In Seattle's underground tunnel, the TBM was delivered from Japan along the waterfront close to its starting point. It was assembled, then lowered into the pit.

In Seattle's underground tunnel, the TBM was delivered from Japan along the waterfront close to its starting point. It was assembled, then lowered into the pit. At the tunnel exit is a highly congested maze of streets. In order to remove the TBM, the 2000 ton cutter head needed to be cut into pieces that would not weigh more than the city's 20 ton weight limit for streets. With Seattle's design/build contract, the construction company owned the TBM. To them it's just a tool whose cost is part of the construction package.