Tag: Seattle: Page 4

Construction Equipment

Tunnel-boring machine Big Bertha moves forward 2 feet in test run to see if blockage is fully removed

After nearly two months of downtime caused by a steel pipe stuck in her teeth, Big Bertha, the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine, briefly went back to work beneath Seattle. According to a report from the Associated Press, the Washington State Transportation Department announced that Bertha moved two feet on Tuesday which was just enough progress […]

January 30, 2014

Construction Equipment

A steel pipe is what brought Big Bertha, the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine, to a halt

The mystery is solved—in part at least. After Big Bertha, the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine, was brought to an abrupt halt on December 6th, officials at the Washington State Department of Transportation were stumped as to what was in the way. Now they know that the obstruction is a large steel pipe. A steel pipe […]

January 6, 2014

Construction Equipment

Unstoppable Force, Immovable Object: Seattle’s Big Bertha halted by mystery object

Has Big Bertha met her match? She has, at least for the time being. The world’s largest tunnel-boring machine was recently brought to a halt 60 feet beneath the streets of Seattle, Washington when it hit an unknown object and could move no farther, reported KOMOnews.com. The five-story head of the machine was completely brought […]

December 19, 2013

Business

Is green building movement enough to revive use of heavy timber for framing in construction?

“Green building” and the aim to reduce carbon emissions in the construction of a building are fine goals. But is this growing movement among architects and designers really enough to bring back the use of heavy timber for framing taller buildings? After all, timber hasn’t been used consistently for framing since concrete and steel rose […]

September 23, 2013

Roadbuilding

Top 5 Cities for Electric Cars

Some of the cities on this list are probably obvious, but I was surprised about a few of the cities on this “Top 5” list from Clean Technica. Here are the five cities where you’re most likely to see someone charging up their car: Los Angeles, California San Francisco, California New York City Seattle, Washington […]

August 26, 2013

Construction Equipment

Subway expansion in Delhi to set record with simultaneous use of 34 tunnel-boring machines

Seattle might have the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine, but Delhi, India will soon have a record-setting host of the machines at its disposal. Construction workers in India’s capital city have begun Phase III of the extremely complex task of extending the city’s subway system. How complex? The engineering team recently announced that it will be […]

June 28, 2013

Roadbuilding

HOTless in Seattle

It appears some road planners in the Seattle area assumed that drivers would be willing to pay their way out of congestion. It appears that this is not so. A pilot project was designed for high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes at State Route 167 in metro Seattle. But the use projections were way, way off. […]

June 18, 2013

Construction Equipment

Big Bertha, world’s largest tunnel-boring machine, lowered into starting position in Seattle

With the digging of the Washington State Route 99 tunnel in Seattle scheduled to start in July, the Washington State Department of Transportation recently lowered the head of Big Bertha, the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine, into the pit that will serve as its starting position. Bertha made her triumphant arrival in Seattle at the beginning of April […]

June 5, 2013

Roadbuilding

2013’s bridges: A Skagit River reminder

Did the collapse of the I-5 bridge across the Skagit River in Washington State demonstrate a need for increased investing in our increasingly substandard transportation infrastructure, particularly bridges? One argument says no. Then it sort of says yes as well. “No” in that the bridge was not failing and in desperate need of repair. “Yes” […]

May 28, 2013

Roadbuilding

I-5 bridge collapse highlights need for transportation funding

The Interstate 5 bridge collapse that occurred Thursday night in Washington State underscores a larger problem the state is facing: transportation funding. Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has said the bridge collapse reveals that lawmakers need to find ways to fund state transportation projects soon, the New York Times reported. Washington lawmakers are considering transportation […]

May 28, 2013

Roadbuilding

Seattle tests bikes as disaster relief

Seattle, Washington, next month will test bikes as a means of disaster relief, Road.cc reported. The city will hold Disaster Relief Trials (DRT) to gauge the cities preparedness for natural disasters such as earthquakes. Bicycles are a major part of the city’s DRT. Bicycles have been used for disaster relief in other cities. After Hurricane […]

May 22, 2013

Roadbuilding

Slow trains going faster

Anderson Cooper upsets people. I like that. It’s a big part of what he’s supposed to do. This time it’s the high speed rail folk (and it’s not their first time because Cooper has been here before). Their complaint is that Cooper and some of his CNN colleagues are on a mission to undermine high […]

April 12, 2013