EXCAVATION OF BENCH The bench, or lower portion of the tunnel, is cut away in six-foot increments. Section 3 is also stabilized with shotcrete and lattice girders.

Overall, crews removed 72,000 cu yds of soil, applied 9,000 cu yds of shotcrete, which contained 63 tons of polyethylene concrete fiber reinforcement, and installed 479 lattice girders.

A truck soon brings in a load of lattice girders made from steel reinforced bars to make sure the tunnel stays secure. "This over-consolidated glacial till here in Bellevue is not very wet ...

Controlled blasting, lattice girder and rock bolts were required in some areas. About 1.4 million passengers are expected to use the line when it opens late this year.