A 360 video tour of Bertha and Seattle’s SR 99 tunnel

What does it feel like to watch a record-breaking tunnel boring machine build a record-breaking tunnel? With the help of a 360-degree camera, Alaskan Way Viaduct Program Administrator Joe Hedges takes you inside and lets YOU guide the tour. Move your smartphone up and down to move around the tunnel. Or if you're on a computer, grab the picture with your mouse to and take a 360-degree look at all the work happening out of sight, underneath Seattle. It's almost as good as being there.

[@yamilexrobledo3607]

A long-awaited project for the people who live in Seattle. Good job.

[@jesusvazquez3473]

This project is incredible, it shows the great advances of engineering and human ingenuity, the 360 degree effect gives us a real vision of the work and effort.

[@mayragarcia8526]

This project is incredible. It is amazing the work and effort that has been put into the project for the people of Seattle.

[@Daren_PNW]

Great use of 360, transitions and narration/presentation. Thanks!

[@aaronvalenzuela1240]

It's the first time I've seen something related to this, an excellent project for the people of Seattle

[@manuelenriquez4445]

What an immersive experience! This 360-degree video allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the construction of this tunnel. It is fascinating to be able to explore every detail from every possible angle. 360 technology really brings us closer to the action and makes us feel like we are right there, among the noise of the machines and the coming and going of the workers. Without a doubt, an innovative and exciting way to document this impressive engineering project. Excellent work!

[@matthewjames206]

Wow. So cool. I'm always amazed by the things that man, and machine, are capable of building. I can't wait to see the finished product. Almost there, Bertha.

[@جعفراللامي-ه4ط]

5

[@robo-tes8283]

A great experience to know and navigate through the construction, and how cool that there is content like this that helps us to better understand this project through this kind of videos.

[@alondramarquez2859]

A very surprising project they did in Seattle, it is surprising to be able to see the work and above all to be able to see Bertha in 360.

[@jorgevalenzuela3212]

Its the first time i saw a project this amazing and watching this video of the inside gaving us a tour increase my knowledge, this project had a great infrastructure.

[@palomabarraza9331]

It's a great project, the work done by each person is very admirable and important, I'm sure that this project is very functional for the entire Seattle community. By the way, the 360° experience is great, it allows you to appreciate the details. Excellent job!

[@giomm2193]

I find it an interesting project and the efficiency of the workers, excellent work!

[@cassiemoeller3713]

This project fascinates me! Today I watched via livestream as Bertha broke through and I felt an overwhelming sense of pride to be witnessing history in the making. As an engineer, I can only hope that in my career I will be able to work on a project of this magnitude and significance. Congrats WSDOT!

[@fernanda_fernandez026]

Wow, that's impressive engineering work! Besides it was an excellent idea to present this project through a virtual tour with a 360 degree camera, it's as if you could be inside the construction of the tunnel in real life.

[@YadiraBaylon]

It is extremely interesting and incredible, since here in this video advances are shown in terms of engineering and human ingenuity. The 360-degree video shows us how the tunnel was built, this technology makes you feel like you are there. It is without a doubt very amazing and thanks to this you can appreciate every detail.

[@dan428]

Wow incredible and for some reason I imagined the tunnels being all dirt, didn't realize they were building the new highway at the same time as the tunneling.. glad I finally got a peak inside!

[@asajames5018]

Maybe it's just a guy thing, but tunnels are so frickin cool! And this one is the largest single bore tunnel in the WORLD! How cool is that?!

[@chrizizdaman]

That was an awesome 3D tour of the tunnel and more importantly Bertha!

[@alexanderyaguas9678]

Good job. Steattle will appreciate it!

[@jdr617]

First time seeing 3D. Amazing thank you

[@deyaniramacias1382]

I believe the SR 99 tunnel has provided benefits in terms of congestion relief and safety but the construction process has been controversial due to the challenges and costs associated with it.

[@deebee2971]

Amazing

[@Daren_PNW]

The concrete rings are incredible engineering. What's the geometric tolerance of those things? I imagine really tight.

[@wsdot]

Each ring is 6.5 feet wide, 2 feet thick and consists of 9 segments plus 1 key segment. The tolerance for the ring circumference is +/- 1 1/2 inches.

[@larryray3178]

Tunnels are bloody expensive. Might have been cheaper to replace the elevated one. At least it had exits to get to the docks and whatnot.

[@MarkHerndon]

That road way looks like it's going to be a little bit skinny.

[@wsdot]

It's 2 11-foot lanes and an 8-foot shoulder in each direction.

[@DenverScott]

Anyone know what type of camera is used for this video? I'm aware its a 360 camera, but what brand I guess is what I'm asking.

[@lauran8058]

It's a Samsung Gear 360

[@Rudenbehr]

So is this a subway tunnel or an underground roadway?

[@wsdot]

Double-decker underground roadway.

[@SparkCreativeSeattle]

How many lanes will there be? Seems to be very narrow?

[@wsdot]

There will be two lanes and a shoulder in each direction.

[@SparkCreativeSeattle]

Thank you for your reply. So basically we're losing lanes?

[@wsdot]

The tunnel is designed to carry traffic through downtown. It will work in conjunction with a new Alaskan Way to replace the functionality of the viaduct. There will be ramps to downtown at either end of the tunnel and Alaskan Way will have several east-west connections into the city.

[@PugetSoundFlyer]

So they bolted these rings together? It seems that with today's engineering/design advancements they could have come up with a better securing solution. At some point these bolts are going to need to be inspected or replaced...right?

[@wsdot]

The tunnel liner is designed to provide a 100-year service life and is rated for a magnitude 10 earthquake. The blots have a galvanized coating and are designed to not require replacement through the design lifetime. Bolts are designed to keep the tunnel watertight by keeping the gaskets compressed even in an earthquake.

[@matsv201]

The bults is really just temporary. THen the area is back filled and the sections is hold by the back fill. The bults are never removed, but they are not really needed

[@johannesbols57]

It's too bad the engineers didn't figure they needed to bleed the carbon monoxide off the tunnel. I got really sick after sitting in bumper to bumper traffic one morning. Great job, guys.

[@lanceleone2704]

Hey KZbin, your UI for panoramic videos is absolute garbage!

[@DingoAteMeBaby]

great job!!!!

[@esmeraldavalenzuela7452]

It's the first time I've seen something related to this, an excellent project for the people of Seattle