed to aid in cooling.
White Studson protective climbing helmet with neon green interior padding and black straps
Oils, Lubricants & Greases
PC-12 Engine Oil Shift Puts Off-Highway OEMs on Notice
Chevron
The 2027 transition targets on-highway diesel engines, but lubricant reformulation could affect oils used in off-highway equipment and OEM specifications.
Heavy construction equipment including tan asphalt rollers and compactors lined up at a work site with autumn foliage in background
Legal Services
New Jersey Bill Targets Payment Delays
Construction Law Group at Mandelbaum Barrett PC
Assembly Bill A5335 would give contractors an opportunity to correct qualifying clerical or technical errors without losing an otherwise-due progress payment.
Construction site with tower crane, building framework, Euro banknotes, calculator, and financial charts representing project budgeting
Apps
Asphalt Paving Handbook Adds Searchable Web, Mobile Tools
National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA)
The free platforms provide offline access to paving guidance, AI-assisted searches, checklists and training videos for crews, engineers and inspectors.
The Asphalt Paving Handbook mobile app advertisement showing website and app store download options with NAPA branding
Personal Protection Equipment
ISEA Updates Head Protection Requirements
International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA)
The revised standard maintains existing Type and Class classifications while adding optional criteria for retention, chin straps and multidirectional impact protection.
Orange safety hard hat with reflective stripes and protective goggles on a tire at a construction site
Workforce
How To Identify The Hardest Workers On A Jobsite | Watch FCP
Eosso Brothers Paving
Everyone knows this one universal rule, right?
Construction workers in safety gear working on pavement with FCP watch logo overlay
Trench Shoring & Shielding
Shoring vs. Shielding: Choosing the Right Trench Protective System
United Rentals Inc.
Taking the time to match the protective system to the excavation isn't just a compliance requirement, it's one of the most effective ways to prevent injuries and fatalities on the jobsite.
Industrial construction site with yellow hydraulic cylinders mounted on steel scaffolding and concrete walls
Automation & AI
The Intelligent Jobsite Is Changing Construction from the Ground Up
Woodchuck.ai
AI, sensors, drones and connected equipment are turning construction jobsites into data-rich operations that improve productivity, safety, waste reduction and decision-making.
Construction worker sorting waste materials at job site with Chuck container and waste diversion statistics dashboard.
Labor & Workforce Development
Building a Future for Women in Construction | Watch FCP
Acha Construction LLC
Meet Mary Schwandt, an Army veteran and construction leader who advocates for women in asphalt and pavement while building a career in heavy civil construction.
Army veteran and women's advocate in camouflage uniform standing before military vehicle
Industry Trends
6 Trends Shaping the Next Wave of U.S. Warehouse Construction
Interact Analysis
Warehouse construction is expected to accelerate in 2027 as e-commerce, AI infrastructure, automation, cold chain logistics and other factors drive new investment.
Mobile crane lifting steel beams at industrial construction site with metal framework
Page 1 of 2181
Next Page