STP says tunnelling starts in November
23 July 2015USA - Seattle Tunnel Partners (STP) submitted a new schedule to Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the client announced on July 17, with tunnelling expected to resume in late November. The
Seattle Tunnel Partners began installing a new main bearing on the SR 99 TBM this week. Machine repairs are scheduled to wrap up this fall. STP and manufacturer Hitachi Zosen will then perform an extended series of tests to ensure the machine is ready to complete the tunnel drive.
"Fully disassembling and assessing the machine was always the key to determining how long the repairs would take," said Chris Dixon, STP project manager. "We want to reassemble the machine and resume tunneling as quickly as possible, but we also want to ensure the repairs are done right."
STP crews halted tunneling in December 2013 after the machine overheated. After an investigation, they discovered damage to the seal system and determined it needed to be replaced along with the main bearing. The cause of the damage has not been determined. Responsibility for costs associated with the delay will be determined through the process outlined in the tunnel contract.
