Drilling Starts at the Caldecott Tunnel
The Road Header machine that's designed to cut through rock was switched on today at the Caldecott Tunnel on the Contra Costa side, and the drilling has begun on the new fourth bore.
A 130-ton Road Header and its rotating cutter chopped through the rock at the Caldecott Tunnel, and members of the local, state and federal transportation agencies applauded as the machinery began what will be a nearly 3,400 foot long bore. Bijan Sartipi, a Caltrans director, says this is now part of Bay Area transportation history.
"Today we dig," he said.
This is a $420 million project that received almost $200 million in federal stimulus money. State senator Mark DeSaulnier says this is something that was talked about for years. He couldn't resist poking a little fun at whose name may be attached to the new fourth bore.
"This bore is yet to be named, so we're looking for the biggest bore in Contra Costa and Alameda County," he said.
The project is expected to be completed by late 2013.
