Funny-@$$ thread! Good thread for road geeks, too.
Combined PING and DANG!
It’s not an accident this happened at the start of the fill-in area. It’s probably hard granite mixed with slush that the cutter can’t get purchase on. And it might happen again and again through this area.
Maybe someone mistakenly flipped the reverse button...
The construction company is partially owned by Diane Fienstein’s husband. I sure any losses will be covered by the democrates in Washington.
On a machine like this, there has got to be a way to take a *core* sample from what's in front of the head, much like what is used in oilfield work (Explosive charge core gun or a mechanical coring tool used in hard rock country).
Heck, even a small shape charge used in perforating guns on a well could be used to blast out a sample.
Can't see them building such a sophisticated machine without that capability.
FWIW the spoils are going to Mats Mats near Port Ludlow to fill the quary there - another bright idea from the Farside King County liberal community.
BFL
Sounds like a large deposit of leverite.
It is obviously the subterranean understructure under Bill Gates’ house.
Needs to be blasted with whatever it takes to dislodge it.
“Mystery” solved.
“It’s just a pipe! Mysterious object blocking huge drilling machine boring out new highway below Seattle identified”
Looks like as of yesterday, they still haven’t started drilling again from this obstruction.