 Year in Review and a Glimpse into 2023
 The MudHoney cutterhead was lowered into the Ballard Shaft in 2021. In the past year, cutterhead tools have been replaced regularly during maintenance stops.
The Ship Canal Water Quality Project has been under construction since late 2018. As we close 2022, we want to share some progress updates with you.
- MudHoney, our 18-ft diameter tunnel boring machine, is well over halfway from Ballard to Wallingford, despite hitting a MegaBoulder this summer! Our smaller tunnel boring machine is also working on an 8-ft diameter conveyance tunnel between Fremont and North Queen Anne crossing below the Ship Canal.
- Most of the large underground structures are nearly completed. One of these structures is 110-ft long and 25-ft deep!
- We’re onboarding a contractor for the Wallingford Conveyance project, which will close Stone Way N, between N 35th St and N 34th St, for up to one year starting in early 2023. We have reached out to nearby neighbors and businesses. Stay tuned for more details in the new year.
For all large projects, especially given the past few years, progress isn’t without challenges. We’ve faced record escalation cost increases, pandemic-related staffing and productivity challenges, supply chain issues and risks such as the MegaBoulder. We are currently assessing the impact of these challenges and expect to release a revised cost estimate and schedule in mid-2023. Please note that any budget increase will be managed within our established customer rate path, meaning there will not be an increase to rates. If you’d like to learn more, please see our blog post and presentation to Seattle City Council’s Transportation and Seattle Public Utilities Committee on December 12.
As we peer into 2023, we can expect a lot of exciting milestones, including MudHoney completing its journey to Wallingford, the Wallingford Conveyance Project kicking off, and hiring a contractor for the Ballard Pump Station and Ballard Conveyance projects. We’re excited to continue bringing the community along on this journey.
To learn more about the project, visit our project website. We also continue to update our Flickr albums with construction photos, including some from a recent fire and rescue training effort that the Seattle Fire Department conducted at the Ballard site and inside the tunnel.
MudHoney
MudHoney, our 18-ft diameter tunnel boring machine, has currently tunneled over 8,375 feet. Follow along with our tunneling tracker on our project website.
Ground monitoring is ongoing along the tunnel alignment and is done from both inside MudHoney and on the surface.
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Ballard
Our Ballard shaft site near Shilshole Ave NW will continue to be busy with tunneling activities until MudHoney reaches Wallingford in 2023.
During regular tunneling activities, you should anticipate:
- Truck deliveries of concrete segments and MudHoney equipment
- Nighttime segment deliveries and both nighttime/daytime tunnel spoils being hauled off
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Crews are working 24 hours a day, six days a week except Saturday, Sunday, and Monday over Christmas and New Year. Sunday work may also occur.
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has utility relocation work planned along NW 56th in the upcoming months. Please contact Eric Liaw at eric.liaw@pse.com if you have any questions.
East Ballard
Crews continue building the mechanical and electrical vault on NW 45th St and the diversion structure on 11th Ave NW.
Local closures and detours:
- The contractor has opened 11th Ave NW at NW 45th St to two-way traffic through December 2022. Crews will occasionally close one lane between 6 am and 2 pm to complete work activities. Traffic signals and flaggers will direct traffic at the intersection during single lane closures.
- NW 45th St remains closed to traffic between 11th Ave NW and 9th Ave NW; vehicles must detour onto NW 46th St
- Burke-Gilman Trail remains detoured to the north side of NW 45th St through the project area. For safety, bicyclists should either dismount or cross train tracks at a 90-degree angle. Please use extra caution in wet weather as ramps may be slippery.
You should anticipate:
- Heavy equipment in the area
- 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 except Saturday, Sunday, and Monday over Christmas and New Year.
Fremont
We resumed tunneling our 8-ft diameter tunnel beneath the Ship Canal and it is now over 40% of the way to Queen Anne. Crews also continue working on the diversion structure on 2nd Ave NW.
Local closures and detours:
- On 2nd Ave NW, between Leary Way NW and NW Canal St, the street remains closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic through mid-2023. NW Canal St is open to two-way traffic to allow access during this closure.
- NW 36th St, between Leary Way NW and 3rd Ave NW, is closed through 2023
- Pedestrian detours are in place on Leary Way NW; please follow all detour guidance on site
You should anticipate:
- Truck traffic on Leary Way NW as trucks bring materials and equipment to and from the site
- Generators and fans running during work hours to power pumps and equipment, and to provide fresh air to crews working in the shaft
- Crane on-site to lower pipe segments for tunneling
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 6 pm; and some Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm, except Saturday, Sunday, and Monday over Christmas and New Year.
Wallingford
Crews will be removing the remaining contaminated soil on the southwest corner of the site and preparing for construction of the electrical building.
As soon as January 2023, you can expect to see Wallingford Conveyance project crews moving onto Stone Way N between N 34th St and N 35th St in preparation for conveyance pipe installation and other utility work. We have reached out to nearby neighbors and businesses and will continue to share more details about this work soon.
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Starting in early 2023, you should anticipate:
- Full closure of Stone Way N between N 34th St and N 35th St to vehicle traffic
- A two-way bike lane and the sidewalk on the east side of Stone Way N will be maintained
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 5:30 pm, except Saturday, Sunday, and Monday over Christmas and New Year.
Unrelated to this project, please note that SPU crews will be doing emergency repair work on a storm drainage pipe on N 38th St near Stone Way N. Please contact Robert Lee at 206-775-4585 or robert.lee@seattle.gov if you have any questions.
Queen Anne
Crews are installing a final 60-in conveyance pipe segment between the diversion structure and the shaft. The site will then be ready for installation of piping and an air duct inside the 8-ft diameter tunnel between Queen Anne and Fremont starting as early as January after the 8-ft diameter tunnel is complete.
Local closures and detours:
- Localized Ship Canal Trail detour at least through summer 2023 (see map). Please continue to remain alert when moving through this area.
- West Ewing Mini Park parking closure through mid-2023
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
- 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 except Saturday, Sunday, and Monday over Christmas and New Year.
Contact Us
Please email SPU_ShipCanalProject@seattle.gov with questions or comments or call our hotline at (206) 701-0233. You can also find information online at spushipcanal.participate.online. To support the community during active tunneling, we have changed our hotline hours to 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday.
Construction Safety is Everyone’s Job
Check out some top safety tips at www.seattle.gov/utilities/constructionsafety
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