The Seattle Times » The boring machine, nicknamed Bertha, is expected to resume digging by November 2015, two years after she overheated and stalled. Additional teeth, improved seals, and 86 tons of reinforced plates have been added, along with longer arms and fins to loosen the ground as Bertha digs. The Alaskan Way Viaduct is expected to open in March 2018. So far, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has paid $1.04 billion to the Seattle Tunnel Partners (STP) on the $1.35 billion design-build contract, and Bertha’s manufacturer, Hitachi-Zosen, has covered the multi-million dollar repair cost.