Image: Montlaker

Traffic on East Roanoke Street across from the Montalke Blvd Market was routed around a drill rig last week, to install a pipe connection to the Sound Transit light rail tunnel. This spot is the low point in the tunnel which presents a need to collect and pump out any water that might drain there. ST’s Roger Pence explains:

In the event of an emergency water intrusion into the tunnels, the water would pool in this location and need to be pumped out. This rig is digging the well that would allow the water to be pushed to the surface and into the sewer system for disposal.

The work is complete now and since the pipes are contained underground there will little visible sign of the system at the surface.