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Object Blocking Giant Tunnel Borer Was an 8" Diameter Pipe

Posted by Soulskill on from the at-least-it-wasn't-zombies dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A few weeks ago we discussed news that a tunnel boring machine measuring 57.5 feet in diameter was halted underneath Seattle after running into a mysterious object. Project engineers have now figured out what the object is: an 8-inch-diameter pipe. In 2002, researchers for another project — the replacement of the Alaskan Way viaduct — drilled down into the ground to take water samples. They used the 115-ft-long pipe as a well casing. As it turns out, this well site was listed in the contract specifications given to all bidders for the tunnel's construction. In addition, the crew manning the machine noticed that it was chewing up pieces of metal, and they removed part of the pipe and kept going. Only later did they realize that significant damage had been done to the machine's cutting face. Officials aren't sure how long repairs will take, or how much they will cost."

11 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Reading and comprehension skills by petteyg359 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Looks like somebody forgot to RTFM.

    1. Re:Reading and comprehension skills by cold+fjord · · Score: 5, Funny

      Looks like somebody forgot to RTFM.

      In this case they get to RTFM: Repair The Fine Machine

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    2. Re:Reading and comprehension skills by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Good news, everybody! We finally found that pipe we lost 2002! I've felt so guilty about not recycling that, but now I can sleep at night. Carry on.

    3. Re: Reading and comprehension skills by msauve · · Score: 4, Funny

      "david lee roth pretending to be a pretentious douche"

      That would be like a duck pretending to be a duck.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    4. Re: Reading and comprehension skills by Alsee · · Score: 4, Funny

      it wasnt just some band... it was van fuckin halen \m/

      I think you mean van fuckin halen \m&m/

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    5. Re: Reading and comprehension skills by JustOK · · Score: 4, Funny

      I saw them when they were just Station Wagon Halen

      --
      rewriting history since 2109
  2. Was expecting an alien spacecraft... by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 5, Funny

    But it turns out that the boring machine found a boring object! (Why am I not surprised?)

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  3. Re:"Presume" there's no pipe? by Cryacin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, that'll probably work something like this...

    Welcome to Alaskan Way Viaduct customer support. Your call is important to us. We are receiving a higher than expected level of calls at the moment and thank you for your patience. You're approximate waiting time will be 30 minutes.

    4 hours later
    Pleased to be welcome to Alaskan Way Viaduct customer support, how may I help you?

    "Hello, Alaskan Way Viaduct project officials? This is STP. The DOT says you bore a hole in the ground in 2002. We're just calling to make sure you guys removed the pipe."
    Pleased to be sorry, sir, I do not know what you mean about DOT.

    15 minute explanation later...

    Pleased to be putting you through to my manager

    2 hours later

    This is Alaskan Way Viaduct level 2 support, how may I help?

    "Hello, Alaskan Way Viaduct project officials? This is STP. The DOT says you bore a hole in the ground in 2002. We're just calling to make sure you guys removed the pipe."

    The documentation states that the pipe has been removed sir.

    --
    Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  4. Re:underground stuff is still really poorly mapped by davester666 · · Score: 4, Funny

    We intentionally don't update plans, or even have plans to begin with, because terrorists will use the plans to, well, plan how to attack us.

    The only solution to plan less, and destroy all existing plans.

    --
    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  5. Re:underground stuff is still really poorly mapped by LoRdTAW · · Score: 3, Funny

    So far it appears to be working.

  6. Re:underground stuff is still really poorly mapped by sjames · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's why you should always carry a foot of fiber in your pocket.

    If you're ever stranded in the middle of nowhere, just bury the fiber. When the backhoe shows up to break it, hitch a lift.