World's Largest Tunneling Machine, "Bertha" Starts Digging SR 99 In Seattle

World's largest tunneling machine, "Bertha" has recently had the first day at job that will last about 14 months. Finally, after a lot of testing Bertha has began doing what she's been built to do. Unfortunately, there were not many people or the media to witness Bertha's first day at job. Bertha's first assignment is to do a 2-mile journey beneath downtown. She'll operate under the crew from Washington State Department Of Transportation, pushing forward slowly at about 6 ft per day. Once she's beneath downtown, it will increase the speed to about 35 ft per day.

โ€‹

Replies

Welcome, guest

Join CrazyEngineers to reply, ask questions, and participate in conversations.

CrazyEngineers powered by Jatra Community Platform

  • Anil Jain

    @CrazyBoy • Aug 1, 2013

    Kaustubh KatdareShe'll operate under the crew from Washington State Department Of Transportation, pushing forward slowly at about 6 ft per day. Once she's beneath downtown, it will increase the speed to about 35 ft per day.

    What can be the technical reason that it's starting from 6ft and will up to 35 ft.
    Is there any technical reason or its mere precaution as the machine being used for the first time.

    meanwhile, any clue what is the best it can do in a day?

    -CB

  • Ashraf HZ

    @Ash • Aug 1, 2013

    If I read correctly from their site, the slow start is for the machine to "train" and for engineers to check its performance. Once its all good, they will ramp up the speed.

    #-Link-Snipped-#

    Bertha
    [โ€‹IMG]
    Age: <1
    Height: 57.5 feet
    Weight: 7,000 tons
    Length: 326 feet
    Occupation: Tunneling specialist
    Likes: Dirt, small boulders, perfectly formed concrete rings
    Dislikes: Sunlight
    Role models: #-Link-Snipped-#, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Isambard_Brunel" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Marc Isambard Brunel</a>, whoever invented the shovel
    Twitter:#-Link-Snipped-#

    ๐Ÿ˜

  • Kaustubh Katdare

    @thebigk • Aug 1, 2013

    I think that's right. Since this machine is operating for the first time, they'll have to be very careful in the initial stages. If something goes wrong, it will go wrong on a massive scale.

    But 6ft/day or even 35ft/day is still way too slow IMHO. We need something like 1 km/day! FTW! CEans, let's make it happen one day ๐Ÿ˜

  • Ashraf HZ

    @Ash • Aug 1, 2013

    Kaustubh KatdareBut 6ft/day or even 35ft/day is still way too slow IMHO. We need something like 1 km/day! FTW! CEans, let's make it happen one day ๐Ÿ˜

    lots of TNT ๐Ÿ˜˜

  • Kaustubh Katdare

    @thebigk • Aug 1, 2013

    ashlots of TNT ๐Ÿ˜˜

    Or all of us digging it like real men...โ˜•

  • Ashraf HZ

    @Ash • Aug 1, 2013

    Kaustubh KatdareOr all of us digging it like real men...โ˜•

    Yes.. could work with 146k CEans.. ๐Ÿ˜

  • Kaustubh Katdare

    @thebigk • Aug 1, 2013

    ashYes.. could work with 146k CEans.. ๐Ÿ˜

    I'd be supervising all of ya ๐Ÿ˜Ž.

    PS: I think we're I am getting all spammy here.

  • Jeffrey Arulraj

    @jeffrey-xA7lUP • Aug 2, 2013

    crazyboyWhat can be the technical reason that it's starting from 6ft and will up to 35 ft.
    Is there any technical reason or its mere precaution as the machine being used for the first time.

    meanwhile, any clue what is the best it can do in a day?

    -CB

    Well the upper layers are not hard rock in my opinion and the downtown area the stress on the lower soil levels are comparatively lesser than that in proper town

    So once downtown is reached it is let the engines blow in full glory

    PS: Is not 2 miles deep stand for rocky layer I am sure the challenge lies in diverse loading on the upper levels

  • zaveri

    @zaveri-5TD6Sk • Aug 2, 2013

    ashIf I read correctly from their site, the slow start is for the machine to "train" and for engineers to check its performance. Once its all good, they will ramp up the speed.

    #-Link-Snipped-#


    ๐Ÿ˜


    what is berths's nationality ? German ?