Welcome to the spot where Bertha, the SR 99 tunneling machine, will emerge at the end of her journey. Located near the Space Needle, this 80-foot-deep pit has been under construction since early 2013. Bertha will chew her way through the gray wall that’s visible in the distance to the south behind the construction worker at the center of the frame. To the east is the elevator shaft for the north portal operations building, which will house ventilation, monitoring and other systems that are necessary to safely operate the tunnel.