State Halts Seattle Tunnel Project Over Safety Concerns

SEATTLE (AP) — The state has halted the digging of the new Highway 99 tunnel under downtown Seattle after a sinkhole formed along the waterfront.

Gov. Jay Inslee and the Department of Transportation said Thursday they ordered Seattle Tunnel Partners to suspend digging operations by the massive tunnel-boring machine known as "Bertha" until the contractor can determine what caused the sinkhole and ensure that similar problems don't occur again.

Bertha recently resumed work after a roughly two-year shutdown and expensive repairs. The contractor has poured concrete and sand into the sinkhole, which developed Tuesday night.

State transportation officials say they have not detected any movement of the elevated Alaskan Way Viaduct related to the sinkhole.