 What happens when MudHoney is done tunneling?
 Crews working in the Wallingford shaft, where MudHoney will eventually exit in 2023!
What happens when MudHoney reaches Wallingford? Will we get to see it exit the tunnel like Bertha, 5 years ago? Unfortunately, no. The public won’t see MudHoney exit because the Wallingford shaft will be filled with water!
Why does MudHoney have to exit underwater? If the Wallingford shaft is not filled with water, groundwater outside the Wallingford shaft would rush into the shaft when MudHoney breaks through the wall. This could cause the ground to settle just outside the shaft. With Bertha, crews injected concrete into the soil around the exit structure to address this concern. Our team decided not to take this route because of limited space in the working area. Good thing there’s another way to keep the pressure on MudHoney while it places the last few concrete segments – fill the shaft with water!
Keeping MudHoney under water pressure means we don’t get a pretty video of the machine breaking through. Apparently, we can’t use the shaft as Seattle’s deepest swimming pool either. We asked.
To learn more about the project, visit our project website. We also continue to update our Flickr albums with recent construction photos.
MudHoney
Our 18-foot diameter tunnel boring machine has tunneled over 13,776 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 this summer, followed by removal of the trailing gear and equipment.
During regular tunneling activities, you should anticipate:
- Truck deliveries of concrete tunnel segments and MudHoney equipment
- Nighttime segment deliveries and both nighttime/daytime tunnel spoils being hauled away
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Crews are working 24 hours a day, six days a week. Some work may occur on Sundays.
East Ballard
Crews are finalizing work inside and around the mechanical and electrical vault and continue work inside the adit and shaft on NW 45th St, and in the diversion structure on 11th Ave NW. In the coming weeks, crews will begin installing the conveyance pipe that will extend from the diversion structure to the storage tunnel, as well as a new maintenance hole immediately south of the diversion structure.
Local closures and detours:
- There continues to be 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.
- Later in June our contractor will close 11th Ave NW south of NW 45th St for 2-3 days to install some soldier piles to support the excavation for the new maintenance hole on the south side of the diversion structure. The current planned dates are June 20-22, and we will coordinate with the local businesses for access during this period.
- 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 (BGT) 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 take 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 6 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.
Fremont
Crews continue excavating for the large mechanical and electrical vault. Workers are preparing to install the conveyance pipes between the diversion structure on 2nd Ave NW and the Fremont shaft. Crews are also preparing to construct the permanent structure within the current shaft.
Local closures and detours:
- Our contractor will work intermittently in the southernmost eastbound lane of Leary Way NW during working hours
- On 2nd Ave NW, between Leary Way NW and NW Canal St, the street remains closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic through 2023
- NW Canal St is open to two-way traffic during this closure
- NW 36th St, between Leary Way NW and 3rd Ave NW, remains closed through 2023
- Pedestrian detours are in place on Leary Way NW; please follow all detour guidance
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
- 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 6 pm; and some Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm.
Wallingford
Crews are preparing the Wallingford site northeast of the intersection of Interlake Ave N and N 35th St for MudHoney’s arrival into the shaft. Dismantling and removing MudHoney from the Wallingford shaft will take several months following tunneling completion. To facilitate removal of the TBM parts, a large crane has been delivered to be assembled on site.
Wallingford Conveyance project crews continue working on a diversion structure near the intersection of Stone Way N and N 34th St.
As early as June 19, Wallingford Conveyance crews will mobilize back into N 34th St to install pipes and access maintenance holes within the north portion of the intersection at Stone Way N. They expect to close the west bound lane for approximately 6-8 weeks. The left turn lane from Northlake Way onto westbound N 34th St will also be closed and will be opened as soon as possible. The traffic detour will be similar to the routes and signage that were in place earlier this year.
Vehicle detour:
- Stone Way N between N 34th St and N 35th St remains closed to vehicles and bicycles
- Traffic is being detoured via N 40th St and Wallingford Ave N, and via N 35th St and Woodland Park Ave N
- Improvements have been made at the all-way stop traffic revision at the intersection of N 35th St and Woodland Park Ave N
- The new all-way stop remains in place at N 35th St and Wallingford Ave N
- Please adhere to the Road Closed and Traffic Revision Ahead signage and follow the detour routes
Bicycle detour:
- Please use the bike detour route to bypass Stone Way N between N 35th St and N 34th St:
- Southbound: bicyclists are detoured west onto N 35th St and south onto Woodland Park Ave N, then west onto the Protected Bike Lane on N 34th St. Access to the BGT is at Troll Ave N
- Northbound: bicyclists will be detoured east along N 34th St (or the BGT) then north onto Wallingford Ave N
- Please dismount and walk if you use the sidewalk
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
- 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 6 pm.
Queen Anne
Crews continue to install piping and an air duct inside the 8-foot 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
- 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 6 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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