The first of two TBMs that will dig new twin light rail tunnels from the Northgate neighbourhood in Seattle to the University of Washington began mining on 09.07.2014.  The TBM will mine approximately 5.63km from the tunnel portal just south of the Northgate Transit Center to UW where the tunnels will connect with the University Link line into downtown Seattle. That section between downtown and the UW is scheduled to open in early 2016. The EUR1.56 billion Northgate extension includes underground stations in the U District and Roosevelt neighborhoods and an elevated station at Northgate. Click us/42 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/First-Northgate-Link-tunnel-boring-machine-launches-792014. 30/14.