On 17.03.2015 TBM Brenda broke through the north wall at the future Roosevelt Station of the Northgate Link Extension in Seattle, US. The EUR2 billion Northgate Link Extension will connect the University of Washington Station at Husky Stadium to underground stations in the U District and Roosevelt neighbourhood, and to an elevated station at Northgate.

The TBM Brenda, launched from the Maple Leaf portal in July, 2014 completed her 2.41 km journey boring up to 30.5 m/day. The machine will now be refurbished for a re-launch to U District station in early May.

The second TBM, Pamela, launched on 20.11.2014 at Maple Leaf Portal is driving the southbound tube and is currently just north of NE 82nd Street. It will arrive in Roosevelt Station site in summer. The TBMs each weigh 600 t and are 91 m-long. They will install more than 7,200 concrete rings to line the tunnels, which are expected to be complete by mid-2016. The identical TBMs are named after wives of the project managers.

Cross-passages and tunnel finishes are scheduled for completion in early-2018, and service is expected to start in 2021. All light rail trains will enter and exit the tunnels at the Maple Leaf Portal. Click here, here, here and us/42 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit

http://www.soundtransit.org/Projects-and-Plans/Northgate-Link-Extension. 14/15.