  You may not be able to tell from these photos, but there is a significant size difference between our two tunnel boring machines (TBMs). Our 8-foot diameter TBM, shown on the left is at the bottom of our Fremont shaft. Our 18-ft diameter TBM MudHoney, shown on the right is at the bottom of our Ballard site. Both will begin tunneling later this month.
Over the last few months, you’ve likely noticed us talking about two different tunnel boring machines (TBM) in our updates. MudHoney, our 18-ft storage TBM, and our 8-ft conveyance TBM.
Has this left you wondering what the difference between the two machines is and what they’ll be doing to improve water quality in the Ship Canal? We are here to help!
MudHoney, our 18-ft storage TBM, will construct the 2.7-mile storage tunnel from Ballard to Wallingford. MudHoney was made just last year in Germany. The tunnel is an impressive 14,256-ft long, and the TBM will be operated by crews in a control room from inside the machine. You will be able to follow MudHoney’s journey on our website!
Our 8-ft conveyance TBM will dig from Fremont to Queen Anne and connect Queen Anne’s wastewater basin to the larger storage tunnel being built by MudHoney. This smaller TBM was also built in Germany, but it was recently refurbished from King County’s Fremont Siphon Project (we love to be sustainable!). The tunnel is 646-ft long and the TBM will be operated remotely by crews above ground.
To learn more about the project, visit our project website. Check out our Flickr albums with recent construction photos.
Ballard
Crews are wrapping up MudHoney’s assembly. The 18-ft storage tunnel TBM is located at the bottom of the shaft in Ballard and currently in its launch position. Crews are preparing for the main tunneling operations, expected to begin later this month. Until then, you should anticipate:
- More heavy equipment, such as cranes, to arrive on site, potentially at night.
- Truck deliveries of paving material, concrete, and equipment for MudHoney and tunnel activities. Some of these deliveries may take place overnight.
Crews are now working 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, and will continue until the tunnel reaches Wallingford in fall 2022. Weekend work will also occur.
East Ballard
Crews have finished ground improvement work on NW 45th St and have demobilized the equipment. Later in July, work will commence for the installation of a temporary waterline to bypass a section of old cast iron pipe which runs close to the works. During this time, you should anticipate:
-
Crews to reduce 11th Ave NW to single lane traffic starting in late July. The area will be controlled by flaggers during the day and traffic lights at night. This will allow crews to excavate for pipe and structure work in the roadway.
- The final connections for the water main bypass will require a short, temporary water outage. If your service will be impacted, you'll receive a door hanger with more information.
- In August, crews will bring heavy equipment to the area to install dewatering wells and support excavation, followed by excavation and concrete work for the outfall interception and diversion structures.
- NW 45th St closed to traffic; vehicles must detour onto NW 46th St.
- Burke-Gilman Trail users remain detoured to the north side of NW 45th St. Flaggers will help direct traffic during daytime working hours. Please follow all detour guidance on site. For safety, bicyclists should either dismount or cross train tracks at a 90-degree angle.
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site.
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.
See anticipated traffic impacts through 2021 on our website.
Fremont
Over the next few weeks, crews will continue utility work in Leary Way and on site and complete the preparations for the 8-ft conveyance TBM. Tunneling work is expected to start later this summer. Until then, you should anticipate:
- Dump trucks and excavators working on site and an uptick in traffic in Leary Way NW as trucks haul away excavated material and bring materials to the site.
- NW 36th St between Leary Way NW and 3rd Ave NW closed (through remainder of the project).
- Pedestrians detoured to the north side of Leary Way NW.
- Generators running intermittently to power the dewatering pumps.
- 2nd Ave NW, between Leary Way NW and NW Canal St, closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for sewer and diversion structure work through the end of the year.
- NW Canal St is open to two-way traffic to allow access during this closure.
- Please do not park at the west end of NW Canal St to allow two-way traffic to turn around at the closure.
In the coming weeks, crews will be working intermittently in Leary Way NW on a new water main. This work will require some lane closures on Leary Way NW and a short, temporary water outage. If your water service will be impacted, you'll receive a door hanger with more information.
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.
Wallingford
Crews will start constructing shaft liner wall at the end of July.
During this work you should anticipate:
- Trucks delivering reinforcing steel.
- Concrete delivery and placement.
Normal work hours are Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm.
Queen Anne
Crews will begin installing temporary shoring in the fall for construction of the diversion structures. During this time, you should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site.
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site.
- The West Ewing Mini Park parking lot to remain closed through mid-2023.
- A localized Ship Canal Trail detour through summer 2022 (see map).
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.
Contact us
Please email SPU_ShipCanalProject@seattle.gov with questions or comments or call (206) 701-0233. You can also find information online at spushipcanal.participate.online/.
|
