 New video: Did you know SPU operates underground trains?
 A gantry crane loads tunnel segments onto train cars at the Ballard shaft site.
You may not have heard of Seattle’s latest underground rail line. It’s not the light rail! These underground trains carry dirt, supplies, and people to and from the Ballard shaft and our 18-foot diameter tunnel boring machine, MudHoney. Currently, that trip takes about 25 minutes.
All aboard! Check out our video to experience what a ride on this train would be like.
To learn more about the project and to see more detailed detour information, visit our project website. We also continue to update our Flickr albums with construction photos.
MudHoney
Our 18-ft diameter TBM has tunneled over 10,600 feet! MudHoney has paused for a planned maintenance stop in Fremont and will continue on its journey toward Wallingford shortly. 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 this year.
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.
To the best of our knowledge, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has completed utility relocation work along NW 56th St. 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 including installation of equipment inside the vault and piping around the outside as well as constructing the walls of the diversion structure on 11th Ave NW. Crews are also constructing a horizontal tunnel at the bottom of the drop shaft to connect the conveyance pipe that will extend from the diversion structure to the storage tunnel.
Local closures and detours:
- There is a one-lane traffic configuration on 11th Ave NW at NW 45th St. 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.
Fremont
Our 8-ft diameter conveyance tunnel made it to Queen Anne! Our tunneling crews are moving out of the site now that tunneling is complete. Expect more crew and equipment turnover as we move into a new phase of construction in this area. Crews are also backfilling around and working inside the diversion structure on 2nd Ave NW.
Local closures and detours:
- Starting March 6, our contractor will close two lanes of Leary Way NW, between NW 39th St and 1st Ave NW, to install utility connections from the road surface down to the 18-foot diameter tunnel, and then the southern lane only for installation of conveyance pipe within the site. Work will occur during daytime hours, but lane closures will continue during evenings and weekends. Our contractor will keep one lane open in each direction at all times and lanes will be re-opened as soon as possible. We expect all lanes of Leary Way NW to be reopened by the end of April.
- 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
- Fans running during work hours to provide fresh air to crews working in the shaft
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 6 pm; and some Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm.
Wallingford
Crews constructed the electrical building footing at the Wallingford shaft site on Interlake Ave N and N 35th St.
On February 6, Wallingford Conveyance project crews mobilized onto Stone Way N, between N 34th St and N 35th St, and on the north half of N 34th St for conveyance pipe installation, diversion structure construction, and other utility work. We have reached out to nearby neighbors and businesses and will continue to share more details about this work. Currently, crews are working on installing a temporary sewer bypass pipe down the center of Stone Way N.
Vehicle detour:
- Stone Way N, between N 34th St and N 35th St, is closed to vehicles
- Improvements are being made at the All-Way-Stop traffic revision at the intersection of N 35th St and Woodland Park Ave N
- Westbound N 34th St is closed to through traffic between Wallingford Ave N and Woodland Park Ave N. Local Access Only signs were added at both N 34th St and N 35th St (for each way) to discourage through traffic.
- Local access to Densmore Ave N, Woodlawn Ave N, private driveways, businesses, and to the North Transfer Station from N 34th St will continue to be maintained
- Westbound traffic on N Pacific St and N 34th St can access the detour route at Wallingford Ave N
- Left turns are not permitted at the intersection of N 34th St where N Northlake Way turns into Stone Way N. Local Access Only signs will be added.
- Westbound traffic on N Northlake Way can access the detour route using the N 36th St cutoff or Densmore Ave N
- Please adhere to the Road Closed and Traffic Revision Ahead signage and follow the detour route signs
Bicycle detour update: No bike lane through one block of project area
Unfortunately, our contractor will not be able to create a two-way bike lane on the east side of Stone Way N as planned. Please use the bike detour route on N 35th St and on Woodland Park Ave N. Please dismount and walk if you use the sidewalk.
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 5:30 pm.
Queen Anne
Our 8-ft diameter conveyance TBM has made it to Queen Anne! Crews will continue working on the diversion structure and installing piping and an air duct inside the 8-ft diameter conveyance tunnel casing.
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.
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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