Right now, two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have begun drilling beneath Ballard and in Fremont, as part of the Ship Canal Water Quality Project.
In Ballard, an 18-foot TBM, named MudHoney, began drilling what will be a 2.7-mile elongated storage tank beneath Fremont and ending at Interlake Avenue. Another TBM has begun drilling an 8-foot conveyance tunnel from Fremont to Queen Anne, and is expected to take three months to complete its work. The tunnel from Queen Anne will connect with the elongated storage tank, to capture storm water during heavy rains and keep polluted water from entering the Ship Canal, Lake Union and other public waterways.
The Ship Canal Water Quality Project is causing upheaval around our area, but it is also providing art opportunities. In partnership with the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, the Project Managers are organizing artworks both temporary and permanent.
For one installation, called Oceans of Emotion, created by Lisa Liedgren Alexandersson and Kait Rhoads, the public are invited to contribute a piece. The installation is intended to reference and respond to the pandemic and turbulent political times, and on Sunday, August 15th, the public can come and write or draw on a small disk what they want to release from the past year, and embrace for the future. At an outdoor, in-person gathering from 10a – 5p, at Interlake Ave N & N 35th St, come contribute to this public art installation. The finished piece will be on-display at this site from now until February 2022.
Learn more about the Ship Canal Water Quality Project, and the progress of the tunnel boring machines, on the project website (click here.) For specific questions or concerns, please e-mail SPU_ShipCanalProject@seattle.gov or call 206-701-0233.