Project
Rhonda Pence
CM510
Table of Contents
Brief History and
Overview………………………pp. 3-4
Boring
Machine……………………………………….pp.
5-8
Alaskan Way
Seawall……………………………….pp. 8-10
Alaskan Way
Promenade…………………………p. 10
Conclusion………………………………………
……….p. 11
Sources……………………………………………
……….p. 12
Exhibits:
Map of Tunnel
Route/Soil……………………………………..p. 4
Expected Roadway Design within
Tunnel………………p. 5
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Timeline Boring Machine
Sizes………………………………p. 6
Boring Machine similar to expected for
Project…….p. 7
Rendering of Current
Seawall………………………………..p. 8
The
Gribble…………………………………………………………
…p. 9
Rendering of Future
Promenade……………………………p. 10
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The Alaskan Way Tunnel Project
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The tunnel will run under 1st Avenue which is several blocks inland
from where the Viaduct is currently located. It will pass through
glacial till 60-200 ft. below the surface. Advantages for boring at
this depth are the improbability of much environmental and
archeological impact, as well as avoidance of abundant old
timbers and contaminated soil.
6
The design of the roadway
within the tunnel will be similar to the existing Viaduct. There will
be two lanes of traffic southbound on the upper level roadway
and two lanes of traffic northbound on the lower level roadway.
The tunnel will include passageways to safety in case of
emergencies and a ventilation system if needed. There will be
one 2 ft. shoulder and one 6-8 ft. shoulder. Clearance will be 16
ft.
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The very first boring machine ever reported to have been built
was in 1845 by Henri-Joseph Maus. It used percussion drills
mounted in the front of a locomotive-sized machine, mechanically
power-driven from the entrance of the tunnel. By the time the
tunnel was finished 10 years later, the drills had been changed to
pneumatic type.
In 1853, the first boring machine was built in the U.S. to construct
the Hoosac Tunnel in Florida. The machine broke down every 10
ft. due to drilling through mountain rock. After 25 years and the
loss of 195 lives, it was finally completed using traditional
methods.
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Nowadays, boring machines are unique to their intended use, but
the following is a general description of the technology. A tunnel
boring machine (TBM) consists of a large metal cylinder (shield)
and trailing support mechanisms. At the front end of the shield is
a rotating cutting wheel. Behind the cutting wheel is a chamber
where the excavated soil is mixed with slurry to be transported
out.
Behind the shield, inside the finished part of the tunnel are the
support mechanisms. These comprise the dirt removal system,
slurry pipelines, control rooms, and rails for transport of the
precast concrete sections. The cutting wheel will rotate at 1 to 10
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rpm depending on the material, cutting the rock face into chips
and/or excavating soil (muck). The muck will be mixed with slurry
and pumped back to the tunnel entrance. In the meantime,
precast concrete sections are moved up and into place, thus
lining the tunnel.
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occurs when, under loading, soil transitions from a solid state to a
liquid state. Loading, in this case, was the movement of the earth
which is supporting the seawall.
The Alaskan Way Seawall runs 7,000 ft. along the Elliott Bay
waterfront. There are actually a series of seawalls to buffer
against the waters of Elliott Bay. It was built on top of wood
pilings in 1934 to extend the waterfront and make it easier to
load and unload the many ships which sail into the Port of Seattle.
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In addition to the problem of liquefaction under the seawall, there
is also an issue with gribbles chewing the pilings. A gribble is a
crustacean 1-4mm long which bores into wood and plant material
for ingestion as food. They are known for causing damage to
piers, but also help to breakdown driftwood. Inspections have
shown that a significant amount of the timbers have been
weakened or destroyed by gribbles.
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installed in 2008 and UW will be studying how the marine life
responds. The results will help to inform the final design of the
seawall face.
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Conclusion
This report has described the Alaskan Way Project, which major
components are the bored tunnel, the seawall replacement and
the Alaskan Way Promenade. The overall project also includes
street and transit improvements.
The Alaskan Way Viaduct was showing signs of age in the 1990’s
before the Nisqually earthquake of 2001. It is now quite
vulnerable. Compromised joints have been sistered with steel
beams, but it’s hard to imagine how it can survive until 2016-
2017 when the tunnel is estimated to be complete.
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Sources
Alaskan Way Viaduct & Seawall Replacement Project Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (RebuiltAlt_tabloid.pdf) (2006)
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Wikipedia – Alaskan Way Seawall
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