Seattle Tunnel Partners, working on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project, has successfully lifted to the surface for repairs the third piece of Bertha, the scheme’s stricken 17.52m diameter Hitachi Zosen EPBM. Crews lifted the machine’s 90-ton right side body from the pit Monday afternoon.
Like the previous two pieces removed from the pit, the right side body is part of the machine’s exterior shield.
The first lift, which occurred last week, can be seen from the perspective of the crane operator in this time-lapse video (links to YouTube).
With the machine’s upper shield removed, STP will turn their attention to the final lift: Bertha’s massive cutterhead and main drive unit. Crews will use the giant red crane, called a modular lift tower, to make the 2,000-ton lift. This narrated video (links to YouTube) explains the repair plan in detail.
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