TunnelTalk Annual Review 2019 2020

BRENNER BASE TUNNEL, AUSTRIA – ITALY
PUSHING LIMITS 10th ANNIVERSARY Direct by Design
WITH VIGOROUS
TUNNELTALK ANNUAL REVIEW 2019
Annual
Review
ENGINEERING
The new brenner base tunnel represents a next level of trailblazing
hard-rock-tunnelling. With a total length of 64 km and maximum
overburden of 1,300 meters this high-impact project sets new records.
Six project specific engineered Herrenknecht hard-rock-machines
are involved in the hardest mission worldwide. Empowering our
customers to push the limits.
herrenknecht.com/bbt/
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Contractors:
1 x Gripper TBM:
Consortium H33 Tulfes-Pfons
3 x Double Shield TBM:
Consortium Mules 2-3
2 x Single Shield TBM:
Consortium H51 Pfons-Brenner
2019
Into 2020
T Annual
his edition celebrates the tenth anniversary of the TunnelTalk
2019
Annual Review. As a compilation of the major events of the past
12 months, this issue spans the successes and developments
Review
of 2019 and the pandemic disruption of early 2020. For everyone, in
business, and in their personal lives, the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic
has changed all that was considered normal prior to the end of 2019.
Conferences, events and international travel have been cancelled and
lockdown expanded to include shutdown of construction sites, suspension
of local transportation services, and work-from-home orders leaving offices
and businesses closed and the streets and cities silent.
But adaptation soon mobilised. Meetings and conferences
moved on-line, public transport for essential service workers resumed,
exemptions were granted to construction sites to continue project
progress as vital national infrastructure works and we all have become TunnelTalk.com Article Archive Weekly Alert Previous Editions
accustomed to social distancing and wearing face masks.
For TunnelTalk, working in a virtual office environment has been available now for free distribution and download as a digital edition and in
the norm since launch of the magazine in 2008 and the adjustment hard copy for purchase and posting.
has been readily accommodated. Changed family responsibilities The special 10th Anniversary pages celebrate the years of service by
have required changes to individual work schedules but the magazine the magazine and the dedication of its team. It marks a journey through
has remained on its weekly publication schedule and distribution of time for the major projects of the last 10 years, as well as the principal
the news Alert every Thursday has continued without fail. Cancellation events, company evolutions, outstanding individuals and leading technical
of international conference gatherings shifted the publication date for developments of our remarkable underground design, construction and
our Annual Review, but its tenth edition was never in doubt and is operation industry. Enjoy the review and your part in the process! n
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE THE AMERICAS

4 Unprecedented times inspiring futuristic solutions 58 USA: Appeal lodged after jury finds for SR99 client in Seattle
8 New era begins for ITA at WTC 2019 59 USA: California high-speed rail
9 Jenny Yan of China takes the reins of the ITA 60 USA: Narragansett Pawtucket CSO project shortlist
10 Risk reduction for underground works 60 USA: Geology challenges Texas interceptor
TUNNELTALK ANNUAL REVIEW 10TH ANNIVERSARY 61 USA: CSO solution goes underground in Louisville
11 TunnelTalk: progressing into a second decade 62 USA: One TBM for two-diameter Dallas alignment
12 Global projects and developments from 2010 to 2020 62 USA: Delaware aqueduct bypass breakthrough
63 USA: DigIndy TBM more than halfway along 45km route
DISCUSSION FORUM
64 USA: Las Vegas people mover build begins
24 Overheating metros; Hyperloop interest; Equipping TBMs
64 USA: Budget trimmed to advance Hudson Gateway
for tough conditions; Road to litigation bypass
65 Mexico: Final breakthrough at Emisor Oriente
TUNNELTECH INNOVATIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS 65 Argentina: Buenos Aires outfall excavation nears completion
29 Hard rock TBMs; Excavations on the moon; Torque limiters; 66 Ecuador: Sustainability key for Quito Metro
Autonomous TBMs; Artifical intelligence;
ASIA
Underground research centre; Segmental lining cracks;
68 China: Undersea drive for slurry TBM
Promoting macro synthetic fibre reinforcement
68 Nepal: Early breakthrough for Bheri Babai
EUROPE 69 China: Horseshoe-shaped TBM operation
37 Austria-Italy: TBMs launch on Brenner Base Mules Lot 70 Thailand: Bangkok Metro Orange Line progressed
39 Switzerland: Lötschberg plans full line buildout 70 Thailand: Tight curve drive breakthrough in Bangkok
39 Poland: New TBM road link progressing 71 India: Kolkata TBM failure causes extensive damage
40 The Netherlands: Refurbished Mixshield in The Hague 71 India: Vishnugad Pipalkoti TBM finally set to start
40 Italy: Progress for Milan-Genoa high speed rail link 72 India: TBMs delivered for Pune Metro
41 Turkey: EPBMs on Istanbul Metro expansion 73 India: Hard rock TBM for Mumbai water transfer
41 Turkey: XRE TBM conquers toughest drive 73 India: Breakthrough celebrations in Mumbai
42 Denmark-Germany: Fehmarn prepares for construction AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
42 Sweden: Stockholm cable connection 74 Australia: Snowy Mountains adds long-planned element
43 Finland-Estonia: TBM-bored Helsinki-Tallinn link 74 Australia: Kidston hydro set for construction
43 Norway: Vestfold rail works awarded 75 Australia: Sydney opens new underground highway
44 Norway: TBMs and segments for new water project 76 Australia: Sydney Metro expansions
44 Norway: Ship tunnel cost trimmed 77 Australia: Melbourne Metro breaks ground
45 Faroe Islands: Subsea links 78 Australia: Shortlist for Melbourne underground highways
46 Norway: Rogfast procurement delayed for a rethink 78 New Zealand: TBM order for Auckland interceptor
47 UK: Government agrees to progress HS2 79 Australia: Melbourne West Gate TBMs on hold
48 UK: Tideway more than a third through TBMs drives 80 New Zealand: Auckland City Rail Link award
49 UK: Silvertown PPP procurement 80 Australia: Brisbane Cross River Rail mobilises for construction
YOUR PARTNER FOR

49 UK: London adds to cable tunnel network
AFRICA
50 UK: Procurement underway for Stonehenge road bypass
82 Lesotho: Phase II dam and tunnel shortlists
50 UK: River Humber gas pipeline breaks through
INNOVATION UNDERGROUND 51 UK: Anglo American buys out Sirius Minerals
52 Russia: Major metro expansions planned
83 Egypt: Ground freezing assistance under Suez Canal
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
54 Russia: China-Europe transport corridor 84 Tunnelling Masters degrees; Training courses; Skills workshops
56 Russia: St Petersburg Neva River highway revival INDUSTRY NEWS, HONOURS AND AWARDS
Our global network of tunneling specialists provides you with tailored 57 Russia: Doubling Severomuiski to add rail capacity 87 Industry News; Honours, Awards and Tributes; Book and Reports
solutions and application know-how that improve operational safety
and sustainability whilst increasing efficiency.
PUBLISHER - EXECUTIVE EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS
Shani Wallis Jonathan Rowland Karen Martin
More at www.ugc.basf.com Direct by Design
Patrick Reynolds Eugene Gerden
DESIGN and PRODUCTION MANAGER
Copyright© TunnelTalk 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any Claire Hunt Jaroslaw Adamowski Roland Herr
means, electronic or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
All views expressed in this journal are those of the respective contributors and are not BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS
necessarily the opinions of the publisher, neither do the publishers endorse any of the
claims made in the articles or the advertisements. Printed by Buxton Press Ltd, UK. Adela Buglass Julie Burchell Laura Skorczeski
VOLUME 10 Order extra copies of the 2010-2019 issues online www.TunnelTalk.com [email protected]
Unprecedented times inspiring futuristic solutions
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk and businesses and what will we do with retail spaces built into all the underground Mediterranean. The concept of the floating
the vast expanses of roads and highways stations of the Hong Kong Metro. tunnel for deeper water crossings awaits
A
and runways in the engineered future? Underground car parking garages in development of a prototype project along
t the end of 2019, the hope for 2020,
Ironically, at the end of 2019 the urban areas: Parking on both sides of with the Trans-Atlantic hyperlink floating
at the start of the new decade, was for
question was posed: If we could increase narrow streets in urban areas is a serious tunnel concept, which has been a vision
a sense of ‘getting back to business’
productivity and reduce the cost of issue and there are opportunities of having for several decades.
to take hold and for a longer-term view to
excavating underground space significantly, the entrances to underground garages in More high-speed rail worldwide: High-
become the focus for the global perspective.
and if scope was not an issue, where would local parks with the exit at the far end for speed rail, travelling at 200km/hr, is a
Smooth sailing into the 2020s was the title
it be sensible to build underground facilities one-way traffic with a parking space under quick and more time and energy efficient
of our opening article for the start of the
and tunnels? The list grew and grew (Table each house and linked via an elevator or a alternative to travelling by air or by car for
decade. Who could have predicted that the
1) and others were suggested to ponder. stairway into the home or the garden. journeys of up to 500km. That distance is
global focus would be the fight against a virus
Perhaps some of these will provide direction TBM manufacturer CREG has greater with greater speeds on maglev or
pandemic. Looking back on 2019, it was
for the future and help shape society on the developed a rectangular machine for hyperloop systems.
smooth sailing by comparison.
journey ahead. excavating such underground car parks,
Global restrictions imposed by More underground metros: A rule of
Earthscrapers: Build down instead of erecting precast concrete elements behind. Double helix for one way travel through the Sydney Opera House underground car park
governments to control the coronavirus thumb often quoted is that an underground
pandemic threw ‘business as usual’ into up. There are many different concepts The concept was an entry in the ITA Awards mass transit system is needed for cities
complete disarray. Job sites were closed being promoted for creating underground of 2019 in the Innovative Underground of more than 1 million population. Given
down; events were cancelled or postponed; living and working spaces and for Space Concept category. that criteria, there is a lot to do, and that
offices, schools and universities were closed; facilities such as sensitive laboratories; The parking garage for the Sydney is before considering the tremendous
and lockdown became the norm with underground farming; underground Opera House in Australia is an example of amount of work needed in cities of both
everyone who could, working from home. cemeteries, and underground long- one-way traffic through a garage, parking more, and less, than 1 million for sewerage
On going to press, controlling the term storage banks. ITACUS, the ITA on the diagonal, and driving down through and water supply in developing countries.
pandemic remains the global focus, with Committee on Underground Space of the the helix to come up and out in the same
International Tunneling and Underground direction of travel. Tap the icecaps and glaciers: Harvest
the social and economic consequences
Space Association, is promoting more the melting of iceflows and glaciers and
beginning to be assessed and the dilemma More undersea links: Narrow
hold the fresh water in underground
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
of how to come out of the social isolation imaginative and feasible concepts for the channels remain barriers to connectivity
use of the underground environment. reservoirs and delivery systems, rather
and lockdown being faced. For civil throughout the world. Immersed tubes and
than waste it into the sea.
engineers, topics beginning to engage Underground homes: In very hot and deep undersea TBM and drill+blast links are
the minds centre on how society will very cold climates the underground considered and planned for many. Other More hydro schemes: Use fresh water
change and what the future will look like. temperature is naturally stable and provides suggestions include a road connection for multi-purposes and help reduce
With schools and offices closed and cars a comfortable environment for human for the Channel Tunnel; more links under carbon emissions by increasing hydro
parked, the air is much cleaner and the habitation and activity. Existing examples the Bosphorus, where the bridges and energy generation as the environmentally
burning of fossil fuels dramatically reduced. include the underground homes and the Eurasia double deck highway tunnel responsible alternative. On another water
With the use of trains and metros also hotels in Coober Pedy, South Australia, the under the strait remain congested, and related theme, have everyone buy quality
much restricted and all aeroplanes but a networks of underground shopping malls where plans for a mega bored tunnel drinking water in bottles and turn current
few grounded, will the internet remain the with direct access to metro stations and for road and rail are being considered; fresh water networks into good quality,
but less expensive, grey water quality for Futuristic concept for high-speed trans-ocean travel
virtual highway for the future for schools car parks in Helsinki and Montreal, and the fixed links from mainland to islands in the
flushing toilets, watering gardens, washing Create more multi-use underground Nuclear waste: Progress - with urgency
Table 1. Start and construction of an underground and tunnel excavation wish list cars, washing clothes, and everything but infrastructure: Examples of such - the desperate need for viable, safe, long
drinking and cooking. infrastructure includes the SMART tunnel
Country Tunnel Length Purpose long-term disposal or storage of low-,
Underground high voltage electricity in Kuala Lumpur that is both a stormwater medium and high-level nuclear waste.
Spain to North Africa Gibralta crossing 40km Rail cables: London leads the way with conduit and a double deck highway for This should be a universal imperative
China-India Link under the Himalayas Several of 20km and more Rail hundreds of kilometres of high voltage when the stormwater facility is not needed; rather than a national issue to solve. The
cable tunnels under the city (see p49). TBM the water, gas, sewer, ground water engineering industry is prepared and able
USA - Russia Link across the Baring Straits 90km Rail
manufacturer Herrenknecht won the award conduits under Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; to build such facilities. It is the political
Norway Ship tunnel (see p44) 1km Canal for innovation at the bauma trade show in and large diameter TBM tunnels to will and responsible leadership that is
Norway fjord crossings Floating tunnels to cross deep fjords 5km and more Road Munich in April 2019 for its development accommodate both road and metro links lacking. Another suggestion is to build
of high-speed micro machines to create in the same tubes. More stormwater nuclear power reactors underground
Canada Vancouver to Victoria Island Up to 26km long immersed tube Road the underground links for carrying wind facilities that could have a SMART tunnel in closed, contained environments.
Eire to UK Dublin to Anglesey 100km Road farm cables from the North Sea where it is concept are needed to protect sinking Caverns large enough for the purpose
generated, to the south of Germany where cities including Jakarta, Manila, Mexico already exist in the impressive scale and
England to Northern Ireland Blackpool to Isle of Man to Belfast 100km + 60km Road/rail
it is needed (see p88). City, Bangkok and many others. excavation of hydro power machine halls.
UK Gosport to Isle of Wight 6km Road
UK A link for the M25 Jn5 to M1 60km Road Underground living in Coober Pedy, Australia Build down rather than up in dense urban and city environments
motorways directly under London
Sweden-Finland Stockholm to Turku (via Aaland) 100km Rail
Channel Islands-France Guernsey-Jersey-France 20km Road/rail
Japan-Korea Undersea link 200km Rail
Russia-Sakhalin Island Undersea link 8km Road/rail
possibly on to Japan Undersea link 43km Road/rail
India-Sri Lanka Undersea link 25km to 50km Rail
Argentina-Chile Tren a las Nubes - Train to the Clouds Several of various length Rail
Argentina-Chile Bioceánico Aconcagua 52.5km-long twin-tube base Rail
tunnel under the Andes
Habitation of the moon Underground space Caverns Habitation and storage
CERN Geneva Future Circular Collider (FCC) 100km Nuclear physics
Hyperloop developments Intra-city people movers Various Ultra highspeed travel
4 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 www.TunnelTalk.com www.TunnelTalk.com TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 5
Replace elevated highways and
metros underground: As elevated
highways have been famously replaced
underground in Boston and Seattle,
so too can others around the world.
FEAR NO REPAIRING THE WORLD’S LONGEST TUNNEL
Designed for water pressures up to 30 bar and featuring
ROCK
The Cahill elevated highway that ruins enhanced probe drilling, a 6.8 m diameter Single Shield TBM
the Sydney foreshore is one or many tackled tough ground and won. The machine repaired a leak
examples. The Hammersmith flyover in in New York City’s Delaware Aqueduct below the Hudson
London should have been a fly-under River, completing the job on budget and ahead of schedule.
from the start. Elevated reaches of
metros around the world could now go
underground and free up highly valuable
urban and city land space.
More reservoirs for big cities: Supply
of water to cities is a constant forecast
crisis. New reservoirs to hold more
Delaware Aqueduct Repair Project
reserves and capacity will have to be
More precise steering by the autonomous TBM system New York, USA
underground as no-one wants them taking
up open green space. Alternatively more ground as the host medium; cost; risk; underground infrastructure and here,
6.8 m Single Shield TBM
distant reservoirs will need underground willingness; social negatives; physiological a new exercise could be staged. How
conduits to convey the water to city problems of being underground; are all can we increase productivity and reduce
distribution networks. against these great ideas. costs? There are several studies underway
Quarries and mines: Ban all open cut worldwide to address these conundrums
and strip mining of the landscape and Industry Feedback from a geological, technical, mechanical,
put all quarrying and mining underground. From: Michael M logistical, contractual, environmental
Use worked out underground mines for I thoroughly enjoyed reading this piece and and political point of view with several
landfill rubbish disposal and deposits for in the list of major projects in construction, ideas and concepts already in prototype
tunnel project muck. there are a few in Europe that warranted or practice.
a mention. First the Grand Paris Express: The harnessing of big data in BIM
Links to offshore oil fields and gas
Comprising 200km of new metro with 68 systems and the built-in monitoring of smart
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
wells: Engineers in Norway are studying

underground stations, requiring +/-30 infrastructure are two examples. Others
the feasibility of such undersea fixed links.
TBMs. Large portions are already under include the digitisation of machines and the
Tunnels could also bring in electricity
construction with many more contracts to development of more sophisticated robots.
cables from ocean wind farms and tidal
be awarded and started this year (2020). A team of engineers engaged by MMC-
energy generators or from stations where
Secondly, the high speed rail line between Gamuda on the Line 2 of the Klang Valley
sea water is converted to hydrogen for
Lyon, France and Turin, Italy (TELT). The MRT project in Kuala Lumpur are leading
energy generation.
four contracts for the 57km twin tube the way in development and application
Remove all level crossings: Grade baseline tunnel under the Alps went out for of the first autonomous TBM system in
separate road, rail and pedestrians to requests for proposals in early 2020. operation, a development that was the
resolve these major safety hazards. Do the Keep up the great work! clear winner of the New Technology and
same for road and highway intersections Innovations category of the 2019 ITA
From: Siba Prasad Sen, India
to avoid the long, air polluting idling at Awards (see p92).
To add to the wish list is a major highway
stop lights and multi-lane intersections. So the future remains positive and
tunnel through the formidable Western
Ban open cut metro station construction: Ghats mountain ranges on the route west engaging, with warnings and lessons
Mined construction of stations and running to Mangalore between Bangalore and to learn from past mistakes to keep the
tunnels without disrupting the surface of Chennai (Fig 1). industry on track and progressing. One
the city has to be the way for underground sober warning delivered in 2019 was
station construction. Back to reality at the WTC World Tunnel Congress in
While it is engaging to consider the Naples, Italy, when Petro Salini, CEO of
For just about everything that can be
possibilities, the exercise is based on international contractor Salini Impregilo,
on the surface, there is an underground
the premise of increasing productivity stated in his keynote address that
alternative. Productivity; speed of
and reducing the cost of excavating continuing attempts by owners to shift
construction; difficulty of dealing with the
risk onto contractors who are bidding
with ever decreasing margins, will lead
Fig 1. Proposed Western Ghats underpass: the road tunnel of 29km being to “extinction” of contractors (p8). There
considered will be challenging work due to the elevation differences and the is no point in having bright, imaginative
prevailing geology. It has been discussed for some time and perhaps this decade engineers designing the infrastructure
is the decade in which it will advance of the future if there are no contractors
with the courage and expertise to bring it
to reality. n
References
• Lyon-Turin begins base line tender process
– TunnelTalk, March 2020
• Grand Paris Metro progresses with Line 16
awards – TunnelTalk, October 2018
• Underground excavation wish list –
TunnelTalk, January 2020
• Project reaction and disruptions as 2018
phenomena – TunnelTalk, December 2019
• Crossing the Himalayas by rail – TunnelTalk,
May 2012
• Chinese onboard for TBM-bored Helsinki-
Tallinn link – TunnelTalk, August 2019
• Norway trims ship tunnel cost – TunnelTalk,
November 2019
• Links across the waters – TunnelTalk,
January 2010
therobbinscompany.com
6 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 www.TunnelTalk.com
Jenny Yan of China
takes the reins of the ITA
Roland Herr for TunnelTalk
I
n being elected President of the
International Tunnelling and Underground
Association for the period 2019-2022,
Professor Jenny Jinxiu Yan said: “It is an
New era begins for ITA at WTC 2019

honour to be the new ITA President. I
understand that it means responsibilities,
commitments and dedication. To meet the
new challenges, it is important to make a
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk prepared specifically for underground engineer and as founder of Herrenkencht joint effort to find new solutions to contribute
construction contracts by the ITA in AG. This ranged from his first underground to the sustainable development goals of
T
collaboration with FIDIC. job working on the open-face Big John the United Nations by 2030. To achieve
he first woman president and the first
• Approval of the proposal by Iran to machine of the early 1970s in Switzerland, this we must first, enhance communication
president from China was elected to
establish a new Working Group on the through the development of machines with related international organisations,
lead the International Tunnelling and
Design and Construction of Shafts. to cope with increasingly demanding national policy-making forums, and well-
Underground Space Association (ITA) for the
• Approval and publication of reports geological and logistical challenges. known international banks to increase
coming three years during the 2019 World
and developments by other Working Most recently, developments include the contributions of tunnelling to the
Tunnel Congress at its 45th Annual General
Groups and by the three Committees of sophisticated electronic systems and implementation of sustainable development.
Assembly of the Association in Naples, Italy
the Association – ITACUS, ITACOSUF technologies that increase the safety and Secondly, to improve communication and
In a close result, the 78 Member Nations
and ITAtech. performance of TBMs and contribute to exchanges between Member Nations and
of the Association voted 30 to 32 to elect
New publications include from reduced excavation costs. the industry by encouraging experience
Jenny Yan of China, with Eric Leca of France
Working Group 2 new guidelines for the In an engaging keynote presentation, sharing through organising symposiums,
proving a formidable fellow candidate. Yan
design of segmental tunnel linings; from Pietro Salini, CEO of Salini Impregilo, training courses and other similar events.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
takes over from President Tarcisio Celestino

Working Group 5 a client’s guide for high emphasised the need to attract young Thirdly, recognise the achievements of our
of Brazil and is joined by four new Vice
pressure compressed air work; and from professionals to the industry and addressed industry and promote knowledge sharing
Presidents with Lars Babendererde (Member
Working Groups 14 and 15 a joint report the topic of risk aversion and unrealistic and the application of well-recognised new
Nation Germany) as first Vice President; and
on handling, treatment and disposal of competition in the contracting sector, saying technologies among all parties involved,
Randy Essex (USA), Arnold Dix (Australia), and
excavation materials. that the continuing attempts by owners including decision makers and investors.
Giuseppe Lunardi (Italy) as co-Vice Presidents.
The ITAtech Committee produced new to shift risk onto the contractors, that are Finally to focus on the common concerns and
Newly elected members of the Executive
reports on a practical approach for controlling bidding with ever decreasing margins, will challenges of our industry and endeavour to
Council are Jamal Rostami (Member Nation
blasting vibration and optimising advance in lead to “extinction” of contractors. seek new solutions through collective efforts Jenny Jinxiu Yan has been
Iran); Abidemi Agwor (Nigeria); Hamdi Aydin
tunnelling, and a second updated guideline The WTC in Naples also hosted by all ITA members and industry.” engaged in the industry for
(Turkey); Choi Hangseok (Korea); Jeyatharan
on the rebuild of machinery for mechanised more than 170 exhibitors representing Yan has been involved in the tunnelling more than 30 years
Kumarasamy (Singapore); and Andres
tunnel excavation. all sectors of the industry and from all industry for more than 30 years and is Deputy
Marulanda (Colombia).
The ITACOSUF Committee on safety corners of the world. General Manager of the China Railway
At the 2019 General Assembly session,
in underground spaces, published a report All in all a busy, productive, significant Academy Company. As the team leader for research, consulting and design, she
Mexico was elected as host of the WTC
on the current practice for design of cross- and progressive event. n has been involved in the most challenging railway, highway, metro and water tunnel
and ITA General Assembly in 2022 at the
passages to support safety in rail and projects in China as well as internationally in Malaysia, Laos, Nepal and Morocco and
resort of Cancun, gaining the majority vote
metro tunnels. References many other countries, especially for the early project stages.
from competing host Member Nation India • Steep curve ahead to keep ITA relevant –
In the last 40 years, China has completed an extraordinary amount of tunnelling
and its proposed venue in Goa. Cancun, WTC experiences TunnelTalk, May 2016
activity. By the end of 2017, China had built and put into service 127,000km of
Mexico, might be expected to be a more As is the annual tradition at WTCs, there
popular choice, but India undoubtedly were reasons to complain, and so for Video reporting railway, including 25,000km of high-speed connections, with 14,700 tunnels on the
lines adding to a total of 15,781km. Of 4.77 million kilometres of highways built, there
presents a greater need for underground Naples it was the unseasonal rain and cold Through 2019, TunnelTalk reported
from around the world, providing are more than 16,000 tunnels totalling 15,240km.
infrastructure as the nation addresses temperatures that ruined high expectations
coverage of major conferences Transit growth in China continues and has accelerated in recent years. By the end
WORLD TUNNEL
urgent developments for city sewers, water of glorious Mediterranean sunshine as well and projects, as well as of 2017, there were 165 rail-transit lines in 34 cities totalling 5,033km with 3,884km
supply lines, metros, hydro energy, intercity as a surprising shortage of baristas to serve interviewing key industry players.
underground. “Rapid transit is ideal for the big cities of China and is unchallenged
highways and railways, and irrigation impatient queues with Italian espresso; a View the TunnelTalk video reporting on the
in its ability to transport large numbers of people at high frequency and quickly over
networks. The WTC 2020 in Kuala Lumpur, spread out venue of conference rooms and TunnelTalk YouTube channel:
CONGRESS 2021
short distances,” said Yan.
Malaysia, has been severely disrupted by exhibition areas that was demanding even www.youtube.com/user/TunnelTalkVideos/videos
“The progress of tunnelling in China would not have been possible without the
the coronavirus pandemic with most looking of the fittest; and a wifi service, gratefully
knowledge and experience sharing and the strong support from the international
forward instead to the 2021 WTC to convene sponsored by SWS Engineering, that
tunnelling industry,” added Yan. “All the involvement and contributions are important
in Copenhagen, Denmark in May 2021. proved unable in its capacity to host all the
for progress and it is very much appreciated by the Chinese industry. Meanwhile,
Additional business of the ITA at the users as well as the app designed to help
the experiences and lessons learned by the Chinese over the past 40 years are very
2109 General Assembly included:
• Approval of three new Member Nations
delegates navigate the technical sessions,
poster sessions, meetings, and indoor,
costly and of value to countries planning similar projects. In return, we are ready to Underground solutions for a world in change
share these experiences internationally, through conferences, symposia, workshops
– Kenya, Albania and Lebanon. outdoor and marquee exhibition areas.
and other media, as we have in the past. The challenges include not only the size
• Approval of the budget of the Nonetheless, SIG, the Italian Tunnelling
of the tunnels, but include also the logistics and demands of super long, very deep 16–19 May 2021,
Association, which, for 2018, totalled an
annual income of more than €900,000
Society and its organising committees,
staged a WTC with a well constructed and
TunnelTalk reporting of the WTC event tunnels with large cross sections and at high altitude, as well as tunnelling in very Copenhagen, Denmark
(above) and Salini keynote address (below) complex conditions, such as active faults, extreme sequencing ground, permafrost,
with an expenditure of about €850,000 packed programme of technical paper
to create a surplus of about €50,000. presentations and special social events.
high geothermal ground and remote locations. China will need help and involvement
from the international industry to overcome these challenges together.”
Open for abstracts –
• Approval of the proposal from Norway
to commission an external audit of the
At the Opening Ceremony, relayed
by video link between two theatres to
“My first involvement in the ITA was in 1990, during the 16th ITA General submission deadline 2 June 2020!
Assembly in Chengdu, China. I deeply understand the extreme importance for
organization, operation and governance accommodate the near 2,000 attendees,
of the Association as a one-off Martin Herrenknecht delivered the Sir Alan
international exchanges and cooperation, in which ITA plays a key role. I have been a wtc2021.com
investment into its strategy for the future. Muir Wood Lecture, taking the audience link between the Chinese tunnelling industry and the ITA for many years.” n
• Publication and release of the new on a journey of TBM development through References
Emerald Book form of contract his own personal career as a mechanical • China manufacturing on show – TunnelTalk, December 2018
8 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 www.TunnelTalk.com www.TunnelTalk.com

Risk reduction for
Direct by Design
underground works
A
FIDIC News Release t the start of the 2020 decade, TunnelTalk celebrates more than 10 years in publication
and its 10th edition of the Annual Review yearbook magazine.
Through the years, the magazine has grown exponentially. It now has an online
Archive of more than 3,500 articles and videos and a readership of between 80,000 and
120,000 reader sessions per month. Since launch of the magazine in 2008, more than
7,500 professionals have signed up to receive the free weekly news Alert email distributed
every Thursday.
The value of the editorial coverage and of the magazine readership has attracted
dedicated long-term readers, advertisers and media partners. For our advertisers, our
readers are your customers. For our readers, our coverage is your link with the industry. n
TunnelTalk readership by region (left) and Alert recipients by profession (right)
T he printed Annual Review yearbook
looks back at the year just past and
encapsulates a synopsis of the leading
Owners, Clients,
Owners, Clients,
Government Agencies events, projects, company developments
7.3% 7.3% Americas 6% 6% Government Agencies
Americas 7% 7% and honours. The Annual Review is
8.2% 8.2% Consultants
Consultants
T U N N E LTA L K A N N U A L R E V I E W 1 0 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y I S S U E
30.7% 30.7% Europe
Europe 12% published as a simulated digital edition,
12% 37% 37% Contractors
Contractors and printed in hard copy for distribution
23.1% 23.1% Asia Asia
12% 12%
Manufacturers
Manufacturers at industry gatherings and conferences.
Oceania
Oceania All editions of the Annual Review are
37% Material Suppliers
Material Suppliers
30.7% 30.7% 37%
AfricaAfrica available for purchase in both digital and
OthersOthers hard copy format. n
Emerald Book contract specifically for underground projects
T
o address the uncertainty and contractual risks associated with
tunnelling and underground works, FIDIC, the International
Federation of Consulting Engineers, and ITA, the International
Progressing into a second decade
T
Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, published the
en years has passed so quickly. From its launch of dedicated professionals. From its launch in
new form of contract of underground works. The Emerald Book in 2008 at the World Tunnel Congress in Agra, 2008, the magazine is a credit to the efforts of the
takes into account construction practicability, time and cost, and India, TunnelTalk has reported on the projects, engaged team of self-employed freelancers and
the geological, hydrogeological and geotechnical properties of developments and events that have shaped the contractors. The current team, many with long-term
the ground which determine the methods required for successful industry through the decade. Its reporting has: service, includes: freelance journalists Jonathan
implementation of underground projects. • Followed the progress of extraordinary projects Rowland, Patrick Reynolds, Karen Martin, Armand
Launch of the Emerald Book in 2019 follows several years of from conceptual design to contract bidding and van Wijck, Eugene Gerden, Jaroslaw Adamowski,
intensive work by a joint task group of representatives from FIDIC award, through construction and on to completion Roland Herr; technical subeditors Julie Burchell,
and ITA who identified several issues that the contract should and opening for service; Laura Skorczeski; head of advertisement sales
address to promote equitable risk allocation and the effective • Kept abreast of news and developments Adela Buglass; video producer and editor Mark
dealing with conditions typically unforeseeable in such projects. that have marked the life of the industry through Charles; web magazine production and developers
The following are specifically addressed in the new contract: company mergers, buyouts, career moves and Avneesh Jain and his CodeHall team in Bangalore,
• Allocation of risk. financial fortunes; India, including Suman and Santhosh, and graphic
• Disclosure of all available geological and geotechnical • Tracked the design, manufacture and designer for the magazine and production editor
information. application of important project TBMs and other TunnelTalk references for anyone researching of the Annual Review yearbook since its first edition
• Inclusion of a contractual geotechnical baseline. equipment and technical developments; underground development and its history. in 2010, Claire Hunt.
• Inclusion of a tailored Unforeseeable Physical Conditions clause. • Reported on the major conferences, As well as article reports, TunnelTalk was Others who have been instrumental in the
The world’s leading Tunnel Consultants • Implementation of a ground classification system and of congresses, exhibitions and events that keep the the first to bring video reporting to the readers. success of TunnelTalk through the years have
Elevated thinking,
supporting particular conditions that properly reflect the effort of international industry connected and advancing, Our videographers and editors have reported on included original designer of the web magazine
excavation and stabilisation. both technologically and socially; many of the major projects through the years, in 2008 Akhtar Hussain; early web magazine
• Time for completion to be largely influenced by ground conditions. • Provided the lead in many instances to bring have covered the main annual conferences production team Absolute Infotech; Peter
• Provision of a flexible mechanism for remuneration according to developments in the world of underground space and events, and have produced face to face Kenyon, editor and journalist from 2010 to 2016;
Underground ground conditions, foreseen and unforeseen. to a wider audience including the general public and interviews with industry leaders. The video advertisement sales managers from 2010 to
• Guidelines to help anticipate risks associated with works. other professions that would be otherwise oblivious reports are listed in our Archive and on the 2019 Christie O’Reilly and Binda Punj; accounts
With the increasing need for underground works, take-up of the to the remarkable infrastructure being developed TunnelTalk YouTube channel. manager 2010-2019 Katerina Chvojka, and
under our cities, seas and across nations. The publishing industry has been continuing business advisers and consultants
Design. Management. new Emerald Book contract is expected to be widespread.
The following pages celebrate the highlights transformed through the past decade, with the Katrina Santa Maria, Louise and Josephine Wallis
“Working together, FIDIC and ITA have created a contract that
Modern construction techniques. we believe will command the respect and authority of the tunnel that have marked the progress of the industry advance of the digital age. TunnelTalk began as and journalist, collaborator and video editor from
through the last decade of TunnelTalk reporting with a web publication, lifting the content of a printed launch in 2008, Paula Connor.
TBM engineering and construction sector that both clients and contractors
more detail to be found in the reports on the web magazine, in all its facets, off the page and At the end of a thrilling first 10 years and at the
can use with confidence. The new Emerald Book addresses several
SEM | SCL | NATM critical areas that should lead to the smoother running of contracts magazine and through its free-to-access Archive. onto the screen, leaving behind the time delay start of the second, we thank all our readers and
The Archive library is one of our most and space limitation disadvantages of printed our media partner advertisers for their appreciation
Ground improvement in the growing tunnelling and underground works sector,” said Zoltán
valued services. Through its efficient search magazines and embracing the immediacy and of our work and for their ongoing readership that
Záhonyi, FIDIC Contracts Committee Chair.
Ground support “The Emerald Book will bridge an important gap. Despite all
facility, a full list of reference results will take global accessibility of the web. will enable us to continue our editorial coverage and
readers and researchers to the information they Publication of the magazine and its Annual grow the business in the years to come. n
Waterproofing the technological developments of equipment and techniques in the
are looking for. A search of the web brings up Review yearbook is the collaboration of a team - Shani Wallis, Publisher and Executive Editor
field, many underground construction projects end up unsuccessful
Rehabilitation because of contractual disputes,” said Tarcisio Celestino, From left: On site reporting; bauma India; Agra WTC 2008; Media partner at many congresses, with an exhibition booth; bauma China
President of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space
Association. “The Book brings together the result of the expertise
and respectability of ITA-AITES and FIDIC in the fields of contracts
and specifications for underground construction.”
The new contract is available for purchase from the FIDIC
online bookshop. n
Washington DC . London . New York . San Francisco
Salzburg . Santiago de Chile . New Delhi . Singapore References
• The FIDIC suite of contracts analysed – TunnelTalk, August 2010
www.gzconsultants.com
www.TunnelTalk.com
Connectivity beneath mountains, under the sea, between Road connections
Europe
countries and across cities was the focus in Europe for the Highway links of distinction have provided undersea
past decade. TBMs, immersed tubes, drill+blast and open- connections in Turkey and Norway with the Eurasia
face excavations were supported with every tool possible double deck TBM project under the Bosphorus in
Istanbul and the drill+blast headings deep beneath
to achieve success. TunnelTalk has followed leading projects
the seabed for the Ryfast and Rogfast links in Norway.
through their journeys.
Highway links also included the twin tube TBM drives
for the Sparvo project and the Sicily Caltanissetta
Final TBM breakthrough, Rail connections project in Italy and three planned projects in the UK to
bypass the Stonehenge monument and two highway
Gotthard baseline Leading the way for European connectivity, and after links under the River Thames, the Silvertown project
railway, Switzerland, 17 years in construction, was the Gotthard baseline in London and the Lower Thames crossing to the
March 2011 rail link, completing all headings for the first of the Eurasia highway under the
east of the city. n Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, 2015
twin tubes in 2010, for the second in 2011 and
opening to traffic in 2016. This was followed by the
Brenner baseline project with start of its exploratory Sparvo twin-tube highway, Italy, 2013 Drill+blast under the sea for
bore in 2010 and all main line excavations Ryfast link, Norway, 2016
currently progressing. Other main rail connection
projects during the decade have been Hallandsås;
Stuttgart 21; Mont Cenis on the Lyon-Turin
baseline, the hard rock TBM and segmentally lined

Follo Line, Norway; Koralm and Semmering rail
lines in Austria; Crossrail and the HS2 high speed
rail link in the UK; and the mega immersed tube
Marmaray link under the Bosphorus; the combined
road and rail Fehmarnbelt link; and plans for the rail
link between Helsinki and Tallin. n
Brenner Baseline begins, Fehmarnbelt Denmark-Germany

Austria-Italy, 2010 sea link approved in Denmark, 2014
Grand Paris Express, France, 2017 Cityringen, Denmark, 2010

Additional infrastructure projects
Significant underground projects planned and progressed across
the years have included projects in the UK for the Woodsmith
potash mine, the cooling water systems for the new Hinkley
Point nuclear power plant, the Thames Tideway CSO interceptor
project in London, and extension of the network of high voltage
electricity cables under the city of London including in preparation
for the London Summer Olympic Games in 2012. n
Final TBMs breakthrough on Follo Line, Crossrail excavation
Norway, February 2019 finalised, UK,
June 2015 Tideway Lee Tunnel as the start of the
Tideway CSO in London, UK, 2011
Metros
Extension and expansion of
the metro systems in most
major cities of Europe have
progressed through the past ten
years, none more ambitious and
extensive than the Grand Paris
Express programme in France.
New lines and extensions have
been added also to the metro
systems in London, Milan,
Berlin, Stockholm, Amsterdam
and the new Cityringen line in
Copenhagen. n Expanding the network Woodsmith potash mine shaft
Ground freezing assists Hallandsås railway
of London cable tunnels, sinking operations, UK, 2018
excavation to breakthrough, Sweden, June 2010 Amsterdam Metro, the Netherlands, 2010 UK, 2013
TBM headings on the DigIndy CSO, Deep shaft access on the Emisor
Indianapolis, USA, 2016 Oriente project, Mexico, 2019
TBMs forged the mighty wastewater Emisor Oriente project, Mexico, 2009
Operating pressures of more than

8.9 bar on Lake Mead, Nevada, USA, 2009
Water supply
Supply and management of potable water in the USA
presented the industry with its most challenging projects to
claw success from the extremes on the Arrowhead tunnels
in the hills behind Los Angeles; on the Seymore Capilano
project in Vancouver; at Brightwater in Seattle; the first TBM
bored tunnel under San Francisco Bay; the daring Lake
Mead intake in Nevada; and most recently for the Delaware Sewers
aqueduct repair bypass in New York State. The same high It has been the interception of CSOs to meet
Mega TBM excavation of the SR99 double deck Largest ever hard rock TBM excavated the bar of challenge will continue into the long distance TBM clean water regulations and manage wastewater
Alaskan Way higway in Seattle, USA, 2009 Niagara hydro waterway, Canada, 2009 excavations required for the WaterFix project in California. n that has continued to demand extensive tunnel
networks in many cities across North America
including Indianapolis, Columbus, Cleveland,
North America
Success from extremes at Arrowhead,
California, USA, 2009 Washington DC, Detroit, St Louis, and Dalles in
the USA; Toronto in Canada and the capital city
in Mexico. Design of a post tensioned segmental
lining is the particular feature on the new Los
Over the past 10 years, Canada, the USA and Mexico have advanced a rich heritage of
Angeles sewer conveyance tunnel now in its early
cutting edge underground development employing the largest ever hard rock TBM for the
stages of construction. n
Niagara hydro power water diversion tunnel in Canada, the largest ever EPBM for the Alaskan
Way SR99 viaduct replacement highway tunnel in Seattle, USA and one of the longest wastewater projects
One TBM, two cutterhead diameters
advanced as a single project for the 62km long Emisor Oriente in Mexico City. For railways, roads, metros, CSO for Mill Creek CSO, USA, 2019
interceptors and potable water systems, North America has taken the industry and its technology to extremes. Twin TBM drives at Seymour Capilano,
British Colombia, Canada, 2010
Road connections First use of SEM in Los Angeles Mined alternatives to open-cut for
Along with the mega TBM drive for the SR99 highway tunnel for Metro Regional Connector, the Ottawa Metro, Canada, 2012
in Seattle, road connections in the USA have included the USA, 2014
TBM drives for the Port of Miami connection in Florida, the
Midtown immersed tube link under the Elizabeth River in
Virginia, and the TBM alternatives to immersed tube projects
to double the capacity of the Thimble-Shoals and Hampton
Roads crossings of Chesapeake Bay. n
Rail connections California creates the

start of dedicated high
Rail projects have a checkered history in recent times in North America, and while Virgin
Metros Hyperloop One is studying possible high speed links, California is progressing the first
speed rail in USA, 2012
While Phoenix in Arizona rejected the underground for the start of its LRT dedicated high speed rail route between Los Angeles and San Diego in the south, to San
system, underground works extended the networks in most cities of North Francisco and Sacramento in the north. After termination of the Access to the Regions
America during the decade, most ambitiously in Los Angeles, New York City, Core (ARC) project in 2010, and while increased capacity under the Hudson between New
San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Ottawa, and Mexico City. The long-promised Jersey and Pen Station in Manhattan is in design under the new Gateway project, the
extension of BART to San Jose is now likely to build the first single-tube, elements of the East Side Access project to bring Long Island Railroad services into the
Thimble Shoals TBM most spectacular underground terminus cavern under Grand Central Station has grabbed
double-track metro line and with BART also preparing for a second metro
alternative, USA, 2016 the headlines through the decade. n
crossing of San Francisco Bay. n
TBMs connected open-cut stations for the Seattle Metro, USA, 2010 Grand Central Station for East Side Access rail
services in Manhattan, New York, USA, 2012
Midtown immersed tube crossing

14 TunnelTalk ANNUALof
REVIEW 2019 Bay, USA, 2011
Chesapeake www.TunnelTalk.com www.TunnelTalk.com TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 15
Mergers and buyouts
In the decade, several industry statesmen were TunnelTalk has kept track of the changing face of the industry in:
remembered See p95 for additional tributes TBM manufacturing:
2008 Lovat sells to Caterpillar, 2014 Caterpillar sells Lovat to LNSS, China
Sir Alan Muir Wood 2013 China Railway Tunnelling Equipment buys Wirth from Aker
1921-2009 Solutions, Norway
Franz Pacher 2015 JIMT TBM manufacturing combines JFE, IHI and Mitsubishi
1919-2018 Japanese and buys 50% of Terratec in 2018
Dr Zdenek 2015 Mühlhäuser acquires Obermann and takes over TBM manufacturer
Dan Eisenstein NFM in 2018 from troubled Chinese owner NHI since 2007
1936-2009 2020 Mühlhaüser liquidation sees assets bought by Mining Equipment
and Bauer MAT and NFM Engineering established by BMS, France
Siegmund Equipment and materials suppliers:
Babendererde 2008 Zoomlion, China acquires Italy formwork specialist CIFA
John Bartlett of
Awards, honours and tributes the UK, honoured
1927-2012
Thomas R Kuesel
2010 Normet and TAM form global partnership
2012 BASF sells Meyco division to Atlas Copco
Outstanding achievements, that can often go unheralded, come to the attention in 2018 with the 1926-2010
Sir Frank Whittle 2012 Sany, China buys Putzmeister
of the international industry through its series of different awards. Chief among Walter Grantz 2012 Normet aquires D-Bolt product line
Medal of the
these on the global scale are the ITA Annual Awards which were launched in 1929-2018 2014 Bekaert+Maccaferri combination and absorbs Maccaferri in 2020
Royal Academy
2015. As well as highlighting projects and innovations of distinction, the Lifetime 2020 Keller mergers North America subsidiaries under Keller brand
of Engineering for Don Deere 2020 BASF sells Construction Chemicals to Lone Star Funds
Achievement Award recognises the careers of individuals dedicated to the his development 1922-2018
advancement of industry. National awards add to the honour of peer recognition, of the slurry TBM The consulting engineering world:
Zdzislaw Richard 2009 Balfour Beatty buys Parson Brinckerhoff and sells to WSP in 2014
including the annual TAC Awards in Canada, the UCA and Beavers Awards in the concept Bieniawski 2010 URS Acquires Scott Wilson; AECOM acquires URS in 2014
USA and the BTS James Clark Medal in the UK. n 1936-2017
2010 Jacobs acquires Jordan, Jones and Goulding
James McKelvey 2011 CH2M Hill buys Halcrow
1954-2015
ITA Presidents ITA Lifetime Achievement Awards Dick Robbins 2013 COWI acquires Jenny Engineering, USA
2019- Jenny Jinxiu Yan, China 2019 Dr Harvey Parker, USA receives the 2014 Donaldson Associates, UK acquired by COWI
Benjamin Terry Hulme 2014 Parsons aquires Delcan, Canada
2016-2019 Tarcisio Celestino, Brazil 2018 Dr Evert Hoek, Canada
Franklin 1929-2017 2014 Jacobs Associates merges with McMillen
2013-2016 Søren Eskesen, Denmark 2017 Einar Broch, Norway 2015 Hatch and Mott MacDonald split their North America JV
Institute Medal Dr Ralph B Peck
2010-2013 In Mo Lee, Korea, 2016 Dr Martin Herrenknecht, Germany in Engineering 1912-2008 2017 Jacobs acquires CH2M
2007-2010 Martin Knights, UK 2015 Professor Sebasiano Pelizza, Italy 2009 Tor Brekke 2017 SNC-Lavalin of Canada takes over Atkins
1934-2009 2018 COWI acquisition of ILF USA assets
Industry news and events

Construction:
Dick Robbins 2011 Tutor Perini buys Frontier Kemper
1933-2019 2013 Salini Construttori and Impregilo join forces
James Monsees 2014 Bilfinger withdraws from civil tunnelling, division acquired by Implenia
Along with the many projects that progress through the years, there has been the process of 1937-2019 2014 Hochtief seizes control of Leighton, Australia
doing business with company mergers, acquisitions, buyouts and restructures changing the face Enrique 2014 Hochtief sells John Holland, Australia to CCCC, China
of the industry and marking its evolution and history. The thread keeping everyone in the industry Fernández 2015 Bilfinger civil tunnelling division is acquired by Implenia
up-to-date with developments is the vibrant calendar of industry events that have been fixtures in González 2015 Breakup of Seli SpA, Italy
1958-2019 2017 CCCI, China acquires Aecon, Canada
the business year for delegates and exhibitors until the coronavirus pandemic of early 2020 which
caused cancellation of gatherings in person and moved many to virtual online alternatives.
For all the many, many successes that are both reported and go unrecognised, there have been a set of significant failures
Events WTC 2016
WTC 2017
San Francisco, USA
Bergen, Norway
2013
2014
RETC Washington DC
NAT Los Angeles
AFTES, France
2014 Lyon, 2017 and 2018 Paris
Lessons learned in the industry in the decade, none more awful than the collapse of an open cut excavation on the Cologne Metro in
ITA General Assemblies and WTC 2018 Dubai, UAE 2015 RETC New Orleans
World Tunnel Congresses Salzburg Geocolloquium
Germany; none more deadly than the collapse of the undersea gas pipeline heading in Japan; none more disruptive than the TBM rail heading failure under WTC 2019 Naples, Italy 2016 NAT with WTC San Francisco
WTC 2008 Agra, India Every year in October, Austria
2017 RETC San Diego
the mainline surface rail tracks in Rastatt, Germany; while in the hydro industry, collapses of waterways after the start of operations have proven costly to WTC 2009 Budapest, Hungary National Events 2018 NAT Washington DC bauma equipment trade shows
the operator and the insurance industry. These and other collapse events are the hazards of underground construction that risk registers, introduced by the WTC 2010 Vancouver, Canada USA – RETC and NAT 2019 RETC Chicago 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019:
construction and insurance industries, work hard to mitigate, and are events from which practitioners in the industry must continue to learn. n WTC 2011 Helsinki, Finland 2008 NAT San Francisco
Munich, Germany
WTC 2012 Bangkok, Thailand 2009 RETC Las Vegas STUVA, Germany
WTC 2013 Geneva, Switzerland 2010 NAT Portland, Oregon 2011 Berlin, 2013 Stuttgart, 2016, 2018: Shanghai, China
WTC 2014 Iguassu Falls, Brazil 2011 RETC San Francisco 2015 Dortmund, 2017 Stuttgart, 2011, 2016, 2018:
WTC 2015 Dubrovnik, Croatia 2012 NAT Indianapolis 2019 Frankfurt Mumbai/New Delhi, India
Careers in underground engineering

It has been a decade that has seen women breakthrough a barrier to become vital members
of underground engineering and construction teams. Rising to high managerial positions, as
well as being onsite and in the thick of things, has presented women with career paths in the
rewarding world of underground engineering.
Collapse of the TBM rail link under the Devastating collapse of an open cut crossover Many a sinkhole has provided a hard This is assisted by the different degree and training courses now offered in tunnelling
mainline railway at Rastatt, Germany, 2017 and sump structure in Cologne in 2009 lesson for competent excavation and underground space development, by universities and polytechnics, as well as a packed
Jenny Jinxiu Yan, programme of topic specific short courses for new recruits to the industry. There are also many
Failure of an undersea TBM heading in Japan Failure of the operating headrace on the Headrace collapse after commissioning
first woman industry apprenticeship schemes and hands-on training academies that are actively ensuring a
that cost the lives of five workers, 2012 Gilgel Gibe II hydro scheme in Ethiopia, 2010 of the Glendoe scheme in Scotland, 2009
President of new generation of industry professionals. Young Member groups of the ITA and national tunnelling
the ITA societies provide the networking opportunities among like-minded young professionals. n
It is a changing
face in the world
of underground
Ladies celebrating their roles on tunnelling projects engineering
Yulhyeon Tunnel high speed railway, Korea, 2015 China high speed rail networks
through the decade Record TBM advance rates were achieved Hydro and water
on the Bheri Babai project, Nepal, 2019 Despite the legendary troubles on excavations
in the Himalayas, there have been significant
successes during the decade. The TBM operation
for the Kishanganga hydro scheme in Kashmir
and for the Bheri Babai water diversion project
in Nepal provide positive prospects for TBM
operations for the many hydro projects planned
for the countries of the formidable mountains.
Hydro schemes and long water conveyance
projects have also advanced in Laos, Vietnam,
Thailand, Malaysia and India, with Singapore and
Hong Kong advancing their respective DTSS and
HATS wastewater systems employing both TBMs
and drill+blast with pre-excavation grouting to
overcome geological extremes. n
Rail connections
It has been the expanse of high-speed rail in China that has dominated the decade with thousands of kilometres of rail being laid with
a high percentage below ground. Korea also has an ambitious rail programme to connect people to any point in South Korea from any
other point in the country in less than half a day with the 50.3km long Yulhyeon Tunnel assisting on the Suseo to Seoul Link. The Hong
Kong Express rail link with China precedes further plans by China for international links including a rail link across the Himalayas to India
and across to Europe to create a new Silk Road as part of its One Road, One Belt aspirations. n
Kishanganga hydro success,
Kashmir, India, 2012
Asia
Longer, deeper, faster, continuous and more controlled have been the features
of the industry in Asia through the past decade. Continuous expansion of
metro systems in Singapore, Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Beijing
and other cities in China engage experienced teams without long, disruptive Hong Kong HATS stage 2 system, 2009
periods of suspension in planning, financing and implementation. China has achieved a network
of high speed rail and highway connections across the country with astonishing speed, and at the DTSS Phase 1 with interior protective membrane
beginning of the 2020s, is bringing its expertise to other countries of the world. Hydro development, and invert yet to cast, Singapore, 2010
particularly in the Himalayas, together with long distance water supply lines and expansion of urban potable water
and wastewater systems, round off what is undoubtedly the most active underground infrastructure region of the
world. The two devastating earthquakes and tsunamis that hit the Pacific region in 2004 and Japan in 2011 were
a powerful impetus to the industry to assist in the global search for resilient cities and societies with underground
infrastructure playing a vital role in the overall strategies.
Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok undersea

highway, Hong Kong, 2014
Metros
No more elevated metros (to prevent trapping heat and air pollution in the cities) or on the surface (to preserve valuable land space)
are policies being followed by many mega cities in Asia. Many also have no other option than to go underground in dense and historic
urban areas. Singapore leads with a non-stop metro construction programme, followed by India, with the start of new underground
metro systems in Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune and Jaipur, adding to expansion of the first metro system in the
country in Kolkata and the rapid expansion of the network in Delhi. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, continued expansion of its underground
metro following success with the TBM-bored SMART stormwater and road tunnel in the early 2000s. n
Mega TBMs for Tokyo Ring
Many a celebration for KVMRT, Kaula Lumpur, Line 1 now in
Road, Japan, 2017
metro breakthroughs in operation and Line 2 in excavation
India and across Asia
Final element in Road connections
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao link and
immersed tube sea link, 2018
the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok subsea
highway link in Hong Kong where
technological feats in immersed tube
construction and TBM bored excavation,
each introducing new approaches to
achieving the goal. In Japan, mega TBMs
are busy excavating the underground
alternative to surface and elevated
highways to complete ring roads around
Tokyo, in preparation for the 2020
Summer Olympics which have had to
be postponed to Summer 2021 due to
the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. n
Rail and metro
Australia and New Zealand Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Brisbane and Perth are leading
the way with extensions and new underground lines for their
metro and rail networks. Sydney has achieved remarkable
advance rates for the North West Rail Link and this continues
Per head of population and as a percentage of gross domestic product, New Zealand and
for the Metro City and Southwest extension with its slurry TBM
Australia have invested more in underground infrastructure during the decade than most
pass under Sydney Harbour. While the sandy soils of Perth
other countries. Road, rail, metro, water and hydro schemes have called on the application caused problems on the Forrestfield extension to the new
of mega TBMs, heart of the city excavations, successes and record speeds of advance airport terminal, all TBM and cross passage excavation was
by fleets of equipment and teams of skilled engineers and workers with plans to keep the completed in early 2020. The Cross River rail link mobilised
advancement of underground infrastructure going and going for the coming decades. in Brisbane in early 2020 and the first TBM breakthrough for
the Melbourne Metro was celebrated in February 2020. For
Auckland, construction and excavation of the City Rail Link
Twin tube TBM road connections, Brisbane, Australia, 2013 is being threaded through and beneath the city centre to
transform rail travel for the city. n Smart metro work in Melbourne, Australia, 2019
Auckland City Rail Link, Stage one, New Zealand, 2018 First TBM launched for Forrestfield
airport link, Perth, Australia, 2017
Highway connections
Large diameter TBMs and impressive roadheader and drill+blast excavations have created long networks of underground highways in all major
cities, with two mega TBMs ready to start excavation of the West Gate highway in Melbourne, following the mega TBM that completed the
Waterview highway in Auckland; speedy TBMs for the Clem 7, Airport Link and Legacy Way highways in Brisbane, and fleets of 20 and more
roadheaders working through Hawkesbury Sandstone for the Northconnex and Westconnex freeways in Sydney. Perth had its Polly Farmer
top-down bypass built in the late 1990s and Adelaide opened its Crafers twin tube highway in 2000. n
Two TBMs of 15.6m diameter for TBM made a u-turn to complete second Waterview Early works for the Auckland Hydro and water
West Gate project, Melbourne, Australia, 2019 drive in Auckland, New Zealand, 2015 interceptor, New Zealand, 2019
With major sewer and outfall works
completed in previous decades for
Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, it is
the new interceptor project in Auckland
that is the focus for the coming years
in the water industry with work just
beginning on the 14.7km long drive.
For the hydro industry, the Snowy 2.0
pumped storage project in New South
Wales will complete the final element
of the brave and ambitious Snowy
Mountains project of the mid-1900s
with the Kidston project in Queensland
nearing approval for construction. n
Snowy 2.0 prepares for arrival of

three TBMs for headrace, tailrace and
access excavations, Australia, 2020
Fleets of roadheaders create the NorthConnex

and WestConnex highways in Sydney, Australia
High quality finish for STEP wastewater Excellent TBM performances linked Middle East
network, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2012 metro stations in Doha, 2016 Metros and wastewater systems have
created the interest for the industry in
the iconic modern highrise cities of the
Middle East. Most impressively has been
construction of the Doha Metro in Qatar
where, in 26 months, 21 TBMs completed
56km of twin-tube metro running tunnels
across four metro lines and by four
contracted JVs. Similar concentrations of
running tunnels and station excavations
have been achieved for the Riyadh Metro in
Saudi Arabia, while in Dubai, plans to host
Expo 2020 initiated extension of its Metro
Red Line to the new airport and exhibition
grounds and construction of a deep
stormwater drainage project with a network
of sewer connections to direct wastewater
to a new treatment works. In Abu Dhabi,

it was the extensive urban drainage STEP,
Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme,
comprising 41km of main trunk lines and
51km of sewer links that provided an
industry focus. n
Middle East, Africa, South America

For many countries of Africa, the Middle East and South America, the underground excavation in-
dustry is young or yet to take a place in national development. While there are pockets of activity,
Reinforcing
Progress
and very impressive projects, in Doha, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Lesotho, Egypt, Chile, Brazil
and Argentina, and the start and advance of activity in Nigeria, Kenya, Peru, and Ecuador, the need
for underground infrastructure for wastewater management to hydro power generation and all in
between is great, and is awaiting the investment and attention to procurement to materialise.
Several metro and rail

lines were developed
during the decade
Water will flow from a new

dam and reservoir on the
Senqu River to the Katse
South America
Hydro schemes and metros have been the focus in South America
reservoir in Lesotho, 2018 with baseline rail and road links through the Andes being the ambition.
In Brazil, extended metro and road services were a focus in Rio de
Africa Janeiro in preparation for hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics
Reporting from Africa for the decade has centred mainly on activity in South Games, with metro works progressing also in Sao Paolo, Brazil;
Africa and Lesotho, Egypt and Algeria. For South Africa and Lesotho, the Quito, Ecuador and Lima, Peru. Buenos Aires in Argentina has
news is for procurement of Phase II of the binational Lesotho Highlands progressed an extensive programme of wastewater and flood control
Water Project with a 38km x 5m diameter gravity water transfer from the new management and with works also to replace a suburban railway line
Polihali Dam reservoir to the existing Phase I Katse Dam reservoir. In Egypt underground. Alto Maipo in Chile led the development of several
and Algeria, it has been news of metro extensions in Cairo and Algiers with hydro developments in South America, with Chile also leading the
two new TBM road tunnels under the Suez Canal in Egypt. n introduction of TBMs for developments in the mining industry. For
transport links through the Andes, project continue to develop for the
Agua Negra highway for Argentina, Chile and Brazil; the Tren a las
Nubes, or Train to the Clouds project in Argentina on a route to Chile;
and the Bioceánico Aconcagua baseline railway between Argentina
and Chile that includes a 52.5km-long twin-tube connection. n
Effluent outfall, Buenos

Aires, Argentina, 2019
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all key to helping drive human progress. And we supply key solutions
that reinforce progress underground. Our products keep workers safe.
Our reliability helps engineers plan ahead. And our expertise keeps
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excavation of cross passages
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under the Suez Canal, Egypt, 2019
22 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019

Overheating metros
Calvin R Barrows, • Reduce internal train temperatures in summer;
Using metro heat
Jonathan Rowland, TunnelTalk
Interest in hyperloop on the rise
P
BSc (Hons), CEng, MICE • Reduce the size of air conditioning systems, lans to develop hyperloop high speed power of tunnel boring machines, using a TunnelTalk reporting
delivering greater payload and reduced weight; transportation networks are coming continuous excavation and lining process,
O
verheating in underground • Reduce in-train air conditioning running costs; closer to reality following progress in investing in R&D and taking advantage of
• Improve the passenger experience in terms of knowledge and experience to show how
metro systems is a serious and India, the Middle East, Europe and the USA. economies of scale.
comfort; and, the tunnelling industry can take a lead
concerning issue, particularly as Support in the USA has led to the The Challenge project, partly funded
• Reduce the safety risk to passengers in a in the implementation of a hyperloop
the numbers of passengers using older formation of the Non-Traditional and by the ICE Enabling Fund, will comprise a
stalled train event. concept and maximise the benefits of the
and deeper systems increases. A cost Emerging Transportation Technology report to be carried out by UK consultant
Similarly, in the context of reducing underground environment.”
effective method of addressing the issues is (NETT) Council, the creation of the firm London Bridge Associates.
tunnel heat, reflecting the solar irradiation In France, Virgin Hyperloop One
painting trains with high-performance solar Missouri Blue Ribbon panel and a visit by “There is already considerable
when travelling on the surface in (VHO) is working with the French
reflective paint and fitting low emissivity Federal Government House Transportation enthusiasm to participate in the Challenge
summer would: Independent safety assessor Certifer and
glass windows for lines that include both and Infrastructure Chairman Peter De both within as well as outside the tunnelling
• Reduce the external skin temperature of the is poised to start a first-of-its-kind safety
surface and underground track. Fazio to the hyperloop test track in Las community,” said BTS Project Director Bill
train and the absorbed heat emitted from the Turning underground metro lines assessment of the system to meet the
There are many heat sources in metro Vegas, Nevada. Grose. Simon Morgan, Managing Director
train body into the underground system; into heat-recovery systems goal of surpassing the safety of all existing
systems that have above and below ground “I believe we could see a hyperloop in of London Bridge Associates, said: “This
S
• Reduce the internal temperature of the train, transportation systems. The assessment
sections and significant differences in ystems to capture heat operation in the USA in years, not decades,” is an opportunity to bring together industry
and the heat being discharged from the train will ensure that hyperloop complies
operations during winter and summer (Fig generated in metro system said Virgin Hyperloop One Co-Founder
air conditioning system, on entry into the From top: Sir Richard Branson (right), a champion with transportation guidelines
1). In cooler weather, the combined effect of tunnels to supply municipal Sir Richard Branson.
tunnel; and of hyperloop; Hyperloop concepts suggest regarding civil and mechanical works,
the non-seasonal heat sources is insufficient heat networks is a research project The NETT Council, set up by
guideways, control command and
to heat trains to a comfortable level without • Subsequently reduce the heat transferred by the Swiss Federal Institute of USA Secretary of Transportation supersonic travel in vacuum tunnels; VHO aims to
across the network from hotter lines to cooler become the safest mode of transportation signaling, and magnetic propulsion.
additional heating systems. In summer Technology (EPFL). Researchers Elaine Chao, will work to identify and
lines by the pressure/suction wave caused by “Partnering with Virgin Hyperloop
the outside ambient air temperature and have for the first time estimated resolve jurisdictional and regulatory
the moving trains. One aligns with our mission to support
solar irradiation increases temperatures in precisely the coefficient that allows gaps to help bring the technology to
With solar reflective paint on trains, the clients exploring innovative solutions to
trains. While ambient air temperature varies them to establish the amount of commercialisation.
operation of adequate and comprehensive cooling set the future foundations of intelligent,
throughout the daily cycle, the considerable heat that the air contains. Called the While some components of
systems in underground environments may reliable and safe transportation modes,”
increase in train temperatures on the surface convection heat transfer coefficient, hyperloop are similar to rail, others,
become less crucial and may obviate the need said Pierre Kadziola, Certifer CEO.
is due primarily to the role of solar irradiation. it defines the rate of heat transfer including cabin pressurisation, are
to install them at all. Monitoring the external skin “Governments are looking to us
When the sun is at its zenith, direct between the airflow within a tunnel similar to aeroplanes. Virgin Hyperloop
to advise on this technology sector
DISCUSSION FORUM
DISCUSSION FORUM
sunlight at earth surface is about 1050 W/m2. of a train might best be achieved with sensors on and the surrounding ground. A One has tested its technology
the internal face of the external skin and suitably and recommend a new set of global
The power of the sun is affected by the angle higher convection heat transfer successfully at full scale at its Nevada
insulated from the train’s internal space. Monitoring standards,” said Benjamin Pasquier,
of incidence. At a 45° angle of incidence, coefficient could therefore imply a test site using electric propulsion and
of undercarriages and bogies would need some VHO Director of Safety Certification and
although solar radiation can cover a 40% higher potential for heat recovery. electromagnetic levitation under near-
serious thought to be able to identify the effects of Quality Assurance.
greater area, it is 30% less intense than when “A good estimate of the vacuum conditions to create a faster
the various heat sources operating on these. mode of transport at speeds of up to
at its maximum angle of incidence of 90°. convection heat transfer coefficient Contribution to sustainability
How this changing intensity affects trains also With every additional treated train, the network, is essential, as it can affect the final 1,200km/hr. Hyperloop is catching the attention of
needs consideration. the cumulative reductions on tunnel temperatures, thermal potential,” said Margaux The company is now working with environmentalists, as the system could
How much of the train should be coated and thus sub-surface network temperatures, Peltier, a researcher at EPFL. governments, partners, and investors be up to 10 times more energy-efficient
with solar reflective paint is for consideration. would become significant. The fullest benefits will Researchers found that, around the world and currently has than short haul flights, 50% more efficient
Focusing on the roof alone will limit potential only become apparent when all lines have had all “constant values can be used to projects underway in Missouri, Texas, than high-speed trains, and energy-
benefits. The average carriage size is their trains treated. describe the overall heat transfer Colorado, the Midwest (Figs 1, 2 and neutral (off-grid), according to VHO.
2.9m wide x about 2.5m high. Taking that The effect of solar gain through glass windows phenomenon in underground 3), India, and the UAE. At speeds of more than 1,000km/
as a basis, when the sun is at its zenith, it is well known. The next logical step would be to fit structures, regardless of their The concept of hyperloop envisages hr, hyperloop could connect all Gulf
produces 1,050 W/m2 x 2.9m/m length of low emissivity glass windows on all trains. Given cross-sections.” In contrast, the excavation of extensive underground cities, for example, within an hour from
carriage or 3,045 W/m (3.045 kW/m) on its the high percentage of window glass in the body roughness of the walls was found networks. Such underground hyperloop each other. The system has zero direct
roof. With the sun at a 45° angle of incidence, of a carriage, using highly reflective glass would to have a greater impact, “leading systems are viable only if the cost of emissions and could move close to 45
and with the sun on both the roof and one or prevent the absorption of external solar heat while to higher values and increased heat tunnelling is reduced by a factor of ten million passengers/year in the region
other side of the train, there is approximately the train is on the surface. transfer rate,” said Peltier. or more. using solar energy.
2.5m + 2.9m of train body exposed to the In an era of heightened and pressing The scientists applied their Taking note of this, the British “As cities around the world feel
sun. At this angle the sun intensity is 1,050 environmental concern, the application of solar research to the new 4km M3 metro Tunnelling Society (BTS) of the the impacts of climate change, we
W/m2 x 70% (30% less than at its zenith) = reflective paint and the incorporation of highly line in Lausanne. According to Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in the need viable solutions,” said Jay
735 W/m2, but this is now shining on 5.4m/m reflective glass windows is cost-effective, studies, fitting a heat recovery system UK has set a challenge to investigate Walder, CEO at VHO. “Transportation
length of train body. In this scenario, the sun particularly when compared to the capital cost of along 50-60% of the planned route the feasibility and practicalities of is one of the biggest areas that
produces 735 W/m2 x 5.4m/m length of installing mechanical cooling solutions. In the longer would cover the heating needs of building a hyperloop system for needs to be addressed and we are
carriage or 3,969 W/m (3.969 kW/m) of solar term it would deliver real on-going reductions in 1,500 x 80m2 apartments. In addition the UK. committed to a massive leap forward
irradiation heat. maintenance and energy running costs. n to providing heat during the winter, The BTS Hyperloop Challenge to offset the impacts of vehicle, train
The benefits of adding high-performance the system could be reversed in will look at the technical implications
References and air travel in a way that no current
solar reflective paint on train bodies to reflect • Cooling the Tube still on ice – TunnelTalk, the summer with heat taken from the and advantages of building tunnels technology can.” n
solar irradiation will: January 2019 surface and stored underground. for hyperloop systems and at the cost
One of the first pilot installations drivers of tunnelling and the feasibility References
Left: Fig 1. Sources of heat generation in the London Underground; was in Vienna and more recently, an of cutting those costs by excavating • Hyperloop closer to reality with new
Right: Rising temperatures with increasing depth of the network over the years underground station was equipped smaller diameter tunnels, doubling the investment – TunnelTalk, October 2017
with a heat-recovery system in
Geneva. The application has also From left: Proposed Virgin Hyperloop One routes in the USA in Missouri (Fig 1); the Midwest (Fig 2); and in Texas (Fig 3)
been tested in the Crossrail project
in London. n
References
• Bore hole cooling for Greenpark
station – TunnelTalk, February
2012
• Aerodynamics and ventilation
in rail tunnels – TunnelTalk, May
2015
Equipping TBMs for tough conditions
breakdown or two year repair process, but
from the restart in January 2016 through to
breakthrough on 7 April 2017, achieving up
to 14 rings per day and completing 8,186ft of
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk data collection and management improves This started with a suggestion by Björn Nilsen
with time, research and development. and Pal Jakobsen of the NTNU University 17.48m o.d. excavation and segmental lining
P
redicting trouble ahead; preventing To advance the discussion, Ulrich Meidl of Science in Trondheim, Norway, that there to 15.54m i.d. in 452 calendar days and 195
EPB clogging; mixed conditions in of Germany, in his keynote, explained how can be mixed face conditions in a hard rock excavation days.
hard rock faces; machine learning much information can be gathered by current TBM heading, conditions where rock of Keynote speaker Juan Luis Magro,
for autonomous TBM operation; disc sensors and monitoring systems. “This is different compressive strengths and qualities Construction Manager for Dragados and for
cutter design, and much more were topics now truly impressive, and especially with can be present across the same face. Such the Seattle Tunnel Partnership construction
JV, quantified some of the remarkable
discussed during two informative days the added capacity of cloud computing,” conditions can cause damaging impact for
statistics associated with a TBM of 17.5m
of conferencing at the 2019 TBM DiGs said Maidl. “Systems that monitor TBM cutters and TBMS during excavation.
o.d. including an excavation volume of
conference. Convened by a team of the operating parameters alone can deliver Don Del Nero of the USA followed up
1,000 tons or 675yd3/shove for the 2.1m
Colorado School of Mines, under the more than 1,000 items of data every two and opened his address about abrasive
wide ring of segmental lining; that 7,000
chairmanship of Jamal Rostami, a small minutes. Add to this the information from conditions with a quote by TBM consultant
tags were feeding to the PLC data logger
number of highly-knowledgeable delegates settlement monitoring networks and logistics Richard Lewis that “wear can add the same
every three seconds from the TBM monitors
profited by the specialised single topic management systems, the collection can price as the TBM again to a project.” Del
and more than 2,000 instruments on the
themes of the two day programme. run into the several thousand pieces of data. Nero went on to explain that quartz is harder
alignment; that the cutterhead was dressed SR99 mega TBM advance to breakthrough in Seattle
In his opening keynote presentation, From all of this data we need to combine big than most manmade steels and that:
with 743 cutting tools, 106 of them able
Professor Herbert Einstein of MIT, data with human engineering to arrive at the • the quantity of quartz on a TBM Of particular interest in the presentation An appropriate wrap up of proceedings
to be accessed and changed in hollow
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, analysed parameters that are of importance job should be included in the GBR about operation of the mega Robbins slurry was presented by Brian Fulcher of the USA
atmospheric arms of the cutterhead; that
demonstrated that much can be predicted to the daily operation and management of a geotechnical baseline report; TBM for the Hiroshima highway project in who, as Animateur of the ITA Working Group
there were 272 dives during a total of five
about the conditions to be expected on a TBM project. This will be more than using the • the composition of cobbles and boulders Japan, was the information that vacuum 14 on Mechanised Tunnelling, explained
hyperbaric interventions; that settlement for
tunnel heading from information available technology as a black-box recording of data should be a baseline item, not just their segment erectors are not permitted by how the Working Groups of the ITA provide
passage under the viaduct was predicted
from historic data, alignment geological site for back analysis as it is today.” predicted number; regulation in Japan. Instead, Greger of the international forum in which many of
at 0.25-0.95cm and was actually limited
investigation and before facing both natural Discussion about the possibility of • there should be a licensed geologist on Robbins detailed the design and operation the suggestions for investigation are being
to 0.08-0.25cm and that, at the end of the
and human error risks. By illustration, a automatic TBM operation included the every tunnelling job; of the lock-in mechanical pin erector system progressed, and through which the reports
process, it was proven that super-sized
project was cited where predictions called system developed by the MMC-Gamuda • international bodies such as the ITA or for lifting and placing the mega-sized of the Groups are freely available for pdf
TBM dives under urban areas and high-rise
for a TBM to move from open to closed team in Malaysia for autonomous operation the ISRM should work on developing precast segments. download on the ITA website. In response to
city centres is possible. “It can be done.”
mode operation. The change did not take of the Herrenknecht variable density TBMs universal standards for testing and There were many questions in follow up Hyperbaric intervention was the a question from TunnelTalk, Fulcher confirmed
place and face loss and surface settlement engaged currently on Line 2 of the KVMRT reporting of abrasivity; about settlement control, soil conditioning, focus of the keynote address by Werner that the Working Groups – 23 in total and
DISCUSSION FORUM
DISCUSSION FORUM
were the consequence. Metro in Kuala Lumpur. • that, while carbides are the best anti- the selection of EPB technology over a slurry Burger, Chief Engineer for Herrenknecht, covering a wide range of specific topics –
Among several questions, TunnelTalk While the discussion contributions wear metals at present, new materials TBM alternative, and the management of described the high pressures acting on are open to all who are interested. “Being a
asked: given that the consequence as ranged from those who fully embrace the such as cermats are being developed; fewer than expected boulders. It was an the underwater drives for the Lake Mead Member of the ITA or a member of a Member
described occurred within the TBM advance technological possibilities to those who and that enlightening exposé into the operation of intake tunnel in Nevada; the Eurasia Nation delegation is not a prerequisite,” he
of one ring, could the operation of the TBM warn be careful what you wish for, the team • research and development of cutter tool mega EPBMs and the many parameters to subsea highway under the Bosphorus in said. “Anyone in the industry is welcome to
be programmed to react automatically to the from Malaysia confirmed that it is precisely life x ground abrasivity is coming up with be controlled for success. Turkey; and the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok become involved in the activities of the groups.
predicted or detected changes in geology. during high risk reaches that operation of some far-reaching disc cutter design Taking a large diameter soft ground subsea highway link in Hong Kong. Burger It is by expanding the pool of experience and
The answer came from another delegate in the machines is taken away from the human ideas to assist also disc operation on TBM through a tight S curve alignment was explained how certified hyperbaric divers contribution that the best for the industry as
the audience affirming that the possibility is and given over to machine intelligence. “The mixed face, multi-mode TBMs. the paper by Professor Mistutaka Sugimoto lived for up to 28 days in compressed air a whole and internationally is achieved.” n
already available on TBMs. Richard McLane human operator takes too long to appreciate Sindre Log of The Robbins Company of the Nagaoka University in Japan. Special conditions to be shuttled down to the TBMs
of Traylor Bros explained how interlocks, as something has changed and too long again added to the cutter discussion and answered to complete their maintenance shifts in the
References
liner plate segments of about 25cm wide • New design TBM tames the Kuala Lumpur
they are called, are programmed into the TBM to decide the solution, and them to react,” a TunnelTalk question about the regularity of were used for the curves and when asked excavation chambers. TunnelTalk asked if karst – TunnelTalk, January 2014
PLC, programmable logic controller, to bring said a representative of the MMC-Gamuda changing worn or damaged cutters, either by TunnelTalk if special needs were required an operation similar to the Project Moses • Hiroshima heavyweight for hard rock in Japan
TBM operations to a stop automatically if, for development team. “Intelligent systems one at a time as necessary, or several during of the TBM tail seals the answer was no, on the Storebaelt railway project under the – TunnelTalk, October 2018
example, pressure in the excavation chamber for autonomous machines, operating with a planned maintenance period. He confirmed sea in Denmark in the 1990s, that installed • Pushing TBM design limits under Lake Mead
that the four wire brushes and lots of tail seal
– TunnelTalk, September 2014
falls below a trigger value or if continuous all the data available, can compute the that there are advantages of changing all grease managed the seal through the curves. a dewatering system on the seabed to
• Boundaries busted for highway under the
backfill of the annulus behind the segmental situation in seconds or milliseconds and cutters for a complete new set, but that other The discussion went on to the sealing of lower the ground water pressure ahead of Bosphorus – TunnelTalk, September 2015
lining is interrupted. The concept has been react equally as fast.” It was suggested considerations, such as extended downtime, the articulation joint, and while Brian Khalighi the TBM drives, had been considered to • Hong Kong mega-machine explanations –
used on project TBMs for several years, also that this will solve the issues of training can cancel or neutralise the benefit. and Matthew Greger of Robbins described lower the hyperbaric pressures on these TunnelTalk, September 2014
added McLane, but that it is not applied as skilled TBM operators and addressing the The performance of the disc cutters also systems applied by Robbins to seal the extreme TBM drives. The answer was • Giant TBM Bertha has end in sight in Seattle
industry best practice. Professor Einstein critical shortage of skilled TBM operators in affects the possibility of recycling excavated – TunnelTalk, February 2017
standard straight overlap articulation joint, that the ground conditions on the recent
• Storebaelt - the final chapters – TunnelTalk,
concurred that artificial intelligence or machine the global industry today. material as concrete aggregate, as discussed Professor Sugimoto described a knuckle projects was too permeable and a seabed May 1995
learning is the way forward and will become Difficult conditions presented by hard rock by Robert Galler of Leoben University and type articulation joint which, he said, is dewatering system prohibitively expensive • Storebaelt calls on Project Moses for support
more sophisticated as technology and big geology gave rise to interesting discussions. the ZAB Underground Research Centre of easier to seal. in scope and operation. – TunnelTalk, April 1993
Austria. Too much grinding into fines reduces
Mixed face intrusion in a hard rock mass the value of the excavated material and the A hydraulic pin, that inserts and twists, is the key to the mechanical segment erector on the Hiroshima highway Robbins TBM in Japan
efficiency of processing excavated material
into aggregate.
Staying with hard rock TBM operations,
the realities of high-volume, high-pressure
ground water ingress into a TBM heading,
and the efforts of using grout injections
to stem the flow, was the topic of an
informative presentation by Knut Garshol
from Norway. Probing and the cycles of pre-
excavation grouting were discussed with the
recommendation that shorter arrays with
more frequent overlaps for pre-excavation
grouting is more effective than trying for
100m long grouting arrays.
A full afternoon session was given over
to presentations about the experience of the
mega Hitachi Zosen EPBM for the SR99
Alaskan Way viaduct replacement highway
tunnel in Seattle – not about the cause of the
Road to litigation and possible bypasses Tailor-made TBMs for hard, hard rock
T
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk As well as disputes between clients and • Disclosure of all available geological and BM tunnelling in hard rock conditions Arnulf M. Hansen, Fredrikke Syversen and Steinar Johannessen,
contracts, there is also the influence of politics geotechnical information is associated with high risk Bane NOR, Norway, Amund Bruland, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
L
itigation is an agreed blunt instrument and politicians that can knock the industry • Inclusion of a contractual geotechnical related to advance rate and cutter
and last resort for settling disputes in sideways. The worst aspect of politicians baseline consumption. To cope with extreme hard the cutterhead structure and on the main
the industry, but what is it that drives as arbiters of major infrastructure projects is • Inclusion of a tailored Unforeseeable rock challenges anticipated, as on the Follo bearing. The seemingly best alternative is
the parties to litigation, when all starts out that their terms are limited and subject to the Physical Conditions clause Line railway project in Norway, a robust to apply alternating cutter placement along
so positively - with the best of all possible opposition taking over at the next election. • Implementation of a ground classification TBM design is imperative. the two arms of a double spiral starting in the
support tools written into the contract Political support and championship of a system and of supporting particular The project includes 20km of twin-tube cutterhead centre.
and all the risk scenarios and alternative major project can simply evaporate overnight conditions that properly reflect the effort single-track tunnels with 18.5km excavated Generally, the total number of cutters on
dispute resolution considerations assessed, and result in cancellation of projects, of excavation and stabilisation through hard to extremely hard rock by four a cutterhead intended for boring in hard rock
evaluated and agreed. termination of contracts, unnecessary delay • Time for completion to be largely TBMs. Bane Nor, the state-owned company conditions should correspond to an average
Traditionally it has been the ground, to needed infrastructure and the increase in influenced by ground conditions and owner of the project, awarded the cutter spacing of approximately 70mm
via differing site conditions, at the heart cost that delay causes. • Provision of a flexible mechanism for contract to the Acciona/Ghella JV (AGJV). The over the cutterhead. In extremely hard rock
of disputes. Other causes for contracts A famous or infamous example of remuneration according to ground 9.96m diameter double shield TBMs, to erect conditions, consider having more cutters
ending up in court include non-performance, such a situation was the cancellation of conditions, foreseen and unforeseen. the segmental lining, were manufactured and on the cutterhead in exchange for smaller
incompetence, intractability, schedule the ARC, Access to the Region’s Core, It may well be the most advanced supplied by Herrenknecht. openings for muck removal.
pressure, cashflow crises, and recovering project between the New Jersey and New consideration of contract set up in recent The rocks along the alignment consist First of four TBMs ready for launch
York States in 2010. Twenty years later, times and better than the tools that (Photo by Acciona/Ghella JV)
from natural or accidental disasters. of Precambrian gneisses with bands and Steel in the cutterhead
Another is the effort in recent decades the State Governments are looking at the supported earlier forms of contract including: lenses of amphibolite and pegmatite with Boring in hard rock is associated with strong
by project clients to transfer all or most risk same project under a different name (the • Partnerships several intrusions. The rock mass is quite
TU N NELTECH INNOVATIONS AND DEVELOPM ENTS

vibrations originating from the high peak
involved with projects to the contractor. This Gateway project), for about the same price • Alliances homogenous and competent with moderate loads of the rock breaking process. These
has been highlighted by the introduction of of USD$11.3 billion to $12.7 billion for the • PPPs and jointing and a UCS in the range of 100MPa strain the cutterhead structure, especially the
different types of contracts including design- new rail tunnels under the Hudson River • Inclusion of alternative dispute resolution. to 300MPa. The expected advance rate, cutter housings. The simple solution is to add
build, EPC engineering, procurement, into Pennsylvania Station. The commuters An important, and perhaps according to the NTNU Prediction model, structural strength using steel.
construction, and concessionaire contracts have suffered the congestion on trains in the underestimated, party to any underground was 15.6m/day(1). The stiffness of the cutterhead structure
and their variations. These have the meantime, and the services in the existing infrastructure project is the insurance is improved by more steel. Increasing the
contractor and its engineering firm in the 100-year-old rail tunnels that are in urgent underwriter. It is a business, for sure, but Hard rock TBM design hydraulic stiffness will increase the diameter
lead for decisions concerning means and need of repair have continued to operate is the business designed to underwrite Based on field data from more than 250km and/or the number of the thrust cylinders.
DISCUSSION FORUM
methods, detailed design to end-product without upgrade attention. incompetence or coverup. The premiums of hard rock tunnels, the NTNU, Norwegian
performance criteria, and managing The SR99 highway tunnel in Seattle, for insurance coverage are high, but the University of Science and Technology, Main bearing
programme and schedule. USA, also suffered political intervention. The pay out, if assured and agreed, can be implemented important design principles for The main bearing will have to respond
This transfer does not abrogate the client Washington State Governor, Chris Gregoire, also very high. The consequences of high hard rock TBMs(1). to high and unbalanced load situations.
entirely. In all accepted norms, the ground still who supported the publicly funded, pay outs for high risk coverage in the During rock breaking under a disc Considering the total rock-breaking work
belongs to the owner, and it remains a party double deck highway tunnel as the viaduct tunnelling industry are well known and it cutter, efficiency is characterised by the size of the tunnel face, half of the work will be
to the contract and to any disputes that may replacement, and signed its procurement was the impasse between the industry and and shape of the largest chips, and by the outside 0.7 of the cutterhead radius. The
arise. This has led to development support contract in her second term, was replaced the insurers after the Heathrow Express amount of fines produced (Fig 1). For a given cutter peak loads will increase towards
Mapping a TBM rock face
processes as an arbiter between paymaster by Governor Jay Inslee in 2013. The new collapse in the UK in 1994 that the industry rock mass, rock-breaking efficiency may be the gauge due to the higher rolling velocity
(the client) and functionary (the contractor). Governor took a hard-line approach to the introduced the Risk Register Code of increased by increasing the applied cutter of the cutters and the curvature of the
Processes such as geotechnical baseline contract, paraphrasing the approach as ‘we Practice. Initiated by the UK BTS (British thrust force and/or increasing the number of cutterhead structure. Hence, the main
reports, geotechnical data reports, risk have a watertight fixed-price contract and Tunnelling Society) and the ABI (Association cutters on the cutterhead. bearing diameter should be in the range of
registers, independent expert panels, delivery we will hold the contractor to it’. With that of British Insurers), the initial Risk For individual disc cutters, the trend 0.7 of the cutterhead diameter.
partner organisations, dispute review boards, approach, any out-of-court settlement to Management of Tunnel Works has grown has been to increase the cutter bearing Babendererde Engineers of Germany
and their variations have been developed to the dispute between client and contractor into the International Joint Code of Practice size and the cutter ring diameter in order to performed a third party verification of the
mitigate this transfer of risk responsibility. was unlikely (see p58). for Risk Management of Tunnel Works apply higher cutter thrust. Standard cutter main bearing L10 life calculation for the
The transfer of risk is also having an Politicians can also do an about that covers the minimum requirements diameter for hard rock conditions has been proposed 6m main bearing of the Follo
influence on the construction and insurance face when acting on promises to the for securing insurance coverage for any 19in, with 20in a possible next step. Design Fig 1. Rock breaking under a disc cutter Line TBMs according to ITAtech Report
industry. Contractors are at a point where electorate. In Malaysia, when a newly underground infrastructure project. of the cutter ring itself relies on current steel No 1(3). To minimize the risk of main bearing
they refuse to bid projects in certain elected administration in 2018 threatened Still, for the insurance industry, technology. A constant cross section type failures during excavation, the Follo Line
jurisdictions or under certain circumstances. cancellation of the Klang Valley Metro Line underground works are high risk projects is used, with cutter ring edge width varying management entered into an agreement
The accepting of more risk by contractors 2 in Kuala Lumpur, the day was saved only and carry potentially high loss pay outs. from 15mm to 25mm. A cutter in the outer with the contractor to enlarge the diameter
must drive contract bid prices up and are when the delivery partner JV agreed to Where the first case of the contractor part of a cutterhead will have a higher rolling of the main bearing to 6.6m o.d., which
contrary to competition to drive prices down. lower costs by cancelling full scope parts versus the owner of the SR99 mega-TBM velocity and is exposed to higher peak loads gave a main bearing to TBM diameter ratio
For insurers, the industry is again becoming of the Line 2 project – deferments that may drive project in Seattle has extracted a verdict than an inner cutter. Hence, a wider ring is of 0.66
averse to underwriting the perceived growth well cost substantially more to complete at a for the owner, the case of the contractor needed to avoid destructive wear. At the end excavation in February 2019,
of risk-taking in the industry and financial later date and under separate contract. versus the insurance provider is yet to be The spacing between adjacent cutter these upgrades proved to be justified. n
institutions are shying away from support Public authorities also make rules that heard and verdict yet to be known. Whichever tracks influences the necessary thrust to
of underground construction projects when seem to be able to be overlooked when it way that case is decided, the SR99 verdicts break large chips and the larger the spacing, Author references
1. Bruland, A. 1998. Hard Rock Tunnel Boring.
surface alternatives are available, even if the suits, frequently leading to objections to the and their appeals will again be landmark the higher the necessary thrust (Fig 2). Rock
Doctoral Thesis, Norwegian University of
surface option is more disruptive to urban or preferred bidder. High profile cases include decisions that will shape the contracting and breaking work increases with the square Science and Technology, 1998:81.
green space, or more expensive in long-term the objection to the award of the Los Angeles underground project procurement industries of the radius from the centre of the tunnel 2. Snowdon R.A., Ryley M.D, Temporal J. and
life-cycle costs. Purple Line contract and the concession for the decades to come. n face and outwards. Spacing between cutter Fig 2. Cross sections of chips with Crabb G.I., 1983. The Effect of Hydraulic
The increase in litigation is a concern contract for the Silvertown highway tunnel tracks must therefore decrease towards the increasing rock breaking efficiency Stiffness on Tunnel Boring Machine
in itself and while no observer or reporter, under the River Thames in London. References gauge. Tip width of cutter rings should be as from upper to lower chip Performance, Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. &
• Appeal logged after jury finds for SR99 client - Geomech. Abstr.,Vol. 20, No. 5.
or even some closely associated with any In efforts to take the industry forward narrow as possible to obtain a good rate of is reduced, causing under utilisation of the 3. ITAtech Report No 1 - Guidelines on standard
TunnelTalk, December 2019
project in a dispute, can know of, or be there have been many attempts to rewrite penetration. The tip width of the ring should full TBM potential. indication of Load Cases for calculation of Rating
• Back from brink for KVMRT underground
privy to, all the details and circumstances of the form of contract. The most recent is the works - TunnelTalk, November 2018 be sufficient to sustain the cutter loads Life (L10) of TBM main bearings (April 2013)
a case – and while no case verdict can set Emerald Book, a collaboration between FIDIC • ARC cancellation hits industry hard - needed to cut the rock efficiently without Cutter numbers and layout
precedent or guarantee the outcome of a and ITA to develop a form of contract that TunnelTalk, November 2010 cutter ring chipping or mushrooming. When considering rock-breaking efficiency TunnelTalk references
future similar case – the overall situation is is specific to the underground construction • Emerald Book: Risk reduction for For the Follo Line TBMs, the contractor and cutter wear only, the ideal cutter • Final breakthrough to complete Follo Line
underground works - TunnelTalk, May 2019 excavation – TunnelTalk, February 2019
leading to serious dilemmas for underground industry. found that a low Rockwell hardness of the layout pattern would be to place all cutters
• Examining the growing costs and risks of • Hard rock challenge for Norway’s largest TBM
infrastructure creation. These issues need to Principle to the endeavour is to address underground insurance - TunnelCast, April 2016 ring for hard rock results in mushrooming along one diameter line of the cutterhead. – TunnelTalk, October 2019
be shared and a common framework found the issues of: • North America DRBs-knowing and playing by where the ring tip width becomes so wide However, such a design would generate • Acciona/Ghella selected for Follo Line TBM
for securing support for future projects. • Allocation of risk the rules - TunnelTalk, August 2008 that penetration per cutterhead revolution extremely high and unbalanced forces on tunnel – TunnelTalk, March 2019
TBMs designed for excavations on the moon Torque limiters for cutterhead protection
T A
o prepare for human staging on the Jamal Rostami, Earth Mechanics Institute (EMI) and Chris Dreyer, Center s TBMs work their way through mayr News Release
moon as a base for travelling further into for Space Resources (CSR), Department of Mining Engineering, Colorado rock and soil, like moving factories
space, engineers from the Colorado School of Mines; Ruben Duhme, Herrenknecht Asia Headquarters, underground, every metre counts. for recommissioning. “In that manual
School of Mines, TBM manufacturer Singapore; Behzad Khorshidi, McNally Construction, Canada, A machine overload, caused through recommissioning, there is a risk of the torque
Herrenknecht, and construction company irregularities in the rock, for example, must being incorrectly reset,” said Epple “and an
McNally of Canada, are considering the not stop progress. “Our EAS®-HT torque incorrectly adjusted clutch makes no sense -
Power and energy consumption: Lack of convective heat transfer:
challenges of developing a lunar TBM (LTBM). limiters disengage the drive at a defined the consequences are simply too high.”
Lunar TBMs may require excavation Excessive heating of the cutting tools and
Underground bases on the moon would and traceable torque, to protect the motor,
techniques that are not economical on components of the TBM drive system Replaceability, increased productivity
protect lunar inhabitants and equipment gears and drive line of the cutterhead from
earth. High efficiency components should and other thermal management issues With regard to size and weight, the mayr®
from the harsh environment at the surface, damage through overload,” explained Ralf
be employed wherever possible. Low would be experienced. Human intervention power transmission EAS®-HT torque limiters
including the vacuum environment, impact by Epple, Product Manager at mayr® power
friction bearings, high efficiency drive maintenance of LTBMs would require space are ahead of the rest. “We have achieved
meteorites, radiation, extreme temperatures, transmission in Mauerstetten, Germany. In
systems, and preventing power losses suits, which would limit the ability of workers weight savings of up to 50% in the new,
storms, and other unknown conditions. this way, long downtimes are avoided and
will all be a part of the equation. The use to do their job. This will necessitate the clever compact units that are designed and further
Developing rilles, which are ancient lava the machines are operated sustainably. “The
of nuclear or solar power could meet the use of automated systems and robotics to developed specifically for the tunnel sector.
flows that formed into hollow structures, safety concept must not be susceptible
demand for a typical TBM. the greatest extent possible. Disengaging EAS®-HT torque limiters With this weight, and the compact outer
could create underground spaces to house to manipulation,” emphasizes Epple.
Abrasivity: Regolith and basalt are Lack of flushing/cooling material: are reset immediately after rectifying an diameters, the EAS®-HT torque limiters
bases the size of large cities with tunneled “The torque on our clutches is set on the
known to be abrasive. Regolith is reported Lack of atmosphere and of fluids means overload event are ideally suited as a retrofit solution when
interconnections (Fig 1). manufacturer-side and is immediately
to be jagged with sharp edges. As a result lack of flushing material for probing and existing systems are overhauled,” said Epple.
Tunneling could also access and extract accessible again after disengagement. however, have not yet been reached, thanks
cutting tools and machine components installing roof bolts. There will also be “And we have not forgotten to take the
water ice, carbon dioxide, and other volatiles The safety aspect is not dependent on to the modular construction. The possibilities
will wear at much higher rates. The use no way of using fluids to dissipate heat
TUN N ELTECH INNOVATIONS AND DEVELOPM ENTS

present in and near the lunar north and recommissioning. The torque limiting are actually endless. price into consideration. In some cases, our
of conditioning agents in the excavation generated by equipment motors and clutches are cheaper than other solutions.”
south poles. LTBMs could also be adapted clutches are reliable and dependable.”
chambers may reduce machine torque drive systems. Non-destructive protection Prior to shipment from the manufacturing
for the frozen regolith, the layer of material
covering the solid rock, in the permanently
and wear. Ground stability and support: For Reliable protection at the extreme In contrast to other overload systems, which plant, each clutch is extensively tested and
Vacuum: The lack of atmosphere lunar tunneling, support tools could be “The disengaging EAS®-HT clutches are work, for example, with pressurized hydraulic set precisely to the required value, calling
shadowed craters at the lunar poles.
and working in a vacuum pose significant made from Kevlar or carbon fiber with light element clutches that represent the ideal oil or shear pins, the EAS®-HT torque limiters on decades of experience in development
An LTBM has been proposed before and
challenges. Putting a system in place where polymer or resin based cements sprayed solution for extremely high torques and speeds, are immediately ready for operation after the and design. “In the tunnel and mining
an early conceptual design developed(3). It is
pressure can be built up inside the tunnel will on the tunnel surface. Special segments or large mass moments of inertia,” explained cause of an overload has been removed. The branch alone, we have put several thousand
new discoveries about the moon and recent
be easier with operations entirely in hard rock. could be cast from light materials, such Epple. These clutches are based on individual limiters are not damaged and can withstand torque limiters into use and have therefore
advances in TBM technology that call for
A sealed heading entrance and a design to as 3D printed rock powder, to form air- overload elements which are integrated into several hundred overload disengage cases. It gathered the appropriate experience with
re-examination of the possibilities of building
support pressure will have three benefits: tight rings and segmental linings could seal the flanges. The achievable torque results from is possible also to trace at which torque the regard to the adjustment values,” said Epple.
structures on the moon.
• Capturing of valuable volatiles created against water pressure. the pre-tension force of the elements multiplied EAS®-HT clutches disengaged. “On other “In addition, we receive positive feedback
Lunar geology during the tunnelling process. Material transportation: A set of by the number of elements and the radius at systems, the proof, so to speak, is destroyed from the operators regularly. In particular, if
The geology is expected to be a 10m layer • Enabling later use of tunnels to contain airlocks could allow the transition of materials which the individual elements are arranged. after the overload occurrence, and uncertainty existing systems have to be retrofitted, it is
of regolith, highly compacted within the first an atmosphere for human habitation. in and out of the tunnel between vacuum and Due to the modular concept, not only clutches prevails regarding the disengagement possible to increase their performance using
10-20cm, with boulders and fractured rock, • Allowing for use of earth-normal atmospheric pressure. Muck transfer could tailored to the respective application case can torque,” said Epple. Components destroyed, our clutches. We often analyse the drive line
deeper intact bedrock, basaltic in the Mare methods and operations. be as a fluidized particle flow by a gas supply be built, but also far higher torques can be by systems unable to protect them, have together with our customers and, where
regions and anorthositic in the highlands. Tunnel linings: There is recent on the LTBM. managed than with a central disengagement to be replaced after an overload trip event. necessary, can offer torque limiting clutches
Frozen regolith at the polar regions would development of a helical segmental lining Utilities: Electricity and compressed air mechanism. mayr® power transmission offers This generates costs and system downtime, together with vibration damping systems.” n
combine fine grained to coarse grained rock system that allows continuous operation of lines to maintain atmospheric pressure to the torque limiters from the EAS®-HT series and the replacement components have
including boulders of anorthosite mixed with the TBM while supporting the ground and the heading would be the priority. Ventilation in a standard version with a torque of up to to be available in the spares inventory on
References
icy volatiles, creating a permafrost region with • New couplings for drive constellations –
sealing the heading for pressurized working systems similar to those on the space station 440,000Nm. The limits of what is possible, site. Specialist knowledge is then required TunnelTalk, August 2017
variable mechanical strength. conditions. This is accomplished by using an can function as the ventilation system, while • Monitoring machine braking for safety –
Excavation face conditions will be integrated gasket in the tongue and groove the heat exchangers will make up for lack TunnelTalk, May 2018
mixed with more challenging conditions joints to prevent water ingress in terrestrial of heat transfer of ventilation in terrestrial
at the polar regions and through boulders applications and for preventing air escape for tunnelling. Monitoring and communication
and bedrock, requiring high cutting forces working on a lunar application (Fig 2). systems are expected to function the same
that cannot be supported by the weight of as on earth but need shielding against
equipment on the surface. radiation at the portal. Trackless vehicles
Some of the challenges of using TBMs would transport men and materials.
on the moon include: Other issues: Ground investigation
Weight limits: A 2m to 3m diameter ahead of the machine would be a critical
TBM can weigh more than 100 ton, based issue. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a
on using steel for the support structures possibility for geological probing. Geophones
and components. Alternatives are needed and similar sensors deployed ahead of the Left: Robust EAS®-HT torque limiter clutches on TBMs (in blue) can withstand
to reduce weight specifically for transporting machine on the surface could also anticipate extreme stresses and are easily accessed for simple re-engagement (right) EAS®-HT torque limiters for TBM
equipment on rockets. The primary support ground conditions using micro-seismic
structure could be manufactured from techniques. Another alternative is the use of
lunar resources such as cast basalt or smart probe drilling systems.
compressed sintered regolith reinforced
with metallic members or basaltic tensile
Fig 1. Large underground lunar base
concept from National Geographic
TBMs are a promising excavation
method for establishing manned bases on Have you disconnected
fibers. Using carbon fiber composite parts
and lighter composites or alloys for various
the moon. Further research is required to
meet the very specific challenges and offer today?
parts of the machine is a possibility. New a safe and efficient excavation operation. n EAS®-High-Torque torque limiters:
materials will have implications on repairs and
maintenance such as welding of the parts. Authors’ References The precise, non-destructive overload
1. McKay, Mary Fae, David S. McKay, and
Temperature: Most metals are brittle Michael B. Duke, 1992, Space resources. protection for heavy machinery
at temperatures below 50°C. Surface Volume 4: Social Concerns
temperature on the moon varies from about 2. Blair, D M., Chappaz, L, Sood, R, Milbury, C,
-190°C to +120°C at the lunar equator. It is Bobet, A, Melosh, H. J., Howell, K. C., and
±3K at 30cm beneath the lunar surface and Freed, A. M., 2017, The structural stability of
lunar lava tubes. Icarus 282, 47-55.
there is no variation below 700mm. Materials www.mayr.com
3. Allen, Christopher S., et al., 1988, your reliable partner
for seals and lubricants will be critical to Proposal for a lunar tunnel boring machine,
success. Graphite could be a lubricant. Fig 2. Helical segmental lining and sealing NASA-CR-184746, NAS 1.26:184746
Autonomous TBM operations Centre for realistic underground research
UK Award in early December in London.
This is deserved recognition of the system
and its developers.
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk They add that a machine fitted with the Inspiration for the development of the Robert Galler, Chair of Subsurface
system will respond more quickly and more system is the brainchild of Gus Klados, Engineering, Montanuniversität
F
ully automatic TBMs may be some way sensitively than a human operator when, Director-Tunnels Management for the MCC- Leoben, Head of the ZaB-Zentrum
off, but the reality of autonomous TBM for example: Gamuda JV. am Berg project, Austria
operation is already here. The system is • correcting line and level to steer the “The genesis for the system came to me
A
based on custom artificial intelligence control machine; while working on the Marine Running Tunnels new, cutting-edge testing facility in
algorithms analysing machine data in real • adjusting the parameters of the TBM of the Channel Tunnel in the 1980s when I Austria, is designed and developed
time and assuming control of the various to maintain plenum pressures and the realised that the steering problems of the to provide a realistic environment for
operational subsystems of the TBM with speed of the screw conveyor to avoid TBMs were always caused by drivers trying research and education in the underground
minimal human input. ground loss or over excavation and any to interpret or understand what a computer sector. Research topics at the facility are
Developed by a team of young subsequent surface settlement; screen was showing them regarding the diverse and include fire safety; geology
engineers and technicians in Kuala Lumpur, • controlling the speed of advance; and position of the machine,” explained Klados. and geophysics; geothermal energy;
Malaysia, the autonomous TBM operating • managing the slurry circulation in slurry “Each TBM operator had different levels of Location within Erzberg mine
NATM and TBM technology; underground
system is more than a theoretical idea. The mode operation. skill and different levels of operator success. I mining techniques; sustainability and the
development team working, for the MMC- Autonomous operation of TBMs, from felt there had to be a better way.” environment; concrete technology; ICT
Gamuda JV on the Line 2 of the Klang Valley central oversight control centres, has been It was while working on the Delivery applications; measurement and analysis
MRT system, has applied the system to 10 applied to the KVMRT Line 2 for the past Tunnel North of the Lesotho Highlands Water technology; and numerical simulation.
of the 12 TBMs excavating 13.5km of twin three years. With that experience, the Project in Southern Africa in the 1990s, that a The new ZaB-Zentrum am Berg
running tunnels under the city centre of the team entered the system as a nomination black box from ZED Instruments was applied centre, ZaB, is situated in a disused part
Malaysian capital. The 10 Variable Density for the leading series of international to steer the Wirth TBM automatically and the of the Erzberg iron ore mine in the Styria

Herrenknecht TBMs have had a separate industry awards – first the ITA Awards system kept the TBM within +/-20mm on the region of Austria, which proved ideal for
industrial computer each added to their in the category of Technical Product or designed tunnel axis for 19km. the facility due to its existing tunnel system
programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to Equipment Innovation of the Year and In Kuala Lumpur, Klados challenged his and its connections to regional road and rail
provide autonomous operation, with human secondly in the Tunnelling Festival Awards team to produce an auto-steer system. With networks. The facility comprises almost 3km Railway tunnel portals Portal of the motorway tunnels
oversight rather than control. in the UK sponsored by the BTS (British time, the team developed the Autonomous of tunnels with different cross sections and
The developers say that the proven Tunnelling Society) in the category of TBM System with AI capabilities. “We have a varying overburdens of 217m to a maximum Starting at the south portal, the west tube Fire safety research
success of TBMs under autonomous Innovation in Tunnel Excavation. Described wealth of experience now in operating these of 235m to facilitate research projects under of the rail tunnel joins the south tube of the The test tunnels are equipped with extensive
operation is preferred when operating by judges of the awards as a game autonomous TBMs and of debugging the various conditions. road tunnel. ventilation equipment to realistically represent
under highly sensitive conditions and when changer for the global tunnelling industry, systems over many kilometres. We can see The €30 million construction cost of ZaB- The rail and motorway portals are both the function of various ventilation systems in
the risks of human error would cause the the system won the category for both – the the potential of many new possibilities and Zentrum am Berg was shared with €6 milllion situated on the same level, but are in distinct the event of a tunnel fire.
most damaging potential consequences. ITA Award in November in Miami and the eventual fully automatic operation of tunnel contributions from the Austrian Federal geotechnical conditions. In the area of the Several tragic tunnel fires that occurred
excavation systems,” said team member Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, railway portal, long bolts had to be used to around the turn of the millennium revealed
Justin Chin. n Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology; avoid slope stability problems. As this portal that a lot more research was needed in the
the Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and is situated in a wooded area, rock fall was area of fire safety. Fires in enclosed spaces
References not an issue. In the area of the motorway are characterised by rapid propagation and
• Equipping TBMs for tough conditions – Economic Affairs; and the Montanuniversität
Leoben University, with the remaining €12 portal, it was necessary to construct an the sudden development of smoke gases.
TunnelTalk, November 2019
million allocated by the Province of Styria. intermediate level to minimise rock fall. Air currents create an additional negative
NATM excavation of new areas of the Although geological strata were affect on fire behaviour. The efforts of
centre have created twin tube, two-lane available for observation in the open cut emergency services are made extremely
motorway sections, and a twin tube single- mine levels of the 1960s, the construction difficult and often seriously dangerous by the
track railway line. Started in 2016, the tunnels team encountered a number of challenges incandescent flame front, poisonous clouds
are each connected with cross-passages in the new mined headings. These included of smoke and poor visibility conditions.
with parts of the existing Pressler and fault zones, containing completely sheared Fire safety investigations that take
Kerpely tunnels of the mine repaired to be materials, and open fault zones presenting place in laboratories are of limited reliability
incorporated into the facility. an open width of about 1m. In the old and even tests that take place in existing
galleries of the former underground iron ore tunnels cannot emulate a real catastrophe.
Geology mine, six challenging sections had to be Tests in existing tunnels are laborious
MMC-Gamuda team winning an award
The Erzberg mine site is located at the north reopened to connect them to the four new and expensive since the tunnel has to
for the system (from left): John Lim;
edge of the northern greywacke zone with motorway and railway tunnels. This involved be closed and traffic diverted. In existing
Gus Klados; Ng Hau Wei; Justin Chin
the lithology comprising essentially limestone; a substantial amount of manual work using tunnels it is only possible to carry out tests
Steering accuracy between a human operator and Autonomous TBM Operation and Liew Kit Shen
dolomite and ankerite; and Eisenerzer small units of equipment. with a restricted fire load in order to avoid
beds of shale and phyllite. The shale beds damage to the structure.
Artificial intelligence to assist asset management had been problematic during construction
of the old northern tunnels and had been
Rescue training underground Extraction fans, for the removal of
exhaust gases, and jet fans to influence
Dynamic Infrastructure News Release “Their poor condition leads to millions in the data revolution to the decision-making supported, whereas the limestone and ore- the longitudinal air flow, are installed in the
unplanned expenditure, but until recently maintenance processes.” bearing limestones were stable without tunnels at Zab. Both longitudinal and semi-
L
there has been no effective system that According to the Federal Highways further support and only showed rupturing transverse ventilation can be simulated to
ive 3D views of major infrastructure
can quickly and precisely identify defects Administration and the Federal Transit due to jointing. study real fire emergency situations. n
assets, including underground
through the lifetime of an asset. Our Administration, there are more than 350 The existing tunnels are predominantly
structures, could improve significantly
system delivers monitoring and alerts that highway tunnels in the USA, of which about damp with some dripping and isolated References
the ability of asset managers to address
can better manage expenditure and help 40% are more than 50 years old, while 5% running water ingress, which was drained • NATM Master of Engineering programme –
maintenance and operating issues. The
prevent the next collapse. We are bringing are now more than 100 years old. through the west tube of the rail tunnel. TunnelTalk, August 2019
technology uses artificial intelligence to
compare archived images, including those Dynamic Infrastructure was founded
Artificial intelligence for asset management Challenging geotechnical conditions
from smartphones, drones and laser scans, in 2018 by Dickman and Amichay Cohen
with new images to build up a record and in collaboration with a group of industry
of changes to the condition of assets experts in the USA and Europe. The
and allow operators to detect defects company is already working on projects in
and anomalies before they develop into the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Greece,
major failures. and Israel for clients operating a total of
“Deficient tunnels represent a severe more than 30,000 assets. n
infrastructure challenge in the USA and References
worldwide,” said Saar Dickman, co-founder • Electronic surveillance in Stockholm –
and CEO of Dynamic Infrastructure. TunnelTalk, December 2018
Reopening the old galleries
Cracking of segmental lining investigation
Jonathan Rowland, TunnelTalk began in March 2019 and were held in the stacking yard at the
factory until end of June 2019 when they started being built into
T
he exact cause of cracks appearing in a section of the tunnel. During fabrication, real scale tests of the segments and
segmental lining on an extension of the Izmir Metro in the rings were conducted, in addition to all necessary materials
Turkey was a subject of investigation. The segments were tests, and all were positive. There were no cracks observed in the
reinforced with a combination of glass-fibre reinforced polymer segments while in the stacks. “After the cracks appeared in the
(GFRP) and macro-synthetic fibres (MSF). The supplier of the rings as erected into the tunnel, further tests of the segments and
fibre reinforcement was not disclosed. the materials were carried out and all designers and engineers
Industry professionals told TunnelTalk that cracking could have involved confirmed the same positive results.
been caused by a range of factors. “It could be that the segment “The twin tubes of the metro project in question are being
was not properly designed,” said Ralf Winterberg, Group Chief excavated by TBMs supplied by two different manufacturers. Each
Engineer of synthetic fibre manufacturer BarChip. “It is not the type tube had about 100m of NATM starter tunnel excavation. At TBM
of reinforcement but the design and installation that is critical.” launch, the rings of segmental lining were erected by the vacuum
“It could indicate a misalignment of the tunnel segments or segment erector of the TBMs as a false tunnel in the open space,
an area of higher pressure,” added Jeroen Smet, Technical Sales supported internally and externally, and with the annular gap in the
Director of Adfil. “It could be something to do with the concrete itself. NATM starter tunnel backfilled using the TBM backfilling system. This
You should also consider that a TBM pushes on these segments with is not an unusual process. It has been used at the start of TBM drives
a force far greater than anything induced by the hydraulic or ground on many metro projects.
pressure. The moment a TBM is slightly out of alignment, there is a “The questions are, what was the quality of the ring build for
huge peak force on these segments that could cause cracking.” the false tunnel and when was the annular gap backfilled once
Neither BarChip or Adfil are involved in the Izmir project. into the NATM starter tunnel, and what was the quality of the
In Feedback, Charles Allen of OTB Concrete in the UK said; backfilling process.
“The initiation of a crack is not dependent upon the reinforcement. “The bolted and gasketed GFRP+MSF reinforced segmental
Reinforcement only comes into play once the concrete has cracked. lining comprised five segments and a key in each 1.5m wide x 300mm
It is the ability of the concrete matrix alone to resist the initiation of thick x 6m o.d. ring. The longitudinal cracks in the GFRP+MSF
cracks by its flexural strength. The only way the issue can be resolved segments began to appear while passing through the NATM section
is by a site inspection of the operational procedures, which might and also once the TBM began excavating the ground and applying
have been questionable. For example, if the support bearers are not high excavation forward thrust to the segmental lining.
in line in the segment stack, then bending moments can be induced “Approximately 55 rings of GFRP+MSF reinforced segments
into the segment causing it to crack.” were placed in the first tube, with about five of them in TBM excavated
Following publication of the article, further information was ground, which is safer than in the NATM section for segment loads.
submitted via Feedback from an engineer in Turkey who knows After segment cracks occurred in both the NATM and the ground
the Izmir project and requested the withholding of his details excavation sections, the segment design, and production, was
for professional career reasons. “I read the information about changed from GFRP+MSF reinforcement to traditional heavy steel
this topic and can confirm the following additional information rebar cage reinforcement.
in efforts to be transparent in the application and success of “When the TBM in the second tube launched in September
new systems. This application in Turkey, of hybrid GFRP+MSF 2019, the same method was used for the false tunnel and the
reinforced segments, is believed to be the first in the world. 100m long NATM starter tunnel, with segments of traditional heavy
“The casting of the hybrid GFRP+MSF reinforced segments steel rebar cage reinforcement of 1,100kg/ring. Of the 10 rings of
these steel rebar cage segmental rings installed for the second
Ring instability causing gaps, levelling problems and cracks
tube, wide cracks, gaps and alignment problems were once again
encountered. The works progressed with the traditionally reinforced
segments and the job site was closed to any further study pending
the results of an official investigation.
“All concerns and considerations for the possible causes of
the GFRP+MSF hybrid, and traditional steel rebar cage reinforced
segmental lining as built, were conveyed to the contractor by the
consultants and other participants of the project. With cracks
appearing in both the rings of GFRP+MSF and traditional steel rebar
reinforced segments, it is evident that the issue is concerned with the
instability of the ring build and not a fault of the reinforcement.” n
References
• Promoting macro synthetic fibre reinforcement – see p36
Fibre-reinforced concrete for precast segments – TunnelTalk, May 2014
Correct TBM launch in a NATM starter tunnel

Promoting macro synthetic fibre reinforcement Main line TBMs launch on
Patrick Reynolds and
Roland Herr for TunnelTalk
MSFA News Release Adoption of MSF in civil projects
The civil tunnelling industry is steadily moving in the
Brenner Base Mules Lot
W
ith the growing acceptance of Ahrental Adit, and completion of the
direction of synthetic reinforcement. MSFRS has been
macro synthetic fibre (MSF) used for temporary linings of numerous tunnels, but not section to reach Innsbruck.
L
as a structural concrete until recently for permanent lining. MSF has been used arge TBM excavation of the main The 6.82m diameter exploratory tunnel Other works underway on the major rail
reinforcement, companies and individuals also in linings that are sensitive to deflections and ground running tunnels for the 55km long TBM was launched in May 2018, some 600m baseline project are on the Pfons-Brenner
working in this specialised field have subsidence without adverse outcomes. An example of Brenner Base Tunnel between Austria north of the Mules adit, and the machine is Lot, the Tulfes-Pfons Lot, and the Isarco
come together to form an association to such an application is for the North Strathfield underpass and Italy began, with launch of two 10.65m due to reach the adjacent contract interface Underpass Lot (Fig 2).
promote and continue the development project near Sydney, Australia.(3) diameter Herrenknecht double shield in 2021. Its progress, combined with that of The Pfons-Brenner Lot was awarded in
and application of the product. The As more tunnels are being designed and constructed TBMs on the Mules Lot after establishment the earlier drill+blast works, has achieved a late 2017 to the Porr-Hinteregger-Condotte-
Macro Synthetic Fibre Association using this type of fibre reinforcement, there are no reported of works by extensive drill+blast. A third total of nearly 5km of the 14.8km exploratory Itinera JV and calls for construction of a
Macro synthetic fibre reinforcement
promotes the advantages of MSF and projects in which excessive convergence or ground machine working on contract is excavating tunnel in the Mules Lot. total 46km of excavation for the main
invites membership of the Association. • Ductility: MSFRS exhibits higher subsidence could be attributed to creep of macro-synthetic running tunnels and the exploratory
the exploratory tunnel. The main tunnel TBMs, launched in
• Macro synthetic fibres were first toughness than alternative forms of FRS. These factors are controlled by tunnel design and tunnel. Excavations will involve both TBM
Contractor Astaldi/Ghella JV has been April and May 2019, are expected to reach
developed by 3M in the USA in 1989. concrete reinforcement. excavation sequences, not by composition of the fibre. and drill+blast excavation. The package
advancing the 20km of the Mules Lot since the end of their drives by 2022 carrying on
The technology has spread widely since • Handling: Synthetic fibres are light
Development of the MSF Association award of contract in late 2016. from almost 7km of main tunnel drill+blast also includes excavation of the St Jodok
and includes shotcrete and tunnel linings. and readily transported and handled.
In order to create a united voice for the industry, leading Working from the previously excavated excavation on the lot. The TBMs are erecting emergency stop complex, comprising
• Hagihara Industries in Japan • Durability: Water percolation
manufacturers of macro synthetic fibre have established the Mules adit, the JV began main tunnel a 450mm thick segmental lining in 1.75m enlarged main running tunnels plus cross
developed the embossed MSF in the late in conjunction with chloride- and
1990s. The high tenacity and the new sulphate-containing ground has proven Association. A first meeting of the Association was held at excavation using drill+blast in both directions long rings as they progress through mainly passages at 90m intervals. The lot also
bonding system set new milestones in destructive to steel reinforcement in the WTC World Tunnel Congress in 2016 in San Francisco, and is excavating southward to reach the calcareous schists and gneiss geology includes a total of 6.2km of safety and
underground environments. Experience and the Association was formed as a non-profit organisation boundary with the adjacent Isarco Lot. In beneath the mountainous overburden of logistics tunnels.
performance levels.
• Australia led the way in the use of in mining has shown that small cracks at a base in Switzerland in October 2017. The first General the northward direction it has advanced to between 590m and 1,750m. Construction on the Lot began in 2018
MSF reinforced shotcrete (MSFRS) for enable percolating water to bring oxygen Meeting of the Association was at the WTC 2018 in Dubai. the Trens multifunctional emergency stop There is one large lot yet to be and BBT-SE expects the works to last 74
ground stabilisation in mines, today with and salt ions directly to the surface of The MSFA today comprises ten member companies. complex. It is from here that the two large TBMs awarded on the mega baseline project. months. Early progress has seen about
almost 100% uptake. the reinforcement leading to corrosion The role of the MSFA is to provide confidence and are launched to continue north to the border This is the Pfons-Sillschlucht Lot at the 500m of the exploratory service tunnel and
• Norway, as a leader in the and loss of structural competence. support to users by education and training, as well as with Austria and interface with the Pfons- northern end of the route in Austria. The almost 460m of the safety and logistics
development of wet shotcrete in the Numerous mines have switched to resolving the various technical issues that are still seen tunnels excavated.
Brenner Lot (Fig 1). Excavation of the south Lot involves a total 7km of parallel main
1990s, led the way of MSF into civil macro-synthetics based on the durability as barriers to entry into the market for this product. The Tulfes-Pfons Lot and the Isarco
drives is expected to finish by mid-2020, running tunnel excavation, the parallel
tunnel applications. of polymer reinforcement.(1) Today, numerous copies of the initially engineered quality Underpass Lot are both being advanced by
according to client delivery partner BBT-SE. exploratory tunnel from the existing
• More recently, numerous MSF • Long-term performance: MSFRS fibre types have emerged from producers in numerous the Salini-Impregilo/Strabag JV.
reinforced concrete and shotcrete tunnel using high quality synthetic fibre does countries where care must be taken with the quality and
Excavation on the Tulfes-Pfons Lot at
lining projects have been completed not show post-crack performance performance claims. In this regard, important steps have
Mules Lot TBMs underway the Austrian end of the route, which included
internationally. loss with age. In contrast, steel been taken towards standardisation, not only with regards
a number of tunnels and sites in a complex
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Factors driving the use of MSF alternatives can exhibit loss of residual to the general regulation of the fibre product, but also in
the structural design and application in practice (Table 1). layout, was completed in July 2019. The lot
reinforcement in sprayed concrete have performance due to post-hardening
Full membership of the Association is open to includes 38km of tunnels, including almost
included: effects of the matrix, also known as
companies or individuals engaged in development, 6km of drill+blast excavation for the main
• Economics: Macro synthetic fibre embrittlement. Neither corrosion nor
manufacturing, sales or use of macro synthetic fibres, with running tunnels, and 15km of the exploratory
reinforced shotcrete (MSFRS) costs less embrittlement occur in MSFRC, so the
compared to steel reinforcement. long-term performance remains close the common interest of growing the responsible use of tunnel using a 7.93m diameter Herrenknecht
• Effectiveness: MSFRS works better to or better than the 28-day measured high quality MSF. open gripper TBM. Other drill+blast
for stabilizing deforming ground and is performance for cracks up to 0.30mm in excavations in the Lot from the Ahrental Adit
Industry Feedback include a 9.7km long emergency tunnel,
more durable. aggressive environments. From: Des Vlietstra, Technical Consultant, Barchip Inc.
In response to the suggestion that macro synthetic fibre is
Table 1. Codes for steel and macro synthetic fibre reinforcement concrete “attracting some environmental concerns”, it comes down
Regulation EN 14889–2:2006 Fibres for Concrete, Part 2: Polymer fibres to responsible behaviour by humans. Macro synthetic
of the fibre Harmonised European Standard covering definitions, specifications fibre used correctly in concrete will significantly reduce
product and conformity of macro synthetic fibre (MSF). Most quality MSF in the the carbon which is produced by using the equivalent in
market carry CE certification System I for structural applications steel fibre. As such, this is not an environmental concern,
ASTM C1116/C1116M–10a Standard Specification for Fiber-Reinforced it is a step in the right direction. It is humans that dispose
of macro synthetic fibre incorrectly or irresponsibly that
Concrete (FRC), The US standard for FRC
pose an environmental concern.
General Guidelines for the design, construction and production control of FRC
From: Denis Crehan
design of structures. CNR DT-204, National Research Council, Italy, 2006
In an industry where CO2 savings are hard to achieve, a
concrete fib Model Code 2010 for Concrete Structures, International Federation 70-80% reduction in CO2 emissions is achievable using
structures for Structural Concrete, 2012 macro synthetic fibre reinforcing compared to steel mesh
ACI 544.4R-18 Guide to Design with Fiber-Reinforced Concrete, or steel fibre. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
American Concrete Institute, 2018 Change (IPCC) report of 2018 suggests that keeping the
rise in global temperatures to below the 1.5˚C target would
Fibre ACI 506.1R-08 Guide to Fiber-Reinforced Shotcrete, American
require a decline in global emissions of CO2 by 45% from
reinforced Concrete Institute, 2008 2010 levels by 2030. n
shotcrete ACI 506.5R-09 Guide for Specifying Underground Shotcrete, American
Concrete Institute, 2009 Author’s References
1. Bernard, E.S., 2015. 20 years with Macro Synthetic
Shotcreting in Australia - Recommended Practice, 2nd Edition, Fibre Reinforced Shotcrete. Proceedings Shotcrete for
September 2010 Prepared by the Australian Shotcrete Society, Underground Support XII, October 2015, Singapore
2. Bernard, E.S. 2015. Age-dependent changes in post-crack
published by the Concrete Institute of Australia performance of fibre reinforced shotcrete linings. Tunnelling
Precast Design of concrete segmental tunnel linings – Code of practice PAS and Underground Space Technology
segmental 8810, April 2016, Publicly Available Specification by HS2, British 3. Gonzalez, M., Kitson, M., Mares, D., Muir, B., Nye, E.,
Schroeter, T. 2014. North Strathfield rail underpass tunnel
tunnel Tunnelling Society and BSI by the British Standards Institution design and construction. Proceedings 15th Australian
linings Specification for Tunnelling, 3rd edition, March 2010 Published by the Tunnelling Conference. Sydney, September 2014
British Tunnelling Society and the Institution of Civil Engineers References
Guidance for Precast Fibre Reinforced Concrete Segments – Vol. 1 • First use of MSFR segments in the USA - TunnelTalk, April 2019
Design Aspects ITAtech report No 7, April 2016. ITA-AITES • New laboratory to test macro synthetic fibres – TunnelTalk,
September 2017
Precast tunnel segments in fibre-reinforced concrete, State-of-the-art • Next generation synthetic fibre range from EPC – TunnelTalk,
report intended to complement the fib Model Code 2010 fib bulletin 83, October 2015
Fig 1. Brenner Base railway system between Austria and Italy
International Federation for Structural Concrete, 2017
Lötschberg plans full rail line buildout
access to geologically difficult zones
of the main tunnels in advance of their New CEOs for Brenner project
J
excavation. In the case of difficult geo- oint CEO Chief Executive Officers, Konrad
hydrological zones, it is possible to Bergmeister and Raffaele Zurlo left their positions Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk Construction for Lötschberg was mainly Lötschberg Base Tunnel
insert ground treatment directly from the with the Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT) project delivery by drill+blast. The geology exhibited a north-
T
exploratory tunnel in advance of main organisation in September 2019. The decision he BLS AG (Bern–Lötschberg–Simplon) south split with flysch, marly limestone, slate
tunnel excavations, preventing dangerous brings an end to the turbulent relationship between rail company in Switzerland is to submit and sandstone at the north end, granite in
incidents and expensive interruptions. It the two men, which was a key factor in the Board’s plans to the Swiss Federal Office of the middle and schists, gneiss, amphibolites
is also possible to access the alignment move to replace them. Prof Bergmeister of Austria Transport to fully complete both tubes of the and sediments in the south. Excavation
of the main tunnels via shafts or ramps to had been CEO of BBT since 2006. Zurlo of Italy Lötschberg Base Tunnel. Opened 12 years progressed from the north and south portals
bypass difficult geotechnical stretches of took up his position in 2010. ago with a single operation tube, the line has and three intermediate adits with 80%
the main tunnels and assist main tunnel quickly become a bottleneck to growing rail completed by drill+blast on headings of 65m2
Drill+blast established start of the Mules Lot excavation from the exploratory tunnel. freight across the Alps. To become a twin track to 78m2. The balance, at the south end, was
A fourth advantage involves rail facility, about 7km of the west tube remains completed by 9.43m diameter TBMs.
6.9km of connecting tunnels, and a 1.8km equipment. Long railway tunnels face the to be excavated, the excavated parts of the Daily, the base tunnel, despite the
long emergency stop tunnel. problem that all rail equipment has to be west tunnel are to be fitted out for operation, bottleneck constraints, accommodates
On the Isarco Lot, construction of the placed in the connection tunnels or directly and a new crossover is to be excavated and up to 60 freight trains plus about 50
2.25km of twin running tunnels is complex in the main tunnels, meaning that one main equipped (Fig 1). passenger trains.
with both soft ground conditions calling for tunnel has to be closed during inspection BLS Project Manager for Lötschberg, In 2014, the electorate voted to fund the
ground freezing and jet grouting under the or maintenance. “In our case, we are now Stefan Irngartinger, told TunnelTalk that completion of Lötschberg. Irngartinger told
Isarco River, and drill+blast once into the studying what equipment can be placed the rail company will carry out detailed TunnelTalk: “The west tunnel will be both a
hillside. Construction began in 2014 and is in the exploratory tunnel. Then operation design and procurement planning towards construction site and an emergency exit for
scheduled for completion by late 2022. in the main tunnels will be completely receiving approval for the works by mid- the operating east tunnel.”
Early works also included excavation independent of maintenance of those 2020, a call for tenders in 2021, and for The west tunnel was excavated but
of the Wolf Adit on the Pfons-Brenner main systems,” added Bergmeister. Fig 1. Operating tunnel and completion works
construction to start in 2021/2022 and be only structurally completed and equipped
line Lot. The Wolf 2 Lot also excavated “The additional construction cost of New CEOs Gilberto Cardola of Italy (left)
completed by end of 2028. along its first 14km at the south end. The said Irngartinger. The works will involve
about 1.2km of the exploratory tunnel. A the exploratory tunnel results in savings and Martin Gradnitzer of Austria (right)
The 34.6km long Lötschberg Base remaining part of the tunnel has a primary excavation of new tunnel sections and
further 9km of exploratory tunnel will be in terms of reduced risks and costs for Martin Gradnitzer of Austria and Gilberto Tunnel opened in mid-2007 and was lining and will require installation of the invert caverns close to the operating east tunnel,
excavated by drill+blast within the Pfons- the main tunnel, and an optimised life Cardola of Italy will take over as joint CEOs of the designed and excavated as a twin tube and final lining as well as fit-out of tracks and analysing the stresses and deformations
Brenner Lot. cycle management during operation,” bi-national mega-project. Gradnitzer has been facility with linking cross passages, but only M&E equipment. of the inner lining in the east tunnel and
concluded Bergmeister. the east tunnel was fully completed and Maintenance access and evacuation comparing the data with those of the
Exploratory tunnel debate Project Manager at ÖBB, the Austrian railway
Excavation of the completed Tulfes- company, working on the Lower Inn Valley access operational. Much of the west tube was routes from the operating east tunnel for unfinished west tunnel, and matching
A special feature of the Brenner Base Tunnel
Pfons Lot included construction of a 15km route to the BBT in Austria. Cardola was responsible excavated but not fully equipped. As a result, the 7km unexcavated part of the west infrastructure across the tunnels, noting
is the 5m diameter exploratory tunnel that
reach of exploratory tunnel between the for management of national activities at Italferr, a the Lötschberg tunnel runs about 20km, tunnel are provided through the 9.5km that some components will be nearing their
runs between, and 12m below, the two main
Ahrental junction point and the town of Pfons Kandertal exploratory tunnel running on the lifetime usefulness. Everything will have to
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tubes. The cost of the exploratory tunnel is company of the Italian state railway company. or the majority of its length, in a bottleneck
(Fig 1). Several fault zones were encountered Bergmeister had offered to resign despite his single tube format that restricts capacity. other side of the east tube. The exploratory be completed while train services continue.
about 12% of the total costs of the project,
over the first 13km. The largest overbreak contract being extended in 2018. Zurlo had also The plan was to fully complete the tunnel was excavated by a 5m diameter The construction and excavations adjacent
an issue that has been questioned.
showed a cavity volume of about 5,500m³ received a three-year extension to his contract Lötschberg link once funding was available. TBM in the mid-1990s. to the east tunnel involve backfilling an
However, for Konrad Bergmeister,
and a cavity height of 18m. Pressure on earlier in 2019. Funding to fully complete the Alpine strategic The Lötschberg rail corridor also existing crossover tunnel and creating a
former Joint-CEO of BBT SE for Austria,
the TBM grippers in fault zones exceeded The relationship between the two men was rail link is coming from the Swiss Government includes the 2.6km long twin tube Engstlige new, longer, crossover capable of carrying
there are four main advantages to having the
400bar, and water ingress of more than 70 complicated by the dual system of decision- as part of its large Strategic Expansion tunnel built by cut-and-cover. With only its faster trains. n
tunnel, the primary one being the geological,
litres/sec was encountered. making at BBT, which straddles both Austrian Programme of rail investment for the country. east tunnel equipped for operation, current
hydrological and geotechnical exploration of References
The use of the open gripper Herrenknecht and Italian jurisdictions. The problems came to The budget for the completion of Lötschberg planning is to include track and M&E
the rock mass encountered. “As we learned • Grand opening of the world record Gotthard
TBM for the 15km exploration proved wise, a head when the project moved to construction is estimated at CHF 920 million (USD$922 equipment through the west tunnel.
from the construction of other baseline Baseline – TunnelTalk, June 2016
and the methods developed to handle the and different regulations and laws in the two million) in 2015 prices and has a margin for The excavation method for the majority • Ceneri Base Tunnel celebrations – TunnelTalk,
railway tunnels including the Lötschberg
unexpected overbreaks proved successful. countries were applied to the tender invitation and change allowance of +/- 25%. of the tunnelling will probably be drill+blast, March 2015
and Gotthard in Switzerland, only some
In spite of the significantly increased costs procurement processes. The project was also
rudimentary estimations of the possible
due to geotechnical reasons, the originally under pressure from the European Union, which
rock mass behaviour can be achieved from
Poland progresses new TBM road link

agreed construction schedule was exceeded wanted to reduce its financial support.
the different investigations carried out in
by about 10%. Commercial construction invoicing will now
the preparation phase. With an exploratory
Excavation of the main tunnels of the be separated and executed under the national
A
tunnel we get a much better investigation of
remaining lots of the project will all benefit laws of Austria and Italy. new TBM road tunnel for the Jaroslaw Adamowski for TunnelTalk
the rock mass and its behaviour.”
A second advantage is the water
from the findings of the pre-excavated Joint CEOs Gradnitzer and Cardola now take island city of Świnoujście is to be
exploratory tunnel. All excavation is expected up the responsibilities of taking the project through completed under a contract worth
drainage system. The exploratory tunnel river in Poland. The first is the 12.5m
creates a completely independent system to end by early 2025. n to completion. All excavation is scheduled to be €185.3 million by a consortium led by Porr
diameter x 1.3km long highway link under
that will be used during the construction and complete by the end of 2023 on the Italian side of Austria. The tunnel, under the Swine
the Vistula River in Gdansk on the Polish
the operational phase. This allows periodical
References and a year later, at the end of 2024 or early 2025 River, will connect two of the city’s largest
• Brenner contract award, progress advances – Baltic Sea shore, which opened to traffic
cleaning of the drainage system, with no need on the Austrian side, with train services expected islands. Together with Porr, the consortium
TunnelTalk, April 2018 in 2016.
to stop train services during maintenance. to begin in 2028. n comprises Turkey-based Gülermak, and
• TBM launched for Brenner exploratory tunnel A significant portion of the Swine
Thirdly, the exploratory tunnel allows Italy – TunnelTalk, October 2015 Polish company Energopol Szczecin.
Tunnel investment is secured with funding
The project is about 3.2km long with
Island city of Świnoujście from the European Union.
a 1.44km slurry TBM drive under the
Fig 2. Major works on all but one of the construction lots of the mega Alpine baseline Świnoujście is located on 44 islands,
river. A 13.5m TBM diameter is needed to decided to pull out of the contract because
railway project are now underway using drill+blast as well as TBM excavation only three of which are inhabited. Currently,
excavate a single tube tunnel to house two the costs of labour and materials increased
transportation between the islands is by
3.5m wide traffic lanes for bi-directional significantly and caused an increase in the
ferry with outdated vessels, according to
traffic. Evacuation niches fitted with costs of the necessary construction work.
the municipality. Long lines of passengers,
staircases will provide access to the fresh Construction of the project is expected
as well as times when Świnoujście is cut
air channel located under the road deck to take 48 months, allowing the investment
off from the rest of the country during
for evacuation during emergencies. The to be completed in 2022.
unfavourable weather will be solved by
emergency niches will be situated on one Porr has also signed a contract for the
building a permanent connection. n
side of the tunnel and will be broken out of design and construction of section 3 of the
the segmentally lined tunnel and excavated S3 express road project in the southwest
under ground freezing support. of Poland on which two tunnels, of 2.3km
References
• Lodz to host Poland’s first TBM railway
Initially, the project was to be and 320m long, are to be built. tunnel – TunnelTalk, May 2018
completed by a consortium of Astaldi and The project in Świnoujście is the • Gdansk accepts TBM for vital river crossing
Ghella of Italy, but the two companies second TBM highway tunnel under a – TunnelTalk, October 2012
Fast paced refurbished Mixshield in The Hague Terratec News Release
EPBMs on Istanbul Metro expansion
A A
refurbished 11.34m diameter Rotterdamsebaan road link in January Herrenknecht News Release mong nine Terratec EPBMs working
Mixshield TBM from Herreknecht 2018 and broke through in July 2018. on the Istanbul Metro system
took just one year to successfully After disassembly, return transport to the expansion are two ordered by
clogging-prone clay geological conditions the Halkali-Yeni Havalimani Metro JV of
excavate the twin tubes of the 1.6km working portal and reassembly, the TBM
of the Sluiskil Tunnel, has an open spoke Cengiz Insaat, Kalyon and Kolin to work
Victory Boogie Woogie road tunnel as and its site crew excavated the second
cutting wheel with direct material transport on the Halkali-Istanbul New Airport metro
part of the 4km Rotterdamsebaan project tube between September 2018 and
from the cutting wheel centre and an line. To suit the mixed geology of Istanbul,
to connect the Ypenburg interchange January 2019.
optimally adapted slurry circuit. which includes reaches in sandstone,
with the ring road of The Hague in At more than 1,600 tonnes and about
The cutterhead was painted in siltstone, limestone and volcanic rock, the
the Netherlands. 80m long, the reused TBM achieved
yellow, red and blue, and due to the low 6.56m TBMs have versatile mixed-face
To overcome challenging ground advance rates of up to 16.9m/day for Successful EPBM factory acceptance
abrasiveness of the soil, the colours were dome-style cutterheads with an opening
conditions, due to more than half of the the Combinatie Rotterdamsebaan JV
still clearly visible after final breakthrough. ratio of about 35%. They also feature third international airport on the European
country being below sea level, project comprising Wayss & Freytag, BAM Infra Istanbul Metro progress so far
After commissioning in July 2020, VFD electric cutterhead drives, tungsten side of Istanbul, southwards to Halkali,
partners were able to draw on previous and VolkerWessels. The JV is responsible
the new road link will significantly reduce carbide soft ground cutting tools that are which is also the terminus of the Marmaray contracts and decided to employ a further
experiences. Between 2013 and 2015, for the design, preparation and realisation
congestion on the Utrechtsebaan and interchangeable with 17in roller disc cutters, railway under the Bosphorus. four new machines on the Halkali-New
the same Mixshield excavated the Sluiskil of the project and will maintain the
other traffic routes in the area. n high torque screw conveyors and active It is one of a number of new metro Airport link. n
Tunnel in the Netherlands. 4km-long link road for a period of
After refurbishment at the Herrenknecht 15 years. articulation systems. lines currently being built in the city that will
References The Halkali-New Airport metro line will increase the current 145km metro network References
plant in Kehl, the TBM started work on the The TBM, originally designed to • Innovation gets Amsterdam Metro on track • Record advance for the Istanbul Metro –
first of the two 10.15m i.d. tunnels for the excavate the heterogeneous sand, silt and – TunnelTalk, July 2014 comprise a 31km long line with six new in Istanbul to more than 480km. Members TunnelTalk, March 2018
stations to form the western-leg of the new of the JV were impressed with performance • Making good progress on Istanbul Metro –
From left: Transport through The Hague back to the starting point via inner-city canals; Final breakthrough in January 2019 M11 Line that runs from the recently opened of previous Terratec machines on the metro TunnelTalk, June 2017
XRE TBM conquers toughest drive in Turkey

E
xcavation of the longest water tunnel or tungsten carbide tooling. The Gerede Desiree Willis, Technical Writer,
in Turkey was completed by a 5.56m TBM was also equipped with the torque- The Robbins Company
diameter Robbins XRE Crossover shift system multi-speed gearing, allowing the
TBM that overcame 48 fault zones and water machine to function as either an EPB or a hard
ingress pressures of up to 26 bar. rock TBM. This function is activated by adding was undertaken on a routine basis to get
Contractor JV Kolin/Limak started another gear reduction with heavy duty through the ground conditions. “Tunnel
excavation of the 31.6km long Gerede water pinions and bull gears to accommodate high excavation achieved a best day of 29.4m, a
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project using three double shield TBMs torque at low speed, allowing the machine best week of 134.6m and a best month of
supplied by another manufacturer. When to bore through fault zones and soft ground 484m,” said Duman.
these encountered incredibly difficult geology without becoming stuck. “We had many challenging areas with
and massive inrushes of mud and water they The TBM was delivered to Turkey high volume water ingress under high
came to a standstill. and assembled in 2016 after crews pressures of up to 26 bar, along with flowing
The 9km long final leg of the tunnel excavated a bypass tunnel to one side of alluvial material in 48 fault zones,” continued
through difficult sandstone agglomerate, one of the stuck double shield TBMs. An Duman. “Ground pressure on the shield
limestone and tuff, is widely considered to be underground assembly chamber allowed body caused squeezing conditions in clay.
the most challenging ever excavated by TBM the machine to be built in the tunnel We were able to quickly pass through by
Progress for Milan-Genoa high speed rail link in Turkey. The Kolin/Limak JV contacted using OFTA (onsite first time assembly). keeping the TBM advance rate, cutterhead
engineers at The Robbins Company, who “Getting components through the existing rev/min and screw conveyor rotation speeds
E
suggested a Crossover dual-mode type tunnel was a challenging process,” said at the ideal level.”
xcavation of the underground completed on the access adits: Polcevera, Salini Impregilo News Release The tunnel is needed urgently to convey
section of Terzo Valico dei Giovi, the Cravasco, Castagnola and Val Lemme, and TBM for the remaining section of tunnel. “The Glen Maynard, Robbins Field Service Site
TBM was equipped with increased thrust, Manager. “The assembly chamber was water from the Gerede River to the Çamlıdere
high speed rail link between Genoa related junction chambers with the main Dam, which provides potable water for the
Terzo Valico dei Giovi is a priority project two-speed gearboxes, and a modular screw 7km from the portal and water inflows of
and Milan in Italy, progressed to more than tunnel route. Excavation is at full capacity
for the European Union as part of the Trans- conveyor. Together they provide versatility to up to 600 l/sec made it difficult.” Ankara city water system. n
40% complete during 2019 according along the main line and the connection to the
European Transport Network to develop drive through frequently changing ground Despite the challenges, within the
to COCIV, the construction JV led by Genoa rail line.
Salini Impregilo. The project will support the flow
a network across the Rhine-Alpine rail conditions,” said Barıs Duman, Project first 50m, the machine, in EPB mode, had References
corridor linking Genoa with Rotterdam, or the Manager for the Kolin-Limak JV. successfully passed through the section that • Crossover TBMs bridge the gap for Robbins
About 37km of the 53km long Terzo of people and merchandise between – TunnelTalk, March 2015
Mediterranean with the North Sea. n The specialized machine was designed to had buried the original TBM. Water pressure
Valico Milan-Genoa is aligned underground. It northern Italy and the rest of Europe. It will • Flexibility key to battling poor geology in
hold water pressure of up to 20 bar in a static was lowered by drain holes drilled through
will cross 14 municipalities in the provinces of create a 50 minute connection between References sate - a failsafe that none of the initial double rear shield probe drill ports, equipped with
Turkey – TunnelTalk, July 2014
Genoa and Alessandria as well as the regions Genoa and Milan versus the current one • Tunnelling leads on Italy’s Terzo Valico rail link • Tackling fault zones in the mountains of
of Liguria and Piedmont. Work has also been hour and 39 minutes. – TunnelTalk, August 2016 shield TBMs had been equipped with. It was normally-closed ball valves. Probe drilling Turkey – TunnelTalk, January 2014
fitted with a convertible cutterhead designed
From left: Construction at Libarna in Alessandria; The twin tube Valico Tunnel in the south for ease of conversion between hard rock Assembly of the TBM more than 7km into the tunnel drive
and EPB modes, and with cutter housings
that could be fitted with either disc cutters
Journey through completed reaches to

the XRE TBM assembly chamber
Objections filed as Fehmarn prepares for construction Chinese onboard for TBM-bored Helsinki-Tallinn link
F D
ormal legal objections have been Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk evelopment of the proposed Construction of the 100km route will Jonathan Rowland, TunnelTalk
lodged in Germany against the 17.6km FinEst Helsinki-Tallinn rail link be by TBMs of 17.4m diameter, confirmed
long Fehmarnbaelt road and rail sea link of railway only related costs that account has entered the environmental Valtonen. “This is not an easy task, but it is
between Denmark and Germany following for about one-third of the overall road-rail impact assessments (EIA) stage and achievable based on the geology between
environmental approval for the project by project. About 20% of the cost of the early engineering companies ÅF Pöyry and AINS Finland and Estonia. The bedrock is granite
the German State of Schleswig-Holstein in construction works are eligible to draw are progressing design work. They are and ideal to bore through.” The longest
February 2019. The seven legal complaints, funds from the European Union subsidy. joined by China Rail International Group drive will be about 25-30km between
to be heard by the Federal Administrative “Now we embark on a new chapter of (CRIG), which has signed a memorandum two artificial islands of the project. At the
Court of Germany, were filed by: the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link project,” Femern of understanding for construction with deepest point, the tunnels will be up to
• three ferry companies; Special immersed tube tunnel element A/S CEO, Claus F Baunkjær, told TunnelTalk. project developer FinEst Bay Development; 250m below sea level.
• two German environmental groups; project, Femern A/S was granted “The implementation of a number of major TouchStone Capital Partners, which is “The project is already looking
• two municipalities; and permission from the Danish Government to construction activities will make best use of providing funding; and Turkish contractor at potential TBM suppliers including
• a local landowner. start some of the main construction works the time and ensure progress on the project. GAMA Holding. Herrenknecht, Robbins, and Hitachi, as
Femern A/S anticipates that legal in Denmark in 2019. This is a very important step.” The project includes twin TBM 100km well as a couple of Chinese alternatives,”
challenges might take up to two years Jens Villemoes, Media Spokesman for The immersed tube element factory is long TBM rail tunnels for dedicated said Valtonen. “The decision will be
to resolve. passenger and freight routes between taken in the first half of 2020, when we Key elements of the FinEst Bay project
Femern A/S told TunnelTalk that work on being constructed in stages with the first
In anticipation of objections, Femern the drydock harbour at Rødbyhavn was production lines expected to be operational the airports of the Finnish capital Helsinki begin the procurement process.” TBM
A/S reviewed the potential impacts and to begin in Autumn 2019 and take two in Autumn 2021. Casting is expected to and Estonian capital Tallinn as well as two installation would then begin at some
concluded the timeline should not be years to complete. Early main works in begin in early 2022. Once fully operational, artificial islands. High-speed rail services point in 2021 with work expected to last
impacted and extra costs would be covered Denmark will also include construction of the the factory should be capable of casting a would link the two cities in 20 - 25 minutes, about 2.5 years. This would fit with the
within the existing construction budget. immersed tube element precasting factory tunnel element every two weeks. A total of creating a metropolitan zone of more than ambitious projected opening of the route
With Denmark leading the mega and necessary near-shore dredging and 89 elements are to be cast – 79 standard 2 million people. in late 2024.
reclamation. and 10 special elements which are shorter In Finland, the EIA process began The two artificial islands are primarily
Villemoes said that the early works and deeper to include a basement level for some time ago and has completed the needed for ventilation and emergency
covered in the construction budget will technical equipment. public comment phase. exits. Excavated rock will be used to create
be advanced by the contractors of the Follow-on main construction activities On the Estonian side, the EIA process the islands, reducing the impact along the
large construction contracts awarded would include all offshore dredging, all is awaiting key decisions by the Estonian rest of the route. The larger of the two
conditionally to: concrete casting, the float-out and placement Government in order to proceed. “We islands, off the coast of Finland, will include
• a Vinci-led consortium for the tunnel, of the elements, and all construction work at are responding to requests for further commercial and residential spaces.
portal and ramps and the portal ramps near Puttgarden in German. information,” said Kustaa Valtonen, a The project budget is set at €15 billion.
Fig 1. Potential Helsinki-Tallinn routes
• a Boskalis-led group for the dredging Their timing will depend on the status of the cofounder and co-owner of FinEst Bay Area Excavation will cost about €12.5 billion.
and reclamation works. German court case, explained Villemoes. Development. “Hopefully, when they have A third of the funding will be provided by well as from Europe, just to keep a good
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Talks with the contractors are still Villemoes also explained that an received this information, they will make their TouchStone Capital Partners, which has balance of funding.”
ongoing, he said, though preparatory works expedited permit was granted to allow some decisions quickly and we can proceed.” many Chinese state-owned enterprises It is estimated that project investment
at the Danish construction site are continuing preparatory works at Puttgarden in Germany Completion of the EIA process will as investors. Neither CRIG nor its parent alone will result in a 1.1%/year increase in
as planned. while the court case proceeds. determine which route will be developed. company, China Rail Group (CREC), are Finnish GDP and a 2.5%/year increase in
The overall cost of the Fehmarn toll- “Complaints were expected,” said Three options are under investigation on investing in the project, said Vantonen, and Estonian GDP between 2021 and 2025.
link project is budgeted at DKr 52.6 billion, Villemoes. “We are well prepared for a the Finnish side and four on the Estonian Chinese ownership of the project will be The long-term economic benefits are
about USD$8 billion, in 2015 prices, of coming court case and do not expect to side (Fig 1). limited to less than 50% to allay security expected to be far higher. n
which DKr 7.3 billion is reserves. The Danish adjust our time plan.” The targeted opening “Engineering and technical design has fears, particularly on the Estonian side.
Government has provided State guarantees of the sea link remains 2028. n been started by Pöyry and AINS,” said Additional investors are being sought References
on the loans. Valtonen. “The work will now be accelerated in Europe. “We would like to bring in local • Renewed momentum for Helsinki-Tallinn
The early works will trigger the release of
References with the addition of CRIG to the team.” Finnish and Nordic funding partners, as fixed link – TunnelTalk, February 2018
• Germany approves Fehmarnbelt fixed link –
From top: Contract packages of a significant portion of approved European TunnelTalk, February 2019 Geological section of the Helsinki-Tallinn undersea rail link project
Fehmarn fixed link; Construction to Union project funding, said Villemoes. • Fehmarn contracts awarded – TunnelTalk,
start at Rødbyhavn casting factory The funding is applicable for up to 40% June 2016
Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk

Stockholm cable connection
E
xcavation of a 14km cable tunnel
at up to 100m below Stockholm is shotcreting, explained JV Project Director, of six ventilation shafts with associated
awarded by the Swedish national grid Christian Zimmermann of Hochtief. With service tunnels to be excavated by
company Svenska Kraftnat to the Hochtief/ the vertical alignment below groundwater drill+blast. Four 4m-diameter shafts will be
Implenia JV, valued at about €90 million level, the contract will require significant excavated by raise boring and the other
(USD$102 million). Hochtief has the lead pre-excavation grouting ahead of the TBM. two, about 40m2 in cross-section, will be
technical role in the 50:50 JV, which will The TBM will be stopped every 15m drill+blast shaft sinking operations.
use a gripper TBM to bore the 5m diameter to complete the rounds of systematic The cable tunnel is due to be completed
B
Anneberg-Skanstull cable tunnel (Fig 1). grouting, said Zimmermann. The main in 2024 and will form a key part of the
The TBM will bore through typical
Scandinavian hard rock comprising
challenge, he said, will be to achieve
maximum utilisation of the TBM within
Svenska Kraftnat City Link project to improve
electricity supplies in the capital. n
oth contracts for tunnel works on
the Drammen-Kobbervikdalen Norway awards Vestfold rail works
available working hours to limit noise and section of the Vestfold rail line
metagreywacke, granite and gneiss. References clay or sand over solid glaciofluvial deposits Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk
vibration while beneath the city. in Norway have been awarded to local
The tunnel is designed to be largely • Implenia transport tunnel works in requires challenging soft ground excavation
Contract works include construction contractor Veidekke.
unlined, except for some spot bolting and Stockholm – TunnelTalk, April 2017
and a cut-and-cover box section for the two
Client Bane NOR selected Veidekke References
From left: Fig 1. Cable route under Stockholm city centre; Contract signing in early 2019 for the engineering, procurement and shorter tunnels. The 123m2 rock tunnel will • Norway steps ahead on Vestfold tunnels –
construction (EPC) contracts to excavate be lined to 93m2. Planning work, including TunnelTalk, July 2018
the single-tube, double-track 6km long the integration of a building information • Pre-excavation grouting – a Nordic focus –
rock tunnel for a contract value of NKr1.96 modelling (BIM) system, is underway TunnelTalk, June 2017
billion (USD$213 million), and the contract towards start of construction of the near • Ryfast mega-project breakthroughs –
TunnelTalk, October 2016
for two shorter soft ground tunnels for total 11km of tunnelling.
• Norway road and rail tunnels awarded –
NKr1.83 billion (USD$200 million). Main construction is due to start in April
TunnelTalk, April 2012
With a contract value almost as much as 2020 with the work due for completion • Record drill+blast work in Norway –
the larger contract, complicated geology with in 2024. n TunnelTalk, January 2009
Oslo selects TBMs and segments for new water project
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk of double shield TBMs and the precast of the alignment to the intake. “A watertight
segmental lining for the recent Follo Line lining for the reaches under open country
T
wo double shield TBMs with a precast twin tube railway project in Oslo. The two is not required,” said Johannessen. “The
segmental lining are selected by the TBMs of about 4.5m-5m in diameter for systematic pre-excavation grouting through
Municipality of Oslo to excavate a the water project will work through complex areas of high ingress will control potential
19km long raw-water supply line for the city rock geology at up to 350m below the ground water inflow to within environmental
of Oslo. The TBMs, one working from the surface, and will encounter the potential for protection and operational regulations.”
fresh water intake in the Holsfjorden lake to high volume, high pressure water ingress “With no prequalification process,
the west and the other from the treatment and rock instability. As on the Follo Line, there has been keen interest in the project
plant site at Huseby in Oslo, will progress extensive horizontal pre-excavation grouting from Norwegian and European TBM From left: Shotcrete on roundabout rock pillar; Artist’s impression of the roundabout cavern and its rock pillar support
towards an in-tunnel breakthrough and and systematic probing will be part of the construction contractors,” said Project
D Subsea links for Faroe Islands

install the permanent precast segmental excavation process. Manager Fredrikke Syversen. “Tender esign features of the Eysturoy
lining to a minimum i.d. of 3.6m. “Systematic pre-excavation grouting is documents are expected to be released subsea road link on the Faroe
“Both drill+blast and TBM excavation expected for about 70% of the alignment,” by end of the first quarter of 2020.” Both Islands include an underground
was considered for the project,” explained said Johannessen, “particularly from the Syversen and Johannessen worked roundabout and bifurcation to portals on Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk
Project Director Steinar Johannessen, “and inlet heading where anticipated water previously on the Follo Line project for the different islands. The 11.2km long route
all comparables came down in favour of ingress must expect pressures of up to 35 railway authority Bane Nor and bring their connects the Faroese capital, Torshavn, good but the roundabout was systematically
the TBM option with a precast segmental bar. For this reason we have specified large experience to the new water project. with both sides of the Skala fjord to the grouted,” said Tollefsen. Standard excavation
lining. The TBM option provided a robust capacity, high performance drilling and Tunnelling works on the project are north (Fig 1). In accessing both sides of was performed “but with focus on smaller
and lower cost expectation for meeting the grout pumping equipment on the TBMs.” due to start by summer 2020 and are the fjord, the project faced the unusual sections, with immediate bolting and
programme, and avoided an intermediate For the segmental lining, two types programmed to take approximately four challenge of creating an underground shotcreting, these elements together were
adit and working jobsite in one of the three have been designed. A lining with gaskets years to complete. n roundabout, supported by a rock column quite complex.”
municipalities under which the alignment will provide a watertight lining for about 3km left in situ. The NCC team is also managing
passes. The circular profile of the TBM of the tunnel under dense urban areas at the References The construction contract was construction of the Sandoy project with the
drives with the precast lining also reduces treatment plant end of the project. This will • Tailor-made TBMs for Norwegian hard rock awarded to NCC of Norway in late 2016 lowest point at 157m below the sea bed.
– TunnelTalk, February 2019 Following completion of the main excavations
the head-loss on the gravity flow of the protect the natural groundwater regime and together with a second subsea route
• All TBM boring complete for Follo Line –
water conveyance and optimises the prevent any ingress contamination of the TunnelTalk, February 2019 to the south of Torshavn running from at Eysturoy in June, the two Atlas Copco
excavation cross section. The TBM option raw water conveyance. A non-gasketed, • Pre-excavation grouting – a Nordic focus – Gamlaraett on Streymoy to Tradardulur Fig 1. jumbos were moved across the islands to
is about 60% of the face area required for a draining liner is designed for the remainder TunnelTalk, June 2017 on Sandoy. The client, ESTunlar, was set Location of begin blasting at Sandoy.
drill+blast option.” up by the Faroese Ministry of Industry to the Eysturoy Local company Jardfeingi completed
With the new infrastructure Raw water will pass through the treatment plant and into the Oslo delivery network own, build, and operate both the Eysturoy and Sandoy geological investigations, Norconsult
programmed to be in operation by and Sandoy toll roads. Geotek is the subsea links performed the tunnel design, and Sintef
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2028, approval of the environmental and engineering geology consultant for the acted as technical advisor.
social impact statements, and of the client. The Eysturoy link advanced ahead XE3 jumbos, with wire mesh and shotcrete NCC completed the 4.9km long Vaga
estimated 85%-probability investment of of the 10.5km Sandoy route and achieved support and rock bolting as required,” said and 6.2km long Nordoya subsea road links
NKr12.5 billion (about USD$1.36 billion), final breakthrough in June despite some NCC Project Manager, Alf Helge Tollefsen. on the islands in 2002 and 2006. Road
is anticipated from the Oslo Municipality challenging conditions. “One of the main challenges was that much tunnel construction on the archipelago of
to permit invitation of tenders for the Geology along the Eysturoy route, with more pre-excavation grouting was needed 18 islands began in the 1960s and there are
contracts so construction can begin in its deepest point at 189m below the seabed, than expected.” Approximately 7,500 plans for about 30km of additional subsea
2020. The conveyance tunnel will be let as is primarily basalt. The single-tube, two- tonne of grout was used on Eysturoy, road connections. n
a single contract on a bill of quantities and lane, bi-directional tunnel has the standard “considerably more than was typical for
according to the standard Norwegian NA Norwegian T10.5 profile of 82m2 in cross- two earlier road tunnels on the Islands.”
References
• Veteran TBM continues work on Faroe Islands
8405 form of contract. section and 10.5m wide at road level. Construction of the roundabout with – TunnelTalk, November 2010
Application of a TBM excavation and “Construction on the Eysturoy project the profiled rock pillar in the cavern was an • Links across the waters – TunnelTalk,
segmental lining follows the successful use began in early 2017 using two Atlas Copco unusual challenge. “The rock quality was quite January 2010
Norway trims ship tunnel cost References

is price-adjusted to almost NKr3 billion The previous site investigation mainly • shorter quay approaches at the portals;
(USD$328 million) in 2019 prices. performed limited inclined core drilling • simplifying the entrance structures; • Core drilling for Norway’s latest mega-
Consultants advising on the overall close to the portal areas, said Andreassen. crossing – TunnelTalk, March 2015
• introducing computer-assisted sailing; • Links across the waters – TunnelTalk,
Patrick Reynolds, TunnelTalk estimate back into line with the national design are Norconsult, Dr Techn Olav Olsen, Investigation also included refraction seismic
• modifying construction of the January 2010
transport plan. and Snøhetta. investigations above where the portals are to
Molde portal; Route of the ship tunnel
The outcome was a revised estimate A key strategy to cut project costs was be excavated.
T
he cost of the long-planned 1.7km of just less than NKr2.7 billion (USD$295 to get more and better geological data Andreassen said findings “did not • minor changes to the ship guide
long, 36m wide x 50m high ship million in 2019 prices), beating the using longitudinal steer-drilling for core change the understanding of the geology structure along the tunnel; and,
tunnel project in Norway has been allowable level in the earlier 2016 prices. sampling along much of the tunnel length, but we obtained more precise information • removal of a walkway in the roof.
significantly reduced and awaits the next The gap is even greater when the level working from each portal area, Andreassen about the amount of different rock types, Project planning for the construction
round of the national budget approvals for told TunnelTalk. and information on cracking and the phase includes a service adit to support
advance into the procurement phase. Artist impression of a ship in the tunnel Kystverket hired contractor Diamant orientation of gaps.” excavation logistics.
Terje Andreassen, Project Manager Wire Teknikk to perform the longitudinal core The more precise data on rock type, Kystverket plans to award the works
of the Norway coastal agency Kystverket, drilling, and drill steering was carried out by characteristics and stress distribution, and as a single design-build contract with the
said: “That means potential contract award Devico AS. location of weak zones, have reduced client retaining all geological risk, confirmed
and start of excavation in 2022, if the Andreassen told TunnelTalk that expert uncertainty and risk for future tunnelling Andreassen.
project is approved in late 2020.” help on the extra geological studies in the works which call for large, multiple bench Excavation is expected to take three
In May 2018, after five years of Phase gneiss and slate involved assistance from excavations and some use of pre-excavation years, including blasting and dredging of
1 geological investigations and a second Multiconsult and Sintef. grouting in weaker zones. the temporary coffer dams at the portals
round of external quality assurance studies Limited time resulted in only 60% of the Andreassen acknowledged the to allow excavation to more than 13m
by Atkins and Oslo Economics, the project alignment being probed. The core samples improved understanding of the geology below mean sea level. The overall project
was estimated to be about a third more are 50mm in diameter and 1m in length, would allow for better, faster tunnelling is planned to take four years to complete.
than the NKr2.7 billion (about USD$320 and are taken from along a path steered to progress but said client planning did not While there are tunnels for small boats
million in 2016 prices) allowed in the run under the centre of the tunnel crown. address construction time, but focused on and barges in different parts of the world,
national transport plan. Following core sampling, groundwater inflow the cost/m3 of drill+blast excavation. Andreassen said “nothing exists for passage
Based on the Phase 2 findings, the tests were performed along the boreholes at Other factors in helping to reduce of large ocean-going vessels such as being
Ministry ordered a rethink to bring the the actual depth of the tunnel. projected costs include: planned by Kystverket.” n
Norway delays Rogfast procurement for a rethink UK Government agrees to progress HS2
D
espite a revised cost estimate of revised in 2015 to £55.7 billion and in July Lauren Dyson, TunnelTalk
Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk £106 billion, the UK Government 2019, an announcement from HS2 Ltd, the
has agreed to progress the full organisation set up to design, build and
M
ain construction of the Rogfast scope of Phase 1 of the dedicated high- deliver the project, said that an additional
undersea road project in Norway speed HS2 railway project that will connect £30 billion may be needed to complete the
suffered a delay when the National London with Birmingham. Phase 1 of the full scope of Phases 1 and 2 (Table 1).
Roads Authority (NPRA) cancelled bids for project comprises 225km of twin highspeed In response to criticism about the
the first contract. rail track and four new stations at London financial and environmental sustainability of
Of three bids submitted for the middle Euston, Old Oak Common in west London, HS2, the Government ordered a review of
Kvitsøy Contract E02 for the 26.7km long an interchange station near Birmingham the project chaired by Douglas Oakervee,
subsea crossing, two, from PNC Norge Airport, and a new station on Curzon Street a former Chairman of HS2 Ltd. The report
and from Salini Impregilo, did not fit within in Birmingham. estimated that the total cost of the HS2
the accepted construction period and the Legislation for Phase 2a of the project to project could now reach £106 billion. Despite
other, from the Impenial/Stangeland JV, continue the line from Birmingham Midlands this, the 10-member review panel, with the
came in at 29% higher than the NPRA to Crewe is currently awaiting Parliamentary exception of Deputy Chair Lord Berkeley,
NKr3.5 billion (USD$340 million) estimate. approval, and Phase 2b to connect Crewe to recommended that the project should
Two other bids from Skanska and Marti Manchester, and join the West Coast mainline proceed as planned.
did not reach the price offer stage. The to Leeds, is also in planning and design. The Oakervee panel found that a “key
NPRA decision to exclude the two bids There has been much criticism driver behind the inflated prices on Phase 1”
was not contested. surrounding the plans for HS2, particularly had been “considerable over-specification
In a statement, NPRA Director with regards to sustainability and rising and gold-plating in contracts with much
Bjørn Grimsrud said “we have made an costs to be funded by the UK taxpayer. of the design seemingly done on a worst- Full scope of the HS2 project
assessment that shows there is a risk When HS2 was first proposed in 2012, case, risk-averse scenario.” These design
reduced to be less severe without major risk,
that the project as a whole cannot be the budget was £32.7 billion. This was standards and specifications could be
but there would be a trade-off between cost
implemented within the limits set.”
Table 1. HS2 cost increases and schedule. Constraints in the Phase 1
NPRA spokesman Kjell Bjørn Vinje
Act that approved construction of the line,
told TunnelTalk, “new calculations related Cost change since Cost estimate in
Element of cost estimate and the difficulty in changing it, also do not
to costs are ongoing.” Project spokesman April 2017 October 2019
assist the taxpayer. There are opportunities,
Øyvind Ellingsen told TunnelTalk, “we will (£ million) (%) (£ million) it states, on Phase 2b to remove gold-plating
look at all the contracts to review the Main civil construction 4,916 85 10,667 and over-specification and alond with the
design solutions” and added that “it is
Station design and build 1,020 34 3,984 redesign of alignments.
too early” to say if these outcomes would
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told
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affect all lots. Railway systems 961 52 2,792
the House of Commons, “There will be
The Kvitsøy Lot represents about one- Preparatory works 860 124 1,552
changes to the way HS2 is managed.” HS2
third of total excavation for the project, HS2 Ltd costs: HS2 Ltd Staff
814 35 3,138 Ltd will remain in charge of Phases 1 and 2a
requiring about 21km for access and the and administration with a new organisation for Phase 2b in a
twin main tubes. The other two lots are On network works (ONW) and
721 85 1,573 bid to bring the overall project in at less than
Harestad Contract E03 and Laupland wider network works (WNW) £100 billion.
Contract E04 (Fig 2).
Utility diversions 389 81 869 A 2019 report by HS2 Ltd identified
Rogfast will be the longest undersea
Land and property acquisition 154 5 3,562 a number of reasons why Phase 1 cost
road tunnel in the world, with twin T10.5
Other 609 180 948 forecasts are more than the available funding.
profile excavations running 26.7km under
These include costs associated with security,
the Bokna Fjord, near Stavanger. It has a Trains (rolling stock) and
-390 -20 1,584 design and logistics for contractors, which
budget of NKr17 billion (USD$1.65 billion) Top: Fig 1. Scope of the Rogfast Contract EO2 Kvitsøy Lot operations and maintenance
have turned out to be higher than anticipated,
and forms a strategic part of the E39 West Bottom: Fig 2. Route of world record Rogfast undersea road link Total 10,054 49 30,669 and that estimates for contractor overheads
Coast Highway for Norway. Contract E02
and design costs, based on previous
includes 21km of drill+blast excavation to The E04 lot involves 19km of main the crossing was expected to open in 2024. Table 2. HS2 appointed designers and contractors projects, were underestimated, particularly in
create access to Kvitsøy Island and build tunnel excavations with another 16km of Most progress was made in 2019 with bids,
Phase 1 Station designers respect to station costs.
ventilation shafts for the twin tubes. the main tunnel required under the E03 finally, invited and received for the first time.
London Euston Arup Other reasons include the cost of power,
Following market discussions, five Harestad Lot. The Kvitsøy contract cancellation leaves
signalling and communications systems,
contractors registered expressions of While excavation works on the small in doubt the latest timetable to open the Old Oak Common WSP
which are fitted to existing infrastructure,
interest in the estimated NKr3-3.5 billion Arsvågen and Mekjarvik lots at either end project in 2026. n Birmingham Interchange Arup
and development of the design leading to a
(USD$290-340 million) E02 Kvitsøy of the subsea link and in preparation for Birmingham Curzon Street WSP
References better understanding of the work required.
Lot. In February 2019, the number was the E03 and E04 contracts have been
• Race on for undersea Rogfast lots in Norway Phase 1 Station preferred contractors Site complexity has also been greater than
shortlisted to three with the bids from completed, Rogfast procurement plans – TunnelTalk, January 2019 London Euston Mace – Dragados JV anticipated, as a result of the discovery of
PNC Norge and Salini Impregilo groups have experienced a run of delays. In 2017, • Norway seeks input to Rogfast contract
Old Oak Common Balfour Beatty, Vinci, Systra JV asbestos and archaeological remains, and
being eliminated. when Parliamentary approval was received, strategy – TunnelTalk, August 2018
work to modify existing Network Rail assets
Phase 1 Main line preferred contractors
From left: Completion of Arsvågen contract, May 2019; Earlier drill+blast works on Mekjarvik and Arsvågen Lots at Euston and Old Oak Common to enable
S1 Euston tunnels and approaches Skanska, Costain, Strabag JV high-speed services is more complex than
S2 Northolt tunnels Skanska, Costain, Strabag JV originally considered.
Align JV of Bouygues, Volker Designers and preferred contractors for
C1 Chiltern tunnels and Colne Valley District Phase 1 are all appointed and are working
Fitzpatrick, Sir Robert McAlpine
C2 North Portal of Chiltern tunnel to Brackey Eiffage Kier JV with HS2 Ltd to advance Phase 1 between
London and Birmingham according to
C3 Brackley to South Portal of Long Itchington
Eiffage Kier JV estimates and schedules (Table 2) and to
Wood Green tunnel
have it operational by late 2026. n
N1 Long Itchington Wood Green tunnel to Delta
Balfour Beatty, Vinci JV
Junction and Birmingham Spur References
N2 Delta Junction to West Coast Mainline tie-in Balfour Beatty, Vinci JV • Civil contract awards for UK HS2 Phase I –
TunnelTalk, July 2017
Phase 2b Civils design and environmental services • HS2 announces enabling works contractors –
Lot 1 Mott MacDonald and WSP TunnelTalk, December 2015
Lot 2 AECOM, Capita and INECO • ‘Speed up delivery to cut costs’ says HS2
boss – TunnelTalk, March 2014
Lot 3 Arup
Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk
Silvertown PPP procurement
A
£1 billion PPP public-private-
partnership contract for the discuss the outstanding issues with STC
Silvertown road tunnel under the and defend its approach robustly.
River Thames was signed by Transport for With the STC block lifted and with
London (TfL) and its concession partner close on equity and debt funding for the
RiverLinx, a consortium of Macquarie project, the contract with Riverlink was
Capital, Cintra of Spain, Aberdeen signed in later 2019.
Standard Investments, BAM PPP-PPGM Reference design for the tunnel was
JV and SK E&C of Korea. Construction completed by a group led by Atkins. Cintra
of the 1.4km long twin-tube link, close to Global of Spain has engaged designers
the existing 122-year old Blackwall road COWI and Arup to complete the design-
crossing under the Thames, is due to build detailed design for Riverlinx. One
From left: Fig 1. Tideway route under the Thames; Chambers Wharf job site; One of four main route TBM drives
start in 2020 towards opening in 2025, TBM of about 11.5m diameter is expected
Tideway more than a third through TBMs drives

with the design-build-finance-operate- to be procured to excavate the 1.2km TBM
and-maintain concession running for a drives between cut-and-cover approach
further 25 years. ramps in Greenwich and Silvertown (Fig 1).
W
ith one TBM drive complete and EPBM more than half way into its 7km drive. Jonathan Rowland, TunnelTalk After naming the preferred bidder, The two two-lane bores will be connected Fig 1. Silvertown under river link
two others underway, excavation The TBM is progressing primarily through contract signing was held up when the with a set of cross passages.
of the 25.5km Tideway CSO route London Clay at a rate of 20m-25m/day and Tunneltechnik, this is believed to be the The procurement process began in in what was an industrially developed part
losing bidder Silver Town Connect (STC),
was well into excavation by early 2020. In is expected to breakthrough in late 2020 or first formwork to have an integrated PLC, October 2016, envisaging 4.5 years in of the city and location of a hazardous
comprised of Iridium Concesiones de
addition to the main alignment, the three early 2021. allowing semi- and fully-automatic operation. construction and a 25-year operation and material factory close to the south portal of
Infraestructuras, Hochtief PPP Solutions,
Tideway contracts include 22 shafts and nine Also on the West Contract, a refurbished Other connectors on the contract maintenance period. The UK Government the project. The area of the project is also
and subcontractors, Dragados and Hochtief
lateral connectors. From 33m deep at Acton Lovat TBM completed its first drive for the have been excavated using pipejacking Department for Transport approved the influenced by more recent infrastructure
Infrastructure, lodged a claim against the
in the west, to 66m deep at Abbey Mills in the 1.1km x 2.5m i.d. Frogmore connector in machines including two drives of 200m and project in May 2018. including the Docklands Light Railway
procurement process and award decision. and its Woolwich branch viaduct, and the
east, the main 8.8m o.d. (7.2m i.d.) gravity October 2019. After completing the first 134m long at Putney to link CSOs to the It claimed that its bid scored only fractionally The new crossing will ease chronic
CSO interceptor tunnel falls at a gradient of 500m drive, the machine was transported main Tideway tunnel. peak traffic congestion at the existing Emirates Air Line cable car link across the
behind the Riverlinx bid and had scored river on approximately the same route as
1m in 790m. From Abbey Mills, Tideway joins back to the central Dormay Street shaft and higher in price evaluation, which had most Blackwall road tunnel and at the Dartford
the existing Lee Tunnel for onward flow to the relaunched at the end of January 2020 for
East Contract drive the new tunnel. n
weighting in scoring the bids. It noted lower bridge and tunnel crossing on the M25
Excavation on the East Contract by the
Beckton treatment works (Fig 1). the north drive to the main Tideway tunnel. scores in two areas concerning critical London orbital motorway. Challenges for
The Hammersmith connector of the
Constain-Vinci-Bachy Soletanche CVB
the tunnel constructors will include the
References
Central Contract JV using two Herrenknecht slurry TBMs is consents and ground condition rates. • UK approves Silvertown Tunnel for London –
West Contract intercepts flows from the STC subsequently removed the potential for undiscovered ordinance in an TunnelTalk, May 2018
The first TBM to breakthrough was one of two expected to begin in 2020. The TBMs will
Hammersmith pumping station where an block on award of contract but upheld its historically heavily bombed part of London • Silvertown faces contract award delay –
NFM EPBMs working on the Central Contract complete the 5.5km of the main 7.2m i.d.
average 2 million m3 of untreated sewage
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complaint. TfL said it would continue to during WWII, contamination of the ground TunnelTalk, March 2018
for the Ferrovial-Laing O’Rourke FLO JV. The Tideway alignment between Chamber’s
discharges into the Thames annually.
TBM finished its 5km x 7.2m i.d. bore on the Wharf and Abbey Mills pumping station
The Hammersmith project included an
westward Kirtling Street to Carnwath Road
section in November 2019 (Fig 1). At the
interception chamber, a 35m deep x 11m i.d.
drop shaft, a 48m long x 5m i.d. dearation
and the 5.5m i.d. x 4.6km long Greenwich
connector tunnel (Fig 1). London adds to cable tunnel network
D
end of its drive, it was stripped of its parts, Geology along the routes comprises
chamber and a 250m x 4m i.d. connection esign-build construction of the with planning permission required for the Karen Martin, TunnelTalk
turned aside and buried. The rear gantries Seaford Chalk in which external water
tunnel to the main sewer (Fig 2). Excavation latest cable tunnel under London is headhouses on the shafts not located on
were removed back through the drive and the pressures of up 5 bar will be experienced.
was advanced using the SCL sprayed awarded to the Hochtief-Murphy JV National Grid operational land.
Kirtling Street launch shaft. The connection to The first TBM for the Greenwich connector provides the possibility to draw on best
concrete lining method through London and construction on the six-year £400 million Phase 1 of the project was the first major
the Carnwath Road shaft will be excavated by arrived onsite in 2019 and is expected to practice from across the industry in order to
Clay and finished with an insitu concrete contract project should begin in early 2020. investment in the high voltage electricity
hand and finished with a secondary sprayed- launch in mid-2020. The second TBM, for boost certainty and productivity in delivery,
secondary lining. The total £1 billion, eight-year project for delivery system for London since the 1960s.
concrete lining. This end of drive process was the main alignment west from Chambers improve whole life outcomes in operation,
Initial design called for a waterproofing the National Grid will see the construction The project, constructed by the Costain/
required because the Carnwath Road shaft is Wharf to Abbey Mills is expected to arrive on and support a more sustainable, innovative,
membrane to meet water ingress/egress of a 32.5km tunnel from Wimbledon in the Skanska JV, runs 32km from Hackney in the
the working shaft of the West Contract TBM. site later in 2020. highly skilled industry. All contracts for Phase
specifications of 0.1 litres/m2/ day on southwest, to Crayford in the southeast (Fig northeast to Wimbledon in the south. The
All other Tideway TBMs will break through 2 of the project are based on the NEC4
into their reception shafts.
average, or 0.2 litres/m2/day over any 10m Expenditure and progress 1). The project follows successful completion route passed under existing underground
design-build terms and conditions.
section. This was later replaced with a 5kg/ By September 2019, capitalised expenditure of a £1 billion seven-year London Power infrastructure including water and sewer
The second NFM EPBM on the Central The two other joint ventures in the bidding
m3 dosage of Xypex crystallising agent in the on the projected totalled £2.218 billion with Tunnels Phase 1 project and adds to more tunnels, and the London Underground and
Contract launched in March 2019 on its for the Phase 2 contract were the Balfour
primary lining shotcrete. When completed, costs on track to remain in line with the than 200km of electricity cable tunnels under Crossrail transport networks.
7.7km drive eastward from the Kirtling Beatty/Ghella JV and a Morgan Sindall/BAM
the primary lining had no measured water revised £3.8 billion estimate stated in the London built since 1992. The 3m and 4m diameter tunnels host
Street launch shaft to the reception shaft at Nuttall JV. The selected JV team of Hochtief
ingress in the shaft against a maximum 2018/2019 Project Annual Report. Despite The 3m and 3.5m diameter tunnels almost 200km of 400kV cable with shafts
Chambers Wharf. Progressing at a rate of and Murphy have a strong track record of
allowable ingress of 106 litres, given a surface the complexity of the project, and a shutdown will run 10m to 63m deep with the majority along the route, allowing easy access and
20m-25m/day, the machine broke though working together on major London projects,
area of 1,060m2. In the tunnel, 9 litres of water of several weeks in early 2020 due to the at about 30m deep, and will replace three ventilation of the heat generated by the cables.
at the Blackfriars Bridge intermediate including the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the
ingress was measured against allowable coronavirus pandemic, Tideway reports sections of power transmission cables that In preparing for Phase 2, National
shaft for scheduled maintenance ahead of Crossrail Thames Tunnel project. n
ingress of 434 litres given a surface area of that it is making good progress towards its currently run under local roads. Grid is one of four early adopters to begin
expected final breakthrough at Chamber
4,341m2. Any damp spots were injected with scheduled finish in 2024. n Intermediate shafts are required at key implementing the new Project 13 approach
Wharf in late 2020.
resin grout, after which the tunnel was signed points with permanent access headhouses to delivering infrastructure. Launched by
References
West Contract off as watertight. References required on several shafts. National Grid the Institution of Civil Engineering, Project
• Final breakthrough for London cable tunnel –
• Connection construction underway for TunnelTalk, July 2016
On the Carnwath Road to Acton Storm Tanks The secondary insitu concrete lining was Tideway – TunnelTalk, September 2017
intends to build the tunnels and shafts 13 is based on an enterprise, rather than a • Second drive through on London cable link –
alignment, the BAM Nuttall-Morgan Sindall- cast using a PLC-driven 6m long formwork • Preferred bidders selected for Thames under its permitted development rights, traditional transactional arrangement, and TunnelTalk, March 2013
Balfour Beatty JV has its Herrenknecht with automatic spud bars. Supplied by Kern Tideway – TunnelTalk, February 2015
Underground infrastructure for high
From left: Fig 2. Hammersmith connector; Waterproof shotcrete lining; PLC formwork; Formwork spuds and stopend
voltage electricity cables
Fig 1. High voltage cable route and headhouse locations
Procurement underway for Stonehenge road bypass Anglo American buys out Sirius Minerals
F
TunnelTalk reporting Following a call for submissions at with Highways England over a six-month
ollowing advanced discussions and Lockwood Beck in early 2020 to complete Karen Martin, TunnelTalk
the end of 2019 to undertake the planned period before submitting their final tenders.
A
a proposed offer earlier in January the remaining 24km of the 6m i.d. tunnel.
fter UK Government agreement design-build of the project, Highways The preferred bidder is expected to be
2020, Anglo American finalised its take Advance rates on Drive 1 could remove
to fund construction of the long- England, the project owner, selected three announced in 2021. construction of its permanent winder building
over of Sirius Minerals and its Woodsmith the need for the planned TBM2, enabling
awaited A303 Amesbury to Berwick international joint ventures for the next stage The choice of excavation method, is almost complete. It will hoist excavated
potash mine development project in the Drive 1 to continue through Lockwood
Down road upgrade scheme passing the of the procurement process: between TBM or an open face SCL, is for muck to the surface from the shaft sinking
UK in March 2020. Under the agreement, Beck to connect with Drive 3 TBM from
ancient Stonehenge monument in south • BMJV - Bouygues Travaux Publics and the joint ventures to select and present in SBR operations, and in full operation will
Sirius shareholders will receive 5.5 pence per Woodsmith Mine.
England, an 18-month procurement J Murphy & Sons; their proposals. hoist polyhalite for many decades to come.
share, valuing the share capital of Sirius at The 360m deep intermediate access
process to find potential contractors for • HDJV - Hochtief Infrastructure and Highways England Project Director Continuing development of the
about £405 million. shaft at Lockwood Beck has been
the project was advanced. The proposed Dragados; Derek Parody said: “We are looking project is now secure with the Anglo
Russell Scrimshaw, Chairman of excavated and lined to 51m deep. Grouting
upgrade includes a 3.3km long twin- • MORE JV - FCC Construcción, Salini forward to entering into a competitive American takeover. n
Sirius, acknowledged that the returns that has commenced to prepare the ground
bore tunnel that will follow closely the Impregilo and BeMo Tunnelling UK. procurement process, subject to
the offer represents are “not what either ahead of the main shaft sinking to depth References
existing A303 route. This is longer than The £1.25 billion main works contract planning consent being granted by the
our shareholders or the Sirius Board had using a drill+blast Galloway. The temporary • More funding and first TBM ready for UK
the 2.9km tunnel previously proposed as for the construction of the civil, structural, Planning Inspectorate.
previously hoped for,” but the Anglo American headframe is being erected and construction potash mine – TunnelTalk, January 2019
a result of optimising the portal locations, mechanical, electrical and technology “We are currently assessing the • York Potash project moving forward –
offer is “the only feasible option.” of the winder house has progressed on
best integrating the scheme into the components of the tunnel includes the programme timescales,” he continued, TunnelTalk, November 2018
Following setbacks in the bond market schedule. Should TBM2 still be required,
surrounding landscape, avoiding important approach roadworks and structures and the “and anticipate awarding the contract • Shaft sinking operations at UK potash mine –
towards the end of 2019, Sirius initiated a shaft bottom works will be undertaken TunnelTalk, April 2018
archaeological sites and preserving views environmental components of the scheme. for main works in 2021 and for them to
strategic review and received an alternative before the shaft is handed over from shaft • First drive for UK potash mine awarded to
of the setting sun from Stonehenge during From April 2020, the three JVs will continue until 2026.”
financing proposal from Anglo American in sinking contractor DMC to Strabag to begin Strabag – TunnelTalk, April 2018
the winter solstice. be invited to participate in a dialogue Following a six-month development
December 2019 ahead of the end of March construction of the launch cavern for Drive 2.
consent order examination in 2019, the
2020, when its operation finances were due At the Woodsmith Mine site, a
Planning Inspectorate has sent its report
to run out. “The only viable proposal was Herrenknecht vertical sinking machine
and recommendation to the Secretary of
received from Anglo American in early January, (VSM) excavated the first 115m of the
State for Transport for UK Government
who were only interested in pursuing a 100% 360m MTS shaft. The Galloway is being
approval. “We welcome the Government
control transaction,” explained Scrimshaw. prepared to begin drill+blast excavation to
funding commitment for the upgrade and
Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo the 360m depth.
await the decision from the Secretary of
American, said, “We intend to bring the The main production and service shafts
State on our development consent order
financial, technical and product marketing at Woodsmith Mine are being constructed
application,” said Parody.
resources of Anglo American to the to a depth of 1,600m. Excavation of the
Contracts for enabling preliminary work
development of the project.” 35m diameter service shaft foreshaft to
will be procured separately, as part of the total
As the March financial deadline loomed, 45m was completed earlier in 2019, while
£1.7 billion capital cost of the project. n excavation of the 6.75m i.d service shaft
construction at Woodsmith Mine was
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ongoing. Project owner, Sirius Minerals, has reached its target depth of 118m
References using conventional excavation techniques.
• Procurement process begins for Stonehenge announced that, in April 2019, it secured a
Funding agreed for proposed tunnel – TunnelTalk, July 2019 commitment letter with JP Morgan in relation A Herrenknecht shaft boring roadheader
A303 Stonehenge bypass • UK revives Stonehenge road tunnel proposal to a USD$2.5 billion rolling credit facility (RCF) (SBR) will excavate both shafts to their
– TunnelTalk, November 2014 drawdown which was subject to a number full depth. Preparatory works are almost
of conditions, the most significant being the complete to enable construction of the SBR
successful issuance of USD$500 million of headframe and installation of the machine
River Humber gas pipeline breaks through senior secured notes.
In September, the company Directors
into the foreshaft, with the permanent
winder for the service shaft now in place.
N
ational Grid and the Skanska/Porr/A began in April 2018. The pipeline on the east TunnelTalk reporting concluded that completing financing to Excavation of the 32m diameter
Hak JV celebrated breakthrough Yorkshire coast will carry about 25% of the satisfy the terms of the RCF commitment production shaft foreshaft has progressed
of the 5km tunnel to house a gas to supply homes and businesses across letter was unlikely before it expired as a result faster than expected to its target depth of
replacement gas pipeline 30m beneath the east of England and beyond. around the installed pipeline. When one pipe 45m. The production shaft has diaphragm
of global market conditions, plus the political
the River Humber. The Herrenknecht The Herrenknecht TBM excavated section has been installed, the next will be walls installed to a depth of 120m. Along with
environment and ongoing uncertainty
TBM, designed for the 3.65m i.d. project, mostly chalk, which was graded and moved into position, welded to the one in excavation of the 6.75m i.d production shaft,
surrounding Brexit.
completed excavation on 10 September reprocessed to restore a former quarry near front, and the push will continue until all 5km
A decision was made to reduce the pace
2019. Breakthrough into the Paull shaft on the Humberside Airport. of pipeline is installed beneath the river. Below: VSM being removed from
of development to review available options.
the north bank of the river marked the end In Spring 2020, work will begin on site to The old pipeline across the River Humber Woodsmith Mine MTS shaft; Right
Cash flow forecasts indicated sufficient
of an 18 month drive and start of installation push eight 610m long x 850 tonne sections is in a trench just below the river bed. Over from top: Main construction site of the
liquidity to continue to operate and meet
of what the project claims will be the longest of pipe on rollers into the new tunnel. Two time, tidal patterns have eroded the river bed, Woodsmith Mine project; VSM after
liabilities until March 2020.
hydraulically inserted pipeline in the world. hydraulic thrust machines will push the pipes risking its exposure. n Meanwhile, construction started at each excavation; The MTS shaft
National Grid awarded the design-build at about 1m/min into the tunnel, which will References of several construction sites.
contract for the new high pressure gas be flooded with water to aid installation • Contract award for 5km Humber tunnel – Following award of Drive 1 of the
pipeline in May 2016, and tunnelling work and provide the long-term backfill medium TunnelTalk, April 2016 mineral transport system (MTS), Strabag
From left: Segmentally lined gas pipeline host tunnel; Underwater breakthrough into the water-filled Paull shaft was awarded Drives 2 and 3, expanding
its involvement to a €1 billion contract.
Drive 1 is the remaining 24km of the 37km
MTS, between the shaft at Lockwood Beck
and the Woodsmith Mine. Drives 2 and 3
advance a 13km section of the MTS from the
tunnel portal at Wilton to Lockwood Beck.
The MTS is being excavated at a depth
of 360m within dry Redcar Mudstone and
aligned to avoid water-bearing rock and
abandoned mine workings. The 6m diameter
Herrenkencht Drive 1 TBM launched from
Wilton, Teesside, in April 2019 and was
reported to be more than two months ahead
of schedule before the project slow down.
Two further machines were due to
be launched from Woodsmith Mine and
Russian cities plan major metro expansions
Eugene Gerden for TunnelTalk Table 1. Underground sections of the existing metro systems in Russia
City Total metro system Total underground
A
uthorities of several Russian cities Moscow 327.5km 222 stations 327.5km 213 stations
have announced plans for significant
St Petersburg 118.6km 69 stations 112km 62 stations
expansion of their metro systems.
The cities with metro systems in Russia are Nizhny Novgorod 22.2km 15 stations 20km 14 station
Moscow, St Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk 15.9km 13 stations 14km 13 stations
Novosibirsk, Samara, Yekaterinburg and Samara 11.6km 10 stations 10km 8 stations
Kazan (Table 1). There is a possibility of metro Yekaterinburg 12.7km 9 stations 12.7km 9 stations
systems also for other cities with more than Kazan 16.9km 11 stations 15km 10 stations
1 million people, including Voronezh, Tomsk,
Omsk and Tyumen.
Plans to build the BKL were first construction of the line. This is the highest
Moscow has the most extensive existing
proposed by the Soviet Government in number of TBMs to be used at the same time
metro system, comprising 327.5km of
1985. Lack of financial resources just before in the history of Moscow tunnel excavation.
trackway and 222 stations, nearly all of which
and after the collapse of the USSR in 1991 Most TBMs for works in Moscow have been
is aligned underground in a network of 88
caused suspension of the project. Interest supplied by Herrenknecht from Germany,
deep stations and 123 shallow stations with From top left: St Petersburg Metro and planned expansions; Decline TBM drive;
in resuming the project was expressed by including two 10m machines that recently
another 12 stations on the surface and five Inset: Herrenknecht TBM procured for excavations
Mayor Sobyanin in 2011 and construction achieved breakthroughs. Import of TBMs
elevated. The deepest station is Park Pobedy
began in November of the same year. from Germany is now barred under sanctions 156km by 2027. In addition, the number of experience with major infrastructure
at 84m deep (Fig 1). According to statements
Services on the first section of the line imposed as a result of Russia’s annexation of stations will increase from 72 to 85, with 80 projects in St Petersburg.
by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the
and its five stations were launched officially the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014. of the stations underground. Part of these In the meantime, Metrostroy hopes
length of the Moscow Metro will be extended
in February 2018, while commissioning of Mars Gazizullin, Director General of plans includes the construction of new to continue its participation in the project.
to 1,000km by 2023-2024. Plans for Novosibirsk
the entire line is scheduled for 2022. About Mosinzhproekt, said that deadlines for the entrance halls and interchange stations. The company plans to continue the use of
Igor Arnautov, a senior analyst at In Novosibirsk, Russia’s third largest city
50% of the construction works for the project new Circle Line, and particularly of its first Total investment is estimated at more than its technology that significantly speeds up
Investkafe, said, “The majority of new stations and a center of the Siberian agglomeration,
has been completed. Much of the line is sub- section, have been extended several times, RUB170 billion (USD$2.3 billion). construction. These include a TBM supplied
in recent years are built at shallower depths authorities have announced plans to invest
surface with works running at between 22m mainly due to various technical difficulties Under consideration, to accelerate the by Herrenknecht for excavation of a steep
using open cut methods. This is contrary up to RUB20 billion (USD$300 million) to
and 48m deep. According to Deputy Mayor and challenging ground conditions. Much of expansion of the metro, is construction 30 degree x 140m long access decline
to Soviet methods when the majority of expand the city’s metro. Currently, the system
Husnullin, particular technical difficulties are the excavation is through limestone with high of the Frunze radius line. One section of into the Obvody kanal underground station
underground metro stations of the city were is 15.9 km long with 13 station and is mostly
expected due to the difficult soils that include karst hazards and flowing groundwater. the Frunze-Primorsky Line 5 with three on the Metro 5 Line in 2010, and for the
built at great depths.” underground in 14km of running tunnels and
abrasive sandstone and clay. “As the majority of the stations of stations at Prospect of Glory, Danube, access declines for the Admiralteyskaya and
One of the main problems of the Moscow with all stations underground.
Construction of the project is managed the line are built at a relatively shallow
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and Shushary, was completed at the Spasskaya Stations.
Metro currently, according to the Russian According to Mysik, head of the
by Mosinzhproekt, which has completed depth, with only three at 65m-70m, the beginning of October 2019. The cost of Another innovative technology used
Ministry of Transport and Engineering, is its Novosibirsk Construction of Underground
some of the largest construction projects in construction works are conducted in water- the extension was RUB34 billion (about on the St Petersburg Metro, was the 10m
ventilation system, which cannot cope with Transport Facilities, a local state enterprise,
Moscow in recent years. For the Bolshaya saturated soils and complex hydrogeological USD$523 million) and will help connect diameter EPBM used to excavate single-
the increase in temperatures in its very deep the expansion plan includes two underground
Kottsevaya Circle Line, Mosinzhproek and conditions,” said Gazizullin. “In addition, there the historical city centre to its north- tube double-track tunnels. “This method
stations during the summer season. stations and a proposed 10km of TBM
its affiliated construction companies are is a need to protect existing structures with western and southern districts. accelerates construction of new metro
Moscow expansion collaborating with Chinese engineering comprehensive preventive measures.” Implementation of the metro project is running tunnels by almost 1.5 times,” said excavated running tunnels.
One of the most ambitious projects in the and construction companies which are According to Deputy Mayor Khusnullin, expected to be carried out by Metrostroy, Ekaterina Higinyak, Chief of the Public Construction of the metro started in the
history of the Moscow Metro is the 69km engaged to build sections of the Line. For “80km of tunnel excavation was completed one of the largest engineering companies Relations Department of JSC Metrostroy. 1980s with two operating lines of 15.9km
Bolshaya Koltsevaya rapid transit Circle the works, China Railway Construction by mid 2019.” in Russia and the main contractor of St “The EPB technology also allows excavation and 13 stations. Expansion plans will create
Line with 31 stations. It is also claimed as Corporation, CRCC, has delivered four Petersburg Metro construction works. This of metro tunnels at shallow depths that an overall network of five lines for a total of
the longest metro circle line in the world, 6m diameter TBMs for the project and is St Petersburg plans is despite the fact that the local authorities seemed unrealistic previously.” 90.5km of track and 53 stations.
overtaking the 57km Second Circle Line planning to deliver another larger machine In addition to Moscow, the Russian Federal have repeatedly announced their intention to According to experts at Metrostroy, open The running tunnels, between cut-and-
of the Beijing Metro, according to Marat at 10m diameter. Government is paying particular attention end the monopoly of the company in the St face excavation is possible in St Petersburg cover stations of the existing network were
Khusnullin, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Xue Li Jiang, Executive Director and to expansion of the St Petersburg Metro. Petersburg tunnelling industry. in the dry Cambrian clays and at a depth excavated using Lovat TBMs imported
Urban Planning and Construction and the Chief Engineer of CRCC, said all five TBMs Currently the system comprises a total Authorities say the local government of 40-60m. Most of the works in the upper from Canada. Collapse of the USSR in
Moscow City Government official responsible are designed to take into account the network of 118.6 km and 69 stations with is conducting talks with potential foreign layers are usually complicated by a high 1991 resulted in the suspension of further
for the project. The new Bolshaya Koltsevaya geological conditions and the city’s climate. most underground in 112km of tunnels and construction and engineering companies content of groundwater. Therefore, most of construction works, until the recent
Circle Line (BKL) will save passengers the According to Xue, low temperatures during 62 underground stations. including, for example, ICA Construction, the metro stations and tunnels under the river announcement by the Novosibirsk Regional
journey to the centre of the city in order to winter will not complicate planned works. The overall expansion project will extend a joint venture of IC Ictas Insaat of Turkey channels of St Petersburg are located at a Government to begin and complete
transfer from one radial line to another. A total of 15 TBMs are required for the St Petersburg Metro from 124km to and Astaldi of Italy, which already has depth of more than 50m. construction of the new lines.
Most of the stations are sub-surface,
Left: Fig 1. Moscow Metro and planned extensions; Fig 2. 69km Moscow Circle Line From left: Existing and planned Novosibersk Metro; Metro bridge over the Ob River
except for the Rechnoy Vokzal, which is
located partially above and below ground to
connect to the Ob River bridge.
According to Mysik, the new lines will
serve districts such as Levoberezhnie, which
is a planned industrial dormitory district.
Expansion of the metro is an acute need for
Novosibirsk as its existing lines connect only
six of the nine districts of the city.
According to Grigory Melnik, General
Director of Novosibmetroproekt CJSC,
while most domestic TBMs cannot compete
with their foreign counterparts in terms of Industry Feedback at zero degrees ambient. Hence, if we
From: Calvin Barrows, Chartered Engineer, UK draw lines parallel to the best fit lines, which
speed, with rates of 70m/month compared
I read with interest that one of the main pass through the zero ambient temperature
to 170m/month in the case of most of
operating problems for the Moscow Metro is axis at 14°C, this represents a train running
imported machines, the use of Soviet-
related to its ventilation system which cannot using zero energy to move and stop (thus
developed machines could still be beneficial
cope with the increase in temperatures during producing zero heat) but with the platform
during tunnel building activities in Russia.
the summer season. The current response and tunnel temperatures still rising linearly
This is mainly due to problems importing
to metro overheating is either to do nothing with the ambient temperatures. This would
components and spare parts for foreign
or to install plants to cool the whole of the suggest that all the non-seasonal heat
TBMs, given current trade sanctions.
underground network, which addresses the sources are accounted for in the approximate
Most of the running tunnels for the new
symptoms and not the root cause and is 4°C difference between the best fit line and
lines, it is reported, will adopt the single tube,
imprudent in terms of capital, environmental the parallel line passing through the zero
double track, large diameter TBM design of
and running costs. A report on the subject degrees ambient axis at 14°C. This makes
the so-called Madrid method, which allows
by the University of Cambridge Engineering sense because all these non-seasonal
for faster construction rather than using two
Department entitled Thermal Modelling and heat sources are insufficient to keep the
smaller diameter machines for twin tube,
Parametric Analysis of Underground Rail passengers warm in the winter without the
single track running tunnels.
Systems includes two graphs that clearly use of saloon heaters.
Kazan expansion show a linear relationship between ambient Trains on the surface cannot jettison their
In Kazan, capital city of the Tatarstan temperature and temperatures underground absorbed heat energy during summer before
Republic, Marat Izatullin, Director of the Main in the tunnels and stations. This supports entering the underground alignments. My
Investment and Construction Department my hypothesis that ambient heat increase is suggestion is that while they are on the surface,
(GISU RT), explained that expansion of the carried into the underground environment by we should protect them from absorbing too
city’s metro involves building a second line the trains. much irradiation by applying a sunscreen. See
after the first line was completed in 2005. There is consensus that underground p24 for further information on the topic and
The first line of 16.9km long, with one space or non-operational railway tunnels in how this could be achieved. n
station built underground, was excavated clay have a background
using Lovat TBMs from Canada. According temperature of about
to Kazan authorities, the new line might 14°C. However, the
involve reuse of the 10.85m diameter single- figures show a linear
tube double-track Herrenknecht TBM that relationship between
completed its drives for the Moscow Metro the rise in ambient
extensions in 2017. n temperature and the
References rise in tunnel and station
• Driving progress on Moscow metro – temperatures, with
TunnelTalk, June 2013 platform and tunnel
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• Facing steep challenges on St Petersburg temperatures at 17-18°C Credit: University of Cambridge Engineering Department
Metro – TunnelTalk, August 2012
Russia link for China-Europe transport corridor

Eugene Gerden for TunnelTalk Fig 1. Tunnel (orange)
connects to a bridge (blue)
C
and a new highway (red)
onstruction work on a highway
tunnel in Russia is to resume as completion concession project
part of new plans to complete a toll is estimated at RUB20 billion. Of
road transportation link between China and this, about 50% will be allocated
countries of the European Union. Authorities from the Bashkiria regional
of the Republic of Bashkortostan, a Russian budget with the remainder
region located between the Volga River and provided by the Russian Federal
the Ural Mountains, are planning to complete Government plus private
the Ufa road tunnel that was suspended in investors, including large state
2007. The tunnel is part of a project that will banks, on a parity basis.
connect the M5 and M7 federal highways The new tunnel will be
in Russia and as part of building out an located under a cover of 50m
exit road from the city of Ufa to the M5. In to 80m and is designed for both
addition to completing the1.25km tunnel, cut-and-cover and drill+blast excavation.
the project involves 12.8km of new four-lane, Earlier tunnelling works were
dual-carriageway and a road bridge over the complicated by difficult geological conditions,
Ufa River (Fig 1). particularly soft ground. According to Ptitsum
The Ufa tunnel has been underway since Gleb Ptitsun, head of the first Ufa tunnel
1995 but was suspended at the start of the project: “The situation is complicated by
global economic recession in 2007. the presence of quick grounds and clays,
Works were completed to about 30% which significantly slowed down the rate of
at that time, with installation of a concrete tunnelling works.” Earlier works included
invert slab and preparations for construction shaft excavation using an 8m diameter
of a central shaft. The technical condition 1SPKV-8.0 shaft sinking machine.
of the completed sections of the tunnel According to local reports, the list of
remains good due to an annual investment potential bidders for the project includes
of RUB200 million (about USD$2.7 million) OJSC Mosmetrostroy, which may provide
by the Bashkiria Government to maintain the support to Management of Construction No.
works since 2008. 30 to complete the works. n
The project is to be implemented Above: Portal of the dual carriageway
by the Bashkir Concession Company, a References infrastructure
financial group partially owned by the Turkish • Twin bore at Biakal for Siberian Silk Road Below: 1SPKV-8.0 shaft sinking machine
construction company Limak Group. The railway – TunnelTalk, August 2018 used on earlier Ufa tunnel works

St Petersburg Neva River highway revival Doubling Severomuiski to add rail capacity in Russia
Eugene Gerden for TunnelTalk One possibility of funding the project is Eugene Gerden for TunnelTalk Siberian railways. The company, owned by
to include a PPP public-private partnership millionaire Dmitry Bosov, is ready to invest
up to RUB 100 billion (USD$1.5 billion) to
T
concept. Part of the funding could be
P
he Russian Federal Government, lans are advancing to construct a build the new tunnel.
provided by infrastructure bonds. The toll
together with the authorities of parallel tube to the existing 15.3km According to Andrei Makarov, the
tunnel, with a fee of RUB300 (USD$4.50),
the St Petersburg region, plans to long single-track bi-directional Deputy Director General of RZD, a
will have a traffic capacity of up to 60,000
resume building of the Orlovsky highway Severomuiski railway tunnel to increase feasibility study has been presented to the
cars/day.
project. This time the project features capacities on the Baikal-Amur Mainline Russian Government for the tunnel to be
Experts believe there is no real
parallel 10.3m diameter tunnels of about (BAM) railway in Siberia. The new tunnel built by 2026-2027 at an investment of
alternative to the tunnel. Another option
2,200m long to accommodate two traffic will increase capacity of this section of the about RUB120 billion (USD$2 billion).
may be a high-level bridge, but this will lead
lanes in each direction under the Neva broad gauge BAM railway line from the RZD experts consider it a high
to the need of building technically complex
River, rather than the single-tube double- current 16 million to 100 million tonne of possibility that the project may face the
junctions, which will result in a significant
deck tunnel of three lanes on each deck cargo/year and make Russia a new transit same complex geological difficulties that
increase of the costs of the project. A
developed in 2007. hub for the delivery of Asian Pacific cargo occurred during the building of the first
bridge would also have a negative effect on
The new project, being developed by to the European Union. The investment tunnel, particularly with the prevalence of
the world-renowned urban views of historic
Moscow design and engineering company will double the carrying capacity of the thermokarst and permafrost. Construction
St Petersburg.
Metrogiprotrans, is located under the BAM rail service to up to 30 trains/day of the first Severomuiski tunnel began in
Most experts, however, warn of Existing single-tube, single-track,
historic area of St Petersburg to provide a by 2030, compared to its current 12-15 1975 and its official commissioning took
potential risks. Valery Kuznetsov, Director bi-directional Severomuiski tunnel
much-needed link under the Neva River. Technical concept of Orlovsky tunnel trains/day. place in 2003.
of the mechanization department of
Renamed the Sredneokhtinsky project, it is created in 2008 The lack of a second track of the Implementation of the project may be
Metrostroy, said: “Implementation of the will also provide access for opening
expected to be carried out by the Moscow- tunnel makes it a bottleneck of the entire complicated also by high seismic activity in
project will be associated with serious additional faces for main tunnel advance.
based company OJSC Metrostroy. Poltavchenko as Governor of the city that BAM, according to Oleg Belozerov, head of this area and by the watershed between Lake
technical difficulties, taking into account Excavation of the new tunnel is expected
The new tunnel is considered a cheaper resulted in the suspension of the project as the Russian railway monopoly RZD. Baikal and the Vitim River, which is located in
complex ground in the bend of the Neva to advance from both portals and in both
alternative to the 2007 Orlovsky Tunnel too expensive for the city’s budget. Both local State-owned corporations close proximity to the planned construction
River and most importantly, construction of directions from two intermediate shafts of
initiative, which was proposed during the Arrival of Vladimir Beglov as the new and private investors have shown interest site. Radiation may be another problem as
large portal structures.” up to 300m deep. n
investment boom in St Petersburg and for St Petersburg Governor creates conditions in contributing to the funding of the new the site of the future tunnel is characterized
The same opinion is shared by
which a technical concept was officially for resuming the project, in accordance
Johannis Henning, CEO of Herrenknecht tunnel. The leading private partner in the by high concentrations of radon. References
adopted. Design of a record-breaking 19m with its revised design and at a revised total proposed PPP public private partnership To minimize risks, there are plans to • Overcoming adversity in Siberia –
Tunnelservis, a subsidiary of Herrenknecht, TunnelTalk, April 2002
diameter TBM was also commissioned cost not to exceed RUB40 billion. model is the Sibanthracite Group which advance an exploratory/drainage gallery
who worked on several applications of • Twin bore at Biakal for Siberian Silk Road
with Herrenknecht. The revised twin tube project will be has ambitious plans to increase its annual to evaluate geological conditions, drain
large diameter Herrenknecht TBMs in railway – TunnelTalk, August 2018
After signing an investment agreement excavated at a depth of 9m beneath the coal cargo transportations by up to 50 water ingress and improve ventilation
Moscow, including the Lefortovo highway • Russia link for China-Europe transport
in 2010, the cost of the 2007 project bed of the Neva using the 10.5m diameter
EUROPE
EUROPE
project. He said one of the biggest million tonnes on both the BAM and Trans- during excavation. The drainage gallery corridor – TunnelTalk, May 2019
exceeded RUB80 billion (USD$1.23 billion) TBM purchased by Metrostroy from
challenges during tunnel works in St
- two times higher than initial estimates. Herrenknecht in 2015 for excavation of two
Petersburg is the abundance of boulders
F
It was the appointment of Georgy sections of the St Petersburg Metro.
Nadezhda shield used for the St Petersburg metro

in the saturated soils and the variability of
ground conditions which prevent normal
orty years after supplying a 4.56m
diameter double shield machine A Robbins return to Siberia
operating of the shield, and potentially to help bore the service tunnel of the
first Severomuiski project, the Robbins Desiree Willis, Technical Writer, The Robbins Company
damage its working body. He added that
the situation is aggravated by the fact that Company has an order for two new
technicians and service workers cannot 10.37m diameter Crossover XRE TBMs maintaining good advance rates.” said for 360-degree probe drilling and grouting
always determine whether repairs require to work on the main parallel tunnel. The Robbins President Lok Home, who was ahead of the excavation face, while the
hyperbaric interventions for inspection and new 15.5km long tunnel will pass through a young engineer working with Robbins Robbins torque-shift system will enable
maintenance of the TBM and cutterhead. mixed ground and fault zones that caused when a double shield TBM was delivered the machines to bore through collapsing
Implementation of the project has major geotechnical delays and troubles for the first tunnel in 1979. “The XRE ground and other situations that demand
been welcomed by some leading Russian during excavation of the first tunnel. machines are able to operate in open high torque. The machines will also be
scientists in the field of civil construction Lessons learned during the first mode in hard rock formations, and closed designed with a belt conveyor in hard
and tunneling works. Oleg Bely, Chairman Severomuiski experience, among EPB mode in unstable water-logged soils.” rock mode that can be switched out
of the Council of the Russian Academy of them the importance of probe drilling, The machines will be designed for with a screw conveyor to better handle
Sciences commented: “The construction consolidation grouting, and preventing varying water pressures from 5 to 20 excavation conditions in soft ground.
of the tunnel under the Neva will certainly a shield machine from becoming stuck bar. They will feature water inflow control, Other aspects of the supply include a
improve the transport infrastructure of the in fault zones or squeezing ground, a system that seals off the face and continuous conveyor for muck removal,
city. We have underestimated the possibility are all part of the Crossover TBM periphery and creates a safe working rolling stock, spare parts, and cutting
of using underground space in the past.” n solution. “Per the contract the Robbins environment in which to dewater and tools. Construction of the new tunnel
Crossover TBMs are designed to bore consolidate ground. The machines will is expected to begin in 2020 and take
References in highly variable ground conditions while feature probe drill ports and capabilities five years. n
• Road tunnel under the Neva for St
Petersburg – TunnelTalk, December 2017 From left: Original 4.56m double shield supplied for the Severomuyski service tunnel in 1979
• Mega dimensions of Russian Orlovski Project
– TunnelCast Video, September 2012
New XRE TBMs will have a belt conveyor and a switch-out screw conveyor for challenging conditions
Appeal lodged after jury finds for SR99 Client Industry Feedback
From: Dr Peter J Tarkoy California High-Speed Rail
Is it possible that the contractor losing the
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk Breakthrough after passing under the A court case was also being prepared
court case might be attributed to a poor
operating highway viaduct and beneath by Hitachi Zosen to claim final payments
A
presentation of their position?
fter losing its claim for USD$330 the streets of central Seattle was achieved of about $25 million that STP had withheld
million to recover costs associated without further incident in April 2018. The for supply of the $80 million TBM. In an From: Nick Barton
with the TBM breakdown and the double-deck, single-bore highway tunnel agreement with STP, Hitachi Zosen covered On the face of it, this seems like a tough
two-year delay in completing the SR99 opened to traffic in February 2019 and today the costs of the mechanical repair of the decision against the consortium STP.
highway replacement tunnel in Seattle, Tutor carries up to 80,000 vehicles/day, including machine and STP paid to construct the They have my sympathy. They did not
Perini, as a 45% shareholder in the Seattle heavy freight truck traffic. recovery shaft. Reports suggest that Hitachi deserve this. Nor did the Owner of
Tunnel Partnership (STP) JV with Dragados Court documents report that STP filed Zosen and STP came to an undisclosed out course, but whose fault was it? Hardly
of Spain, filed an appeal. In losing its case, a claim for $150 million when the machine of court settlement in early 2020. that of the consortium.
STP was also charged to pay a counterclaim encountered the well casing in late December With an appeal in response to this From: A UK reader
of USD$57.2 million in damages to 2013. This increased to more than $600 first ruling in actions taken as a result of The logic behind the decision is
the Washington State Department of million as the scale of the TBM recovery the TBM breakdown and repair, and the astounding. Although DRB decisions
Transportation (WSDOT) as the Client. progressed. The claim was reduced to $330 resulting delays to completing the project, are non-binding, they are nevertheless
In a verdict handed down in December million at the start of the court hearing in it is likely to take years yet to settle all the combined opinions of three
2019, the jury of 12 citizens dismissed October 2019. disputes and claims. State Route 180 Fresno Trench underpass
knowledgeable experts who understand
the STP claim that it was the encounter During the trial, the jury heard testimony In the meantime, the project was the contract. What is more, the DRB is
with an alleged inaccurately documented from members of senior management and completed, by the same parties involved Karen Martin, TunnelTalk
appointed mutually by the Owner and
groundwater investigation well casing in the engineers on behalf of both STP and WSDOT from the beginning. After eight years of the Contractor and either party needs
P
alignment of the tunnel that caused failure in and from a number of expert witnesses construction and a $3.4 billion public to have good reason for not accepting a rojected at USD$77 billion, the high-
December 2013 of the 57ft (17.4m) diameter called by the lawyers acting for each party. investment, the waterfront of Seattle is now DRB decision. What is really amazing is speed rail service from Los Angeles
EPBM, the largest ever TBM at the time. During the trial, it was discovered that pieces forever transformed following demolition that a jury of citizens, with no technical or to San Francisco hit another barrier
The two-year delay and claimed USD$330 of the well casing pipe, retained at the time as of the elevated highway viaduct and with contractual experience, should contradict after recording delays and rising costs. In
million in costs were incurred to construct evidence, along with large boulders removed traffic now routed through the city’s new the unbiased verdict of three experts. May 2019, the White House administration
an emergency recovery shaft to lift the from the TBM excavation chamber, had underground highway. terminated the $929 million grant of
cutterhead and drive unit of the machine to been discarded during site clearance at the Since it opened on 4 February 2019, From: A UK reader Federal funding to the California High-
I like your report on Seattle contract. Feel Statewide map of the phased
the surface for extensive repairs. end of the project. Also missing were STP the State highway SR99 tunnel has Speed Rail Authority (HSRA), declaring that
more than a bit sorry for the contractors high-speed rail implementation
STP, as the fix-price design-build engineering journals that documented the excelled. However, toll charges, ranging it had failed to make reasonable progress
contractor of the USD$1.44 billion highway details of encountering the pipe casing and from $1 to $2.25, imposed in November particularly as the DRB found otherwise, on the project. Additional project development includes
tunnel contract, claimed that as the TBM cut the days following, before the machine was and the contractors seems to have
THE AMERICAS
2019, have sent more than a quarter of the environmental clearance for all San
THE AMERICAS
In response, California filed a
through the well casing, pieces of the 160ft stopped and needing repair. those drivers back to surface streets, done a lot to save overall delays to the Federal court lawsuit, claiming the USA Francisco to Anaheim project segments by
long, 8in diameter x 1/4in thick steel of the In a statement after the trial, the Governor undermining the role of the tunnel. Tolls project by construction of the interior Transportation Department lacks authority 2022 and targeted bookend investments in
test well pipe damaged vital mechanical of Washington State, Jay Inslee, said: “We were demanded by State lawmakers structures and road decks concurrent to withhold the grant. The Federal Railroad the Bay Area and Los Angeles.
components including the main bearing seal. never wavered from our position that it was outside Seattle to finalise a political deal in with operation of the TBM. Administration (FRA) agreed not to redirect Recent cost estimates for the
The steel casing of the test well was installed always the contractor’s responsibility to fix the 2009 to adopt the bored tunnel option for From: Chris Pressdee the funds to another project while the Bakersfield-Fresno-Merced section and
during preliminary ground investigations tunneling machine and that taxpayers should the SR99 viaduct replacement. n I find it unbelievable that they discarded dispute progresses. the Phase I San Francisco to Anaheim
before award of contract and had not been not pay the repair bill.” In lodging its appeal, the steel casing and journals from the The decision follows announcement environmental clearance, stand at $20.4
removed ahead of launching the machine. Tutor Perini stated that the verdict conflicts
References billion, with the acknowledgement that
• Bertha breaking out for downtown Seattle – encounter with the well. n by California Governor Gavin Newsom in
During the two-year repair process, with the findings of the contract’s Dispute TunnelTalk, May 2016 February 2019 of a substantially scaled- costs could rise with unpredictable
machine manufacturer Hitachi Zosen of Review Board (DRB) which stated that the • TBM Bertha relaunch delayed again – References back plan for the project. “There is no doubt developments.
Japan, supplied a replacement main bearing steel pipe casing constituted a differing site TunnelTalk, October 2015 • STP wins latest round of Seattle DRB The tunneling aspects of future sections
that our State economy and quality of life
• Insurers refuse STP Bertha breakdown claim claims – TunnelTalk, February 2015
and provided engineers to work with STP condition. Under the terms of the contract, depends on improving transportation,” of the project are among the most challenging
– TunnelTalk, August 2015 • DRB examines Bertha obstruction case –
crews to repair the machine for a relaunch findings by the DRB were non-binding. • Damage revealed in recovered and dismantled TunnelTalk, May 2015 said Newsom, “but the current project, as elements of the system. The Authority intends
in January 2016. From the breakdown point In a separate case, STP is pursuing TBM Bertha – TunnelTalk, July 2015 • WSDOT “concern” over DRB obstruction planned, would cost too much and take to create a specially selected tunnel delivery
and recovery shaft at about 1,000ft (300m) claims against the contract insurers who • Discussing Seattle TBM repair strategy – ruling– TunnelTalk, May 2015 too long.” He confirmed that the 119 mile advisory panel to help identify the areas of
into the 9,000ft (2.7km) tunnel alignment, rejected claims to cover the TBM repairs. TunnelTalk, July 2014 greatest risk. The panel will focus initially on
• Technical parameters of Seattle’s mega Design of the new double-deck (191km) section under construction between
the repaired TBM and its STP operating In a counter case the insurance providers EPBM – TunnelTalk, December 2012 Merced and Bakersfield in the Central the northern Pacheco Pass tunnels in Phase
underground highway; The 17.4m
crews and management team completed are said to be taking action against STP for • Alaskan Way contract signed – TunnelTalk, Valley will be completed. “The Central Valley I, and consult industry tunneling experts,
diameter EPBM, one of the largest ever
the remaining 8,000ft (2.4km) of the drive. lodging a false claim. January 2011 endures the worst air pollution in America including contractors, TBM manufacturers,
and some of the longest commutes,” he engineering firms, geotechnical engineering
Top from left: Alleged culprit of the TBM damage and breakdown; Claims were to cover costs of the recovery shaft and repair firms and firms specialising in tunnel
said. “They deserve better and the high-
of the stricken TBM; Repair included fitting a replacement main bearing; Below: Replacement highway route under the streets construction and risk management.
speed rail project will be part of that.”
of downtown Seattle; Seattle waterfront before and after the elevated highway viaduct demolition The main cost categories driving the
In 2008, voters were told the project
would cost $45 billion. The actual cost now estimates for the Pacheco Pass tunnel are
appears closer to $80 billion. The Federal procuring tunnelling equipment, mining
Government decided that the project should and mucking operations, pre-cast concrete
begin in the Central Valley nearly a decade lining production, and time-dependent
ago when it deemed that segment worthy indirect costs. Pacheco Pass cost estimates
of Federal funding. The Authority believes are said to be in line with historic costs of
that delivering this first working section will rail transit and commuter rail projects in the
demonstrate the viability of the broader USA. The Early Train Operator, however,
project and attract other funding to complete has recommended that HSRA perform
the line north and south. supplemental geotechnical investigations
Construction continues in the Central and review the tunnel design criteria to
Valley at more than 24 active sites. The potentially reduce overly conservative
Fresno trench, north of downtown Fresno, construction cost estimates commonly
in Construction Package 1, is about 1 mile associated with the unidentified risks of
long and is up to 40ft (12m) deep. It runs underground construction. n
parallel to Union Pacific freight rail tracks
and will carry high-speed trains under State
References
• California high speed rail designs –
Route 180, a rail spur, and an irrigation canal, TunnelTalk, April 2018
and includes a barrier wall to separate high- • Passenger demand exists for US high speed
speed and freight trains. rail – TunnelTalk, November 2015
Narragansett Pawtucket CSO project shortlist CSO solution goes underground in Louisville
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk treatment plant. The USD$197 million Jonathan Rowland, TunnelTalk
Phase II programme, started in 2011 and
F W
rom 10 prequalified groups, three completed in 2015, consisted of a network aterway protection went
of those shortlisted are preparing of interceptor tunnels to connect additional underground in Louisville,
fixed-price design-build proposals outfalls to the Providence tunnel. Kentucky, after challenges to
due in May or June 2020 for the Phase III Before embarking on Phase III, the the construction of four surface CSO
Pawtucket tunnel of the Narragansett Bay Narragansett Bay Commission engaged a storage basins saw the project adopt a 5
Commission CSO project in Rhode Island: team of engineers, led by MWH (now part mile storage tunnel for similar cost, while
The prequalified shortlisted bidders are: of Stantec) and Pare Corporation (NBC), providing greater capacity for less surface Fig 1. The 2.5 mile route cuts under the Ohio River and eliminates four storage basins
• Cardi-Obayashi-McMillen Jacobs to study the use of green stormwater disturbance. With excavation underway, the
• CBNA (Bouygues)-Barletta-AECOM infrastructure alternatives. The optimized project should be completed by the end of 4 miles (6.5km) with a capacity of 55 million drill+blast. The remaining smaller diameter
• Lane Construction-Brierley Associates Phase III plan is a four-phase implementation 2020 to meet a Consent Decree mandated gallons (208,197m3) (Fig 1). shafts are steel casings driven through the
Stantec, and partner Pare Corporation, schedule that continues to be centred on operating date of Spring 2021. About a mile of the alignment lies overburden, followed by raise boring. Except
is Program Manager for the project. the Pawtucket tunnel as Phase IIIA (Fig 1). Jacob Mathis, Project Manager for the under the Ohio River. The route runs at for the final drop shaft, for TBM reception,
As the third and final phase of the Phase IIIB includes design and construction Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), up to 185ft-215ft (56m-65.5m) deep at the drop shafts are offset with drill+blast
Narragansett Bay CSO program, the new of additional interceptors and Phase IIIC told TunnelTalk of various obstacles to the a 0.2% grade. The geology comprises an connecting adits to the main alignment.
tunnel in the city of Pawtucket will run 11,600ft is design and construction of a deep rock storage basins including the availability of overburden of manmade fill, alluvium and Work on the 48ft (14m) o.d. pump station
(3.5km) adjacent to the Blackstone River stub tunnel under the Providence River to suitable land, the impact of construction on glacial deposits over a shale, limestone and shaft is complete and it has been turned over
to provide 58.6 million gallons of storage the east side. Phase IIID as the final phase the area, and opposition to surface storage dolomite bedrock. A refurbished Robbins to Pace Contracting for installation of the ten
and direct combined flow to the Bucklin addresses the remaining outfalls in the basins from the owners of adjacent real main-beam TBM was launched in January 3,500 gal/min submersible pumps and two
Fig 1. Refined Phase III project Field’s Point service area and includes the estate. “We worked with our engineer of 2019 by the engaged Shea Traylor JV. 1,000 gal/min grit pumps.
Point wastewater treatment facility in East
Providence. The 30ft (9m) i.d. rock tunnel will reception; four drop shafts of 6-8ft i.d. x West River and Branch Avenue interceptor record, Black & Veatch, and came up with the During excavation of the 1,200ft (365m) The waterway protection project forms
be excavated by TBM at up to 180ft (55m) 145-175ft deep (1.8-2.5m x 45-55m) and tunnels (Fig 1). waterway protection tunnel. This ultimately bifurcation that comes about 966ft (295m) part of the Consent Decree agreement
deep and is designed with a gasketed, precast a pump station cavern of 62ft wide x 70ft Phase IIIA is programmed to extended beyond the original scope to into the alignment, crown spalling slowed between Louisville/Jefferson County MSD
segmental lining. The one pass segmental high x 120ft long (20m x 22m x 36.5m). reach substantial completion by eliminate all four remaining storage basins.” progress of the TBM. “Because the TBM and the USA Department of Justice, the
lining, as opposed to two pass systems The CSO control program for the city December 2024. n Design had to be completed quickly to had to be backed-up along the bifurcation, Federal Environmental Protection Agency,
used on previous phases of the program, of Providence and the surrounding areas allow construction to begin on schedule. “A a roof support had to be recessed into the and the Kentucky Division of Water to comply
is said to be selected as the best suited to began in 1992. The main element of the References project like this would normally take at least crown along the whole bifurcation zone,” with the Federal Clean Waters Act of 1972.
controlling groundwater inflows, maintaining $360 million Phase 1 project, completed • Shaft sinking start for Narragansett Bay 18 to 24 months to design,” said Mathis. said Alston Noronha for the Black & Veatch The USD$147 million contract, with
rock stability, ensuring long-term quality and in 2008, was excavation of a deep rock CSO – TunnelTalk, September 2003 “We accelerated this to eight months with Construction Management team. the Shea Traylor JV, is equivalent to that
THE AMERICAS
• Progress on Phase 1 at Narragansett – permitting concluded quickly by Federal and In addition to the TBM drive, the project of the storage basins it replaces, while
reducing construction time. storage tunnel and large pumping station TunnelTalk, March 2005
The contract scope includes two cavern in Providence to store combined State agencies. includes eight shafts. The larger diameter offering lower operating and maintenance
• Green options as an alternative to CSO
working shafts for TBM launching and flows for pump out at the Field’s Point storage solutions – TunnelTalk, June 2013 The original underground alignment was shafts are secant pile structures through the costs in the long run. n
designed to be 2.5 miles long x 22ft o.d. overburden, followed by drill+blast through
(4km x 6.7m), providing a storage capacity the bedrock, while the 33ft (10m) diameter References
Geology challenges Texas interceptor of 37 million gallons (140,060m3). The
subsequent extension brought the length to
reception shaft is a steel ribs and liner plate
process through the overburden followed by
• Green surge threatens CSO storage solution
– TunnelTalk, June 2013
Robbins News Release Through one stretch, the TBM

advanced directly between a 30cm
C
laimed to be the longest hard rock diameter, high-pressure gas main and fuel
tunnel ever bored by a double tanks for a gas station with limited as-built
shield TBM with a diameter of information. “Navigating this section took
less than 2.5m, the 3.5km Parmer Lane a great deal of coordination with the local
wastewater interceptor in Austin, Texas, utility companies. Because the diameter
has been completed by contractor SJ was too small for an automated guidance
Louis Construction. The drive included system, we manually surveyed the front of
two tight curves of 150m radius and the machine at every push to ensure the
unexpected ground conditions that machine was on track,” said West.
required modification of the cutterhead The majority of the route used a simple
inside the tunnel. Maximum advance two-rock-bolt pattern for support. In the
was 380m/month, working in single last 10%, ribs and lagging were used. The
12 hour shifts/day. tunnel is finished with an internal 110cm
The interceptor connects two diameter fiberglass pipe.
existing lift stations allowing them to be The project is part of a trend towards
decommissioned and adds gravity flow small diameter, TBM-driven rock tunnels
capacity to reduce operating costs for the in the USA, explained Tom Fuerst,
City of Austin. Robbins Utility Tunneling Sales Manager.
While moderately hard limestone, and “Because of demographics and business
End of the record-breaking run growth, there is a growing need to
an occasional thin seam of clay or soft
material was expected, the first 1.2km was the expected limestone, advance rates increase sewer and water infrastructure.
in a softer, saturated dolomite material with were more than 5.2m/hr. Our best day TBMs can excavate long distances
clay. The remainder was in the expected was 25m in a single shift,” said Zach West, with tight curves, reducing the need for
limestone formation. For the softer rock, Project Manager for SJ Louis. “The 2 mile multiple shafts, which lowers the overall
two double disc cutters were added by drive in a small tunnel with tight radius project cost. As most small diameter
TBM manufacturer Robbins at positions curves and limited surface access was pipelines follow a road or municipal
10 and 12, and the single disc cutter was difficult,” he added. The shallow depth right-of-way, traffic problems are reduced
removed at position 11. This added another and the alignment to within a few feet of significantly compared with open
transition cutter and helped with muck flow sanitary lines, high-pressure gas mains, cut operations.” n
through the cutterhead. Robbins assisted and fuel tanks for gas stations, made TBM
guidance critical. “We guided the machine
References
the crew with tight curves. • Third breakthrough completes Texas water
“While we excavated through the successfully through these obstacles line – TunnelTalk, October 2013
softer material, our best advance was and into our retrieval shaft within our • High-power TBMs jump start Texas water
close to 0.9m/hr. When we bored through expected tolerances.” line – TunnelTalk, September 2012

One TBM for two-diameter Dallas alignment DigIndy TBM more than halfway along 45km route
M
Jonathan Rowland for TunnelTalk make the conversion in a process expected for the final lining, which is capable of ining of the 6.1km Fall Creek section Jonathan Rowland, TunnelTalk
to take six to eight weeks. The outer wraps changing in diameter in the transition area of the DigIndy deep-level CSO
A
Robbins TBM designed to down-size on the gripper shoes, cutterhead support to cast the lining in both cross sections. storage tunnel under Indianapolis
drop down into deaeration chambers that
from 37.5ft to 32.5ft (11.6m to 9.9m) side stabilisers, and the upper shield TBM excavation is expected to progress will follow completion of excavation on the
are connected to the mainline through adits.
diameter midway through excavation sections will be removed, followed by the at about 80ft (25m)/day, allowing the project White River route, according to Mike Miller,
The adits and deaeration chambers are
will be used for the 5 mile (8km) Mill Creek outer cutterhead segments and cutterhead to be completed on time in 2023. Muck Construction Manager for owner, Citizens
constructed by drill+blast, while the drop
drainage relief project in Dallas, Texas. spacers for the outer segments to be haulage will be by a continuous conveyor Energy Group. About 27km of the 45km
shafts are primarily excavated by raise boring
The change-over will be implemented re-bolted directly onto the centre section. supplied by Robbins and designed with network has now been excavated by the
through the bedrock and by an oscillation
underground and allows the project to utilise The outer cutterhead segments and special idlers to allow for banking around the refurbished Robbins TBM previously used on
excavation method through the overburden.
one machine for the entire alignment. cutterhead spacers will be retrieved to the 60% radius curves on the route. A specific the Second Avenue Subway in New York City.
A crane-mounted rig takes a 3cm thick x
The upstream 3.24 miles (5.2km) is surface through an intake lateral located muck removal shaft has been sunk to allow The project is on target to meet its Federally-
3.7m diameter can and oscillates it through
designed for a peak flow of 15,000ft3/sec in the transition area. Lifting points have round-the-clock hauling operations. mandated completion date of 2025.
the overburden using a specialised clam
while the downstream 1.76 miles (2.8km) been pre-designed and the parts made In addition to the outfall and muck removal DigIndy comprises six alignments. The
bucket. Two 30m-33m shafts can be
was designed originally with a horseshoe in a modular fashion, so that simple lifting shafts, there are five intake shafts of 14ft to 12.2km Deep Rock Tunnel Connector,
installed in less than two weeks.
cross section for a higher peak flow of gear and jacks can be used to make the 20ft and 47ft for the outfall shaft. With a ban DRTC, and 2.7km Eagle Creek elements
The efficiency of this system and its
20,000ft3/sec (Fig 1). The horseshoe section conversion in the tunnel. The TBM will then on blasting within the city, shaft excavation have been operational since December
rarity, with only one or two in the USA,
was to have been excavated by the TBM continue the excavation, beginning with a is by excavators and hydraulic breakers. 2017, so far capturing 1.5 billion gallons
prompted DigIndy to construct all the drop
initially and expanded by roadheader with 2% uphill bore until the crown is aligned. All intake shafts are offline with laterals of CSO. Mining is also complete on the
shaft overburden excavations at once,
two different sets of formwork to cast the The crown will then be smoothed after the constructed by roadheader and excavator. 9.3km White River and 2.9km Lower
including those adjacent to sections that
final lining for both profiles. This would have TBM has advanced. The 170ft (51.8m) deep pump station is Pogues Run sections with lining work and
had not yet been excavated. “We have put
been time consuming and costly. At depths between 100ft-150ft, the located at the point where the diameter of adit/deaeration chamber construction now
all of the cans in for the remainder of the
As a result, Robbins developed the route passes through Austin Chalk with the the alignment changes and will house three underway on both.
program,” said Miller, completing the final
adaptable TBM that could transition from the potential of encountering natural gasses. As 10,000-12,000 gal/day submersible pumps Fall Creek will be the penultimate
one in late August 2019.
larger to the smaller diameter, underground. a result, probe drilling is mandatory. to dewater the tunnel during maintenance. excavation, after which the TBM will be
“DigIndy is one of the largest civil works
Spacers on the cutterhead can be removed Ground support, comprising eight 13ft During normal operation, the system is refurbished and set to bore the 11.8km
projects in Indianapolis history,” said Jeffrey
and the bucket lips adjusted to convert to long rock bolts on 5ft centres with wire designed to be gravity driven, functioning as Pleasant Run alignment by contractor
Harrison, President and CEO of Citizens
the smaller diameter (Fig 2). mesh and channel straps, is expected to an inverted syphon. n Shea-Kiewit JV. The route is bored at 6.2m
Energy Group. “Employees work hard
The larger 38.1ft (11.6m) diameter of be required in some areas and the drainage diameter and finished at a depth of 76.2m
every day to find innovative ways to keep
the main beam gripper TBM is claimed as infrastructure will be finished with a 380mm References with a 30cm cast-in-place concrete lining.
DigIndy on schedule and below budget,
the largest hard rock TBM to work in the thick cast-in-place concrete lining. MSP • Crossover TBM powers through Akron – The system will capture CSO from most of From top: Breakthrough on White River
THE AMERICAS
THE AMERICAS
and highly skilled contracting partners
USA. Contractor Southland/Mole JV will Structures is suppling a telescopic shutter TunnelTalk, September 2018 the 134 outflows in the city, holding about section; Crane-mounted oscillator
continue to provide effective solutions to
250 million gallons at any one time and installs drop shaft cans
complex issues. The DigIndy system is
preventing about 6 billion gal/year of CSO
sections of higher groundwater infiltration. going to help restore water quality in local
flowing into the river.
As a risk mitigation measure, the owner waterways to levels not seen in more than
Drive strategy and contractor worked together to develop 100 years and improve the quality of life for
The project is being excavated by one TBM a strategy for probing ahead. If infiltration central Indiana.” n
and requires only eight large-diameter shafts, above a certain tolerance is encountered,
the owner pays for the additional time References
thanks to a drive strategy that has seen the • TBM launch for Indianapolis mega CSO
machine mine three bifurcations to the main and materials needed to resolve the issue. project – TunnelTalk, October 2016
DTRC-White River-Fall Creek alignment, “This shared risk approach provides value • Indianapolis awards 28km of deep-level
before backing up and continuing (Fig 1). to the owner based on expected levels tunnels – TunnelTalk, May 2016
After mining the DRTC, the contractor of groundwater infiltration, and protects
From left: Fig 1. One tunnel, two diameters, through the Austin Chalk; Fig 2. Arrangement for cutterhead change; TBM ready for launch proposed mining Eagle Creek, originally a the contractor should higher levels be Fig 1. Six sections of the DigIndy CSO system
shallow alignment, as a deep-level spur to encountered,” said Miller.
Delaware aqueduct bypass breakthrough

the DRTC. This saved time and reduced Pump station
surface disruption while adding about 17 The project includes a new underground
million gallons of storage capacity. The pump station at the Southport treatment
DEP News Release repair project in the 177-year history of the early 1990s. The leaks release about 20 contractor backed the TBM down the DRTC, facility. Constructed by the Oscar Renda-
New York City water supply system. When million gallons/day with 95% of that escaping excavated Eagle Creek, then backed up Southland JV, it includes a 30m long x 18m
E
complete, the 2.5mile (4km) bypass tunnel, near the Hudson River in Newburgh. In 2010, again and walked the TBM to the end of the
xcavation of the Delaware Aqueduct wide x 23m high cavern to house four 30
600ft (183m) under the Hudson River, will the City announced a plan to repair the DRTC, avoiding the need for a retrieval shaft,
Bypass under New York State million gal/day pumps. The cavern was
connect to structurally sound portions of the aqueduct by building a bypass around the to begin mining on White River drive in 2016.
concluded in August 2019. The constructed by drill+blast and is supported
existing aqueduct on either side of the river. leaking section in Newburgh and grouting The TBM is currently about 274m into
breakthrough for the Kiewitt-Shea and CM by 700 rock bolts. A waterproof membrane
Excavation was undertaken by a Robbins the smaller leaks in Wawarsing. The project the Fall Creek alignment. When it reaches
Parsons JV and the New York Department of and shotcrete finishes the cavern. The
6.8m diameter TBM which completed the began in 2013 with the excavation of two the end of Fall Creek, which Miller expects
Environmental Protection (DEP) was achieved pump station is connected by a 1.8m
drive in 582 days. The machine was built to vertical shafts that were completed in 2017. relatively quickly due to favourable geology,
on budget and ahead of schedule. The diameter x 55m long tunnel to the original
withstand more than 30 bar of groundwater When work is nearly complete, the the TBM will be retrieved and refurbished for
USD$1 billion effort to repair water leaks in the launch shaft, which now functions as the
pressure, believed to be the most of any TBM existing tunnel will be taken out of service the Pleasant Run drive, which Miller expects
aqueduct, which conveys about half of the screen and grit shaft.
ever manufactured. As high-pressure inflows and work will begin to connect the bypass to begin later in 2020.
daily drinking water needs of New York City Managing ventilation was challenged
were encountered when the aqueduct was and perform the repairs in Wawarsing. Large diameter shafts are located at the
from reservoirs in the Catskills, is the largest by the various bifurcations along the route,
built, the machine was equipped with The project will mark the first time that the Southport launch site, at the end of the DTRC, explained Miller. “We do not want air from the
pumping equipment rated at 2,500 aqueduct will be drained since 1958. In at the White River-Fall Creek boundary, and at mainline to enter the smaller runs because
gallons of water/min. 2013, DEP installed new pumps ahead of the end of Fall Creek, as well as at the launch we only have a small diameter shaft at the
The TBM cut through three draining the tunnel in 2022. The nine pumps site, halfway up and about 914m from the end end of those. So we built 1.5m diameter
bedrock formations and lined the can remove a maximum of 80 million of Pleasant Run. “We were not able to put bulkheads from the crown to redirect any
tunnel with 2,488 rings of segments. gal/day. The largest of the pumps are 23ft a large-diameter shaft where Pleasant Run air and make sure it vents at the launch or
DEP will now install 230 16ft (4.9m) (7m) tall vertical turbine pumps that each terminates, so we have to mine to the end of retrieval shafts.”
diameter steel liners, before coating weigh 9 tonne. n the alignment and then back the TBM up to
with a second layer of concrete the retrieval shaft,” said Miller. Shaft construction
to provide structural stability and References The 33 drop shafts along the route bring
• Robbins TBM equipped for high pressure
prevent leaks. water control – TunnelTalk, August 2017 Groundwater infiltration surface discharges to the tunnel alignment
DEP has monitored two leaking • TBM accepted for Delaware challenge – The geology has been fairly consistently with limited air entrainment. With the
sections of the aqueduct since the TunnelTalk, March 2017 limestone/dolomite bedrock, with some exception of those at the dead ends, these
Breakthrough of bypass drive
Las Vegas Budget trimmed to advance Final breakthrough at Emisor Oriente in Mexico
people mover Hudson Gateway
T
he last of six 8.93m (29.3ft) diameter muck prompted a cutterhead inspection. Desiree Willis, Technical Writer,
EPBMs completed excavation of the With high pressure of up to 3.5 bar, the first The Robbins Company
build begins
A
major cost reduction was submitted Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk Mexico City Túnel Emisor Oriente hyperbaric intervention through an EPBM
in a revised 2019 budget for the (TEO) conduit that revamps wastewater in Mexico was required. basalt rock for contractor ICA.
long-awaited New York-New Jersey treatment for more than 21.2 million people “The interventions were the biggest The machine was assembled in a 28m
TunnelTalk reporting from an earlier request for $5.65 billion. in Mexico City. After ten years and 62.1km of challenge,” said Carrillo. “The great influx of
Gateway Hudson River underpass. The long chamber at the bottom of the launch
Before sign-off of funding sources, tunneling, the final breakthrough on 23 May water tested the limits, because we were
A
cuts reduce the budget of the tunnel works shaft with the back-up gantries installed
USD$52.5 million underground GDC plans to seek an early systems work 2019 completed Lot 4 of the urgently needed excavating on a decline. The interventions
to USD$9.5 billion from previous estimates after advancing 150m. “Assembly of the
people mover for the Las Vegas agreement to start tunnel boring ahead of wastewater tunnel that spanned some of the were costly and time-consuming.”
of $11.1 billion. Overall cost of the project is EPBM required great coordination of ICA
Convention Centre began as the receiving a full funding grant agreement from most difficult geology ever encountered by In 2011, the machine was fast-tracked
reduced to $11.3 billion from estimates of engineers, high capacity cranes for the
first commercial contract for The Boring the FTA. This would save time and cost, and EPBMs. The 10km long Lot 4, at depths of to bore a 3.9km long section of Lot 1b, a
$12.7 billion according to project delivery assembly and human resources to keep
Company, founded by Elon Musk. With give momentum to the long-delayed project. up to 85m, included sections of basalt rock critical part of the project that needed to
group the Gateway Program Development to the ten-week schedule for assembly,”
three underground stations, the twin GDC reports that design is at a point interspersed with permeable sands under become operational right away to prevent
Corporation (GDC). said González.
tunnels of about one mile (1.6km) each where contract tendering can begin towards high water pressure. “Our machines had to chronic seasonal flooding. “The EPB
Reductions were secured through The TEO expands wastewater
will connect the existing 3.2 million ft2 a start of major construction work. Depending go through the worst geology, but they were proved itself while using conveyors in the
extra design, fewer contract lots, wider capacity for Mexico City, adding 150m3/
(297,000m2) of convention space with on Federal approval of the environmental designed for it,” said Roberto González, sticky clays of Mexico City with very high
procurement options, including design-build, sec to the Valley of Mexico system, as
the new 1.4 million ft2 (130,000m2) impact statement, notice-to-proceed may General Manager for Robbins Mexico. Three percentages of water content, up to 400%,”
and a risk and value-for-money analysis. well as alleviating the risk of flooding in
West Hall currently under construction. come by early 2021. Robbins EPBMs with continuous conveyor said González. The machine achieved rates
GDC is working in partnership with Amtrak, critical areas. It will convey wastewater to
The project is part of a $1.52 billion Long wanted, the rail project between muck haulage systems were used on Lots 3, of up to 592.5m in one month, a record
New Jersey Transit, the New York and New the largest wastewater treatment plant in
expansion and renovation project at the New York and New Jersey stalled 10 years 4, and 5 of the project. among the EPBs used on the project.
Jersey Port Authority, and the administration Mexico. The massive tunnel includes 24
conference campus. ago when the Access to the Region’s Core The TBMs were designed for water After completing the 3.9km bore in just
of both State Governments. shafts, ranging from 23m to 150m deep,
A refurbished Lovat TBM and a (ARC) initiative was cancelled. Since then, pressures from 4 to 6 bar, with mixed- 15 months, the machine was sent to Lot
In addition to the twin rail tunnels under plus an exit portal at the treatment plant in
segmental lining system, used on the first the North River rail link under the Hudson, ground back-loading cutterheads equipped 5, where modifications were made for a
the Hudson River, underground infrastructure the Municipality of Atotonilco, in the State
excavation effort by the company in Los opened in 1910, has deteriorated further, for variable ground conditions. High section of mixed ground and rock.
includes a short concrete portal in the of Hidalgo. n
Angeles, is used again for the people mover. having suffered significant flood damage pressure tungsten carbide knife bits could For the 6km long Lot 5 section, the
Hudson Yards development site on the west
The machine launched in November 2019. side of Manhattan and rehabilitation of the
caused by the 2012 superstorm Sandy. be interchanged with 17in diameter carbide Robbins TBM was launched at the end References
to operate at about 12m below ground and Rehabilitation of the existing tunnels is • Mexico City manages mega drainage –
existing twin-tube North River rail link under disc cutters depending on the geology. of 2019 from the deepest civil works
planned to follow completion of the first of the TunnelTalk, May 2013
progress at 100ft (30.5m)/day. the Hudson into the Pennsylvania Station Despite multiple challenges, the Lot 4 shaft in Mexico, at 150m, to excavate • Robbins EBPMs heading for Mexico City –
When completed, scheduled for new twin bored tunnel when each of the old EPBM operation achieved a project record mixed face conditions and abrasive
terminus in Manhattan. The Hudson Yards TunnelTalk, February 2010
January 2021, electric Tesla vehicles will tunnels can be taken off-line consecutively to of 30m in one day, and a high of 528m in
works were completed in early stage works
THE AMERICAS
THE AMERICAS
complete the works. EPBM breakthrough at Lot 5; Robbins conveyors hauled muck behind the EPBMs
carry up to 16 people/vehicle across the and are awaiting environmental clearance. one month, assisted by the continuous
200-acre campus in 1 minute. The system The Port Authority is providing $2.7 billion conveyor muck removal system.
While much of the cost will be
is designed for a ridership of at least 4,400 for the new twin tube under-river tunnel as “We solved challenges, including
met locally, the project is seeking a
passengers/hr and is scalable depending part of a total local contribution by the States large inflows of water, hydraulic loads and
contribution of $4.36 billion from the
on convention attendance. and local authorities of $5.55 billion. Additional constant changes in geology, by adapting
Federal Transit Administration (FTA), down
At the TBM launch, Steve Hill, CEO funding of $1.28 billion is committed by the excavation mode according to each type
of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors From top: Early alignment excavations Amtrak, the rail passenger service operator of geology found,” said Hector Arturo Carrillo,
Authority, said that the system has the in Manhattan; Existing Hudson River for the USA which runs interstate rail services Machinery Manager for Lot 4 contractor
potential to expand and link Las Vegas rail tunnels need urgent rehabilitation through the existing Hudson River rail tunnels CARSO. The Lot 4 TBM was assembled in
attractions including the Las Vegas Strip, into Penn Station terminus in Manhattan. This launch shaft 17 and commissioned in August
and McCarran International Airport. n is an increase of more than $600 million from 2012, with the bridge and all the back-up
earlier contribution commitments by Amtrak, gantries at the surface.
References which, together with overall project cost
• Musk talks tunnelling concepts – After 405m of excavation, the presence
reductions, allowed the project to request less of scrapers, parts of the mixing bars and
TunnelTalk, May 2017
Federal funding. other wear materials in the excavated
The GDC project partners undertook
the financial review after a disappointing
Buenos Aires outfall excavation nears completion

medium-low rating from FTA, due primarily to
concerns about costs and certainty of local
S
funding contributions. A team of the WSP,
Aecom and STV consultancies is engaged tarted in 2017, excavation of a from the Riachuelo treatment plant using a Salini Impregilo News Release
as The Gateway Trans-Hudson Partnership near 12km long outfall under the drop shaft made from four interconnected
in assisting GDC to push the project through River Plate is nearing completion. circular shafts to a depth of about 45m. 34 vertical raisers for final discharge of the
planning and construction design. n Constructed by Salini Impregilo, the Treated effluent will then run through a effluent into the river.
outfall is part of a megaproject by the 12km x 4.3m i.d. outfall tunnel under the Prototype riser jacking equipment,
References Government of Argentina to clean up the bed of the River Plate excavated by a 5m designed and built by Italian civil engineering
• Volatility forecasts an unpredictable 2019 – Matanza-Riachuelo Basin in Buenos Aires. diameter Herrenknecht EPBM. The last company Palmieri, will install the risers
TunnelTalk, January 2019 The project will intercept wastewater 1.5km diffusion section will be fitted with through the geology of alluvial soils, clayey
• New York on the brink of a rail tunnel crisis –
sands, and soft clay.
TunnelTalk, November 2014
The project addresses contamination of
the Riachuelo river basin caused by a sharp
Fig 1. Alignment of Gateway Hudson River underpass increase in the city’s urban development
and industrial activities such as paper mills
and tanneries, that discharge process
by-products into the river. It is part of a
broader USD$1.2 billion plan, financed by
the World Bank for sustainable development
of the Matanza–Riachuelo Basin and clean
up of waters that are considered among the
most polluted in the world. The project is due
to be fully completed in 2022. n
References
• Launch of works to clean up Buenos Aires rivers
– TunnelTalk, August 2017
TBM ready for launch Access shaft for under river outfall
120,000m2 depot of the Quito Metro Line 1
Sustainability key for Quito Metro, Ecuador

Fernando Vara, ACCIONA Global the ground water table and under water and More than 5,000 daily workers were
Business Development Director fines pressure, required EPBM excavation. engaged on the project at the peak. With
SBU Tunnel & Railways Precast concrete segments of 45 MPa these levels of activity, safety was a priority.
strength and six segments and a key in rings In 2018 and 2019, the lost time incident
Q
uito Metro Line 1 can be considered of 320mm thick x 1.5m long line the drives. rate (LTIR) indicator of safety was 0.55 and
one of the most sustainable and More than 100,000 segments, reinforced 0.82 and the lost time incidents severity rate
remarkable projects of South with steel rebar and 20kg/m3 of steel fibers, (LTISR) was 9.09 and 12.12, respectively, well
America. It demonstrates that execution were produced in two casting factories below the national average. In comparison,
of a large-scale project can go hand in located close to each portal. the 2017 safety data for the Quito city region
hand with sustainability and respect for the In an innovative development, a fully was 14.68 LTIR and 58.75 LTISR. The low
environment and of the residents. The line refurbished TBM, owned by ACCIONA and index for the project was achieved by the
runs under the dense capital city of Ecuador, used initially on the Madrid Metro in Spain, implementation of more than 700 safety
which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site reduced the cost of TBM procurement and initiatives during the construction phase.
and is regulated by strict environmental and shortened the delivery to site schedule of Quito Metro Line 1 is a reference
archaeological requirements. one of the three machines. The refurbished project to inspire others to respect the
At an overall investment of €1.6 billion, Herrenknecht machine excavated 6,864m environment, respond to traffic problems
Line 1 is 22.9km long with 19.5km running and achieved best weekly performances and promote the use of underground
THE AMERICAS
through 9.4m o.d. (8.43m i.d.) single-tube of more than 373m and best daily rates space as offering sustainable and socially C
double-track running tunnel and the remainder of 60m. The second new TBMs, supplied responsible alternatives through their long M
in cut-and-cover. The project includes 13 by Herrenknecht, surpassed these figures, life-cycle. There have been no claims
cut-and-cover underground stations, 28 excavating 80m/day and 1,489.5m in or major commercial disputes during Y
pumping, ventilation, and emergency exit 30 days, setting a new world record for project execution, which emphasizes the CM
shafts, a warehouse and maintenance facility EPBMs in the 9m diameter range. satisfaction of the client and the advantages
and installation of 45.5km of track. The line will From the environmental perspective, of the state-of-the-art project management MY
link the south, the center, and the north of Quito good environmental practices for the and execution of complex infrastructure CY
in 34 minutes, transporting 400,000 people/ construction works was foremost in the under high quality and sustainable
day and creating a dynamic new transport UNESCO World Heritage city. These standards. The project has been CMY
system for the citizens. Once in operation, included rescue of urban fauna with nominated for various awards including the K
Quito city will reduce fuel consumption transplant of 107 trees, construction of 2019 Development Superheroes Award of
up to USD$50 million/year and achieve a three urban orchards in construction camp the Inter-American Development Bank and
reduction of 67,000 tons of CO2 emissions. sites and reuse of construction materials has been submitted for the ITA Awards of
HISTORY IS BEING
The 19.5km bored tunnel section was including the use of jet grouting waste for the 2020 in the category of Project of the Year
excavated using three 9.4m o.d. EPBMs repaving of roads in an outer neighborhood of more than €500 million. n
through various challenging formations of the capital, reuse of 72,751m3 of water
ranging from anthropic fill, silts and clays of and recovery of more than 2.3 million kg References
• Acciona/Ghella selected for Follo Line TBM
the Cangahua Formation, and lutites with of recyclable waste. More than 997 tonne tunnel, Norway - TunnelTalk, March 2015
sand, volcanic ash, and pyroclasts of the of wood materials were donated to the
MADE IN QUITO
• Simultaneous breakthroughs for Follo Line,
Machangara Formation. These variable community for various activities including Norway – TunnelTalk, September 2018
ground conditions, combined with about carpentry, guitar and furniture making, and • Rapid excavation breaks through in
two-thirds of the alignment being 10m under as fuel for wood-fire ovens. Brisbane – TunnelTalk, April 2013
Right: Top quality single-tube,

double-track metro alignment; Below:
First of three EPBMs in assembly
ACCIONA has more than 100 years of international experience in the construction of
sustainable transport infrastructures. The company stands out for its experience in
underground works, leading the race for geotechnical and the defense of the tunnel boring
machine (TBM) as one of the safest and most efficient method of excavation.
More than 10,000 kilometers of communication routes and more than 600 kilometers of
tunnels around the world, make ACCIONA a leading company in the creation of sustainable
infrastructures for progress.
NEW LINE | 22.9 KM OF TUNNEL AND 15 STATIONS

TRAIN SHEDS AND WORKSHOPS | 400,000 PASSENGERS PER DAY
Presente en Ecuador desde 1970
Undersea drive for slurry TBM in China Chinese horseshoe-shaped TBM operation
A
CREG News Release probe drilling and pre-grouting systems new horseshoe-shaped TBM, area was excavated compared to the open Wang Jianghong, China Tiesiju
to improve the geological suitability and developed in China and manufactured face NATM excavation alternative. The Civil Engineering (CTCE) Group
A
equipment reliability as necessary.” by CREG, was used to build the 3.4km amount of energy consumed on site was and Roland Herr, TunnelTalk
12.26m diameter slurry TBM is
The tunnel is a main element of the long Baicheng Tunnel through loess on the also substantially reduced.
excavating a 2.9km long double-
Dalian Metro Line 5 project. The undersea Menghua railway line. Receiving the 2018 The TBM required a launching frame at
track metro tunnel under Barracuda
section will link Dalian Railway Station ITA Award for the best technical innovation, the entrance portal, which had to be adjusted
Bay in Dalian in northeast China. The TBM,
and the Barracuda Bay South Station the new EPBM replaced the NATM drive for its U-profile shape. A wide concrete
designed and supplied by China Railway
and will accommodate two metro rail originally planned for the project, leading to trough was constructed in the lower section
Engineering Equipment Group (CREG), will
tracks, one on each deck. The project is a 10% to 15% cost saving on excavation. and a steel ring set up as an abutment. The
excavate through highly karstic conditions
a public-private-partnership between the With about 560km of road and rail tunnels to EPBM is limited to operating in soft soils or
under the Yellow Sea.
China Railway Investment Group, Dalian be excavated in loess during the coming five low- strength rock. At the working face, the
The tunnel, with 2.3km passing under
Metro, and Chongqing City Transportation years in China, the prospects look positive for cutter wheel concept was adapted for the
the sea and the remainder under the
Development & Investment Group. the new TBM concept. special geometry of multiple smaller, partially
landfalls, will operate 12m to 22m below
Dalian Metro Line 5 will provide a large The Baicheng Tunnel is located in Shaanxi overlapping cutterheads. Blind gaps and
the seabed and under a sea level of 9m
capacity and high speed north-south Province in central China, bordering the Inner small corners occur where the cutterheads
to 14m.
transportation corridor to relieve surface Mongolian Desert and the north China loess fail to cover the working face. The cutting
The tunnel passes mainly through
traffic congestion and integrate both sides plateau. The prevailing geology includes shoes, mounted on the front shield, remove
moderately weathered dolomitic
of the city across the bay. quaternary to sandy new loess and soft the ensuing material.
limestone, dissolution stratum, calcareous
The high-specification machine was rock. The double track railway tunnel is part In the lower section of the machine
slate and there are some moderately
developed jointly by CREG and The of a rail link between Mengxi and Huazhong, there is a larger area available on account
weathered diabase intrusive dykes in New horseshoe-shaped EPBM
First Engineering Bureau CREC and was which transports coal from the north to central of the greater space occupied by the
the sea area. The geology presents a system continuously plots the direction of
named Haihong, Hai meaning sea, and China. It is set to replace the previous system, horseshoe shape compared to a round
complicated construction environment the machine while controlling rolling and
hong meaning grand. The machine passed which involved switching from rail to ship. TBM. At the working face, the extracted
with high associated safety risks. The enabling any deviations to be identified
its factory acceptance test successfully in The overburden of the tunnel varies from 7m spoil falls downwards and is carried away
TBM includes a double-crusher system and corrected.
July 2018 in the CREG manufacturing base to 81m. About 2.7km of the TBM drive was by two screw conveyors. Two agitators are
and a customized main drive capable Foam nozzles are installed in the shield,
in Dalian. Since its launch in mid January undertaken in rock class V and 305m in rock set up between the screws, ensuring that
of telescopic cutterhead movement as for any other EPBM. These are located
Assembly of the 12.26m cutterhead 2019, it is progressing smoothly and class VI with an additional 300m long section the material does not accumulate. The spoil
and rotation in both directions to allow in the plenum bulkhead. For the horseshoe-
according to the daily advance rate of two constructed by cut-and-cover. is carried to the screws, which are mounted
the changing of cutting tools under requirements including the high probability shaped TBM, foam lubrication of the shield is
rings/day. n The almost 11m high x 12m wide x towards the outside to avoid plug formation.
atmospheric pressure. of encountering karst voids. CREG particularly important as only a small overcut,
118m long horseshoe-shaped EPBM was The screw conveyors are driven by a
Since the start of the project, engineer Zhang Guoliang said: “As well or no overcut at all, is created. The danger of
designers from the Central Design and as the seabed, this machine needs to References developed specially for the project by the common hydraulic aggregate. The earth
• Mega slurry TBM ready for Chunfeng Chinese company Mengxi Huacheng Railway balance is controlled by the material carried clogging without lubrication is also significant.
Research Institute of CREG have carried underpass sensitive areas including the project – TunnelTalk, October 2018 The shield is always in contact with the soil
Co, China Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group, through the screws. It is essential that the
ASIA
out field investigations and designed the port railway, the harbor and the wharf.
ASIA
• Slurry or EPB for particular geological and bentonite must be added, especially in
China Railway Engineering Equipment Group screws run in synch and that the material is
TBM to cope with the difficult construction The TBM is also equipped with efficient conditions – TunnelTalk, January 2016
areas where the overcut is limited and the
(CREG) and China Railway Design Corp. removed uniformly from the cutterhead area.
The shield mainly consists of nine smaller The spoil is carried away by a continuous cutting shoes are in operation. This lubricates
Early breakthrough in Nepal for Bheri Babai

cutterheads with diameters of between belt conveyor, which is covered outside the the shield so it can advance easily through the
1.1m and 4.9m, plus two screw conveyors tunnel so that freezing of the soil and, in soft ground. Owing to geological conditions,
and two agitators in the lower part of the turn, blockages are avoided when extremely the TBM operated continuously in closed
TunnelTalk reporting months. The double-shield TBM, erecting technology for future projects. shield and cutting shoes primarily set up in low temperatures are experienced. EPB mode with a manlock allowing access
a hexagonal segmental lining, recorded up Breakthrough of the tunnel marks the lateral areas of the shield. In July 2016, The segments and rings of the to the pressurised excavation chamber for
A
fter an impressive drive through to more than 1,000m/month, working two completion of the first TBM drive in one the EPBM was assembled and tested at the precast segmental lining were produced to maintenance and repairs.
geological challenges in the 12hr shifts/day, seven days/week. of the world’s least developed countries. CREG factory in China before being shipped correspond with the horseshoe shape of the Providing the geological conditions
Himalayas, breakthrough is a year As the first TBM drive in Nepal, the The USD$107 million project will provide to the construction site and commencing TBM and tunnel profile. With varying radius are favourable, the horseshoe-shaped
ahead of schedule for the 12.2km Bheri inter-basin water transfer project attracted irrigation for 51,000 hectares of land and excavation in October 2016. Breakthrough around the lining ring, a vacuum erector TBM can save on the volume of excavated
Babai multipurpose water conveyance TBM significant attention. The breakthrough secure fresh water supplies to the western was celebrated in January 2018 and the could not be used for installing the individual material, construction materials and
drive in western Nepal. The 5m diameter was officiated to great celebration by Nepal town of Nepalgunj. tunnel is now operational. segments. A mechanised gripper system construction time. n
TBM from Robbins made the breakthrough Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and The multipurpose irrigation-hydro The new TBM was developed to was therefore developed instead.
for contractor COVEC, the China Overseas was attended by Chinese Ambassador to project is one of many strategic projects in excavate the tunnel profile more accurately The potential of shield roll is
References
• Winners of the 2018 ITA Awards – TunnelTalk,
Engineering Company, in April 2019. Nepal, Hou Yanqi, and USA Ambassador Nepal. Phase two of the project is a 48MW than the NATM method. This resulted in considerably less for a horseshoe-shaped November 2018
The TBM was expected to progress to Nepal, Randy Berry. hydro power plant as part of the water significant savings of material excavated TBM than for a circular shield. To counteract
400-450m/month through the young "Nepal is now ready to walk and conveyance scheme. n and shotcrete used to backfill excavation roll, each individual cutterhead can rotate Segmental lining and mechanical
geology of the Himalayan foothills to work together with the international overbreak. Backfill of the invert to create a in either direction during the drive so that erector; Double screw conveyors
complete the drive in 26-30 months. community towards the new direction of References level rail deck was also reduced. According the entire TBM can be controlled more
• Nepal proving TBM applicability in
The well-managed operation of the well- development," said Prime Minister Oli, Himalayas – TunnelTalk, February 2019
to the contractor, about 37% less steel, easily. The occurrence of a deflecting
prepared TBM completed the drive through who expressed gratitude to the Chinese • Urgent infrastructure needs in Nepal – 42% less concrete and 27% fewer ground force that would lead to the shield rolling
favourable sandstone and mudstone in 18 contractor and a desire to use new TunnelTalk, November 2018 anchors were deployed and a 15% smaller is practically impossible. A navigation
Left: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (centre) at the TBM breakthrough with COVEC Project Manager Tianran Hu (left) and Project
Director Sanjeeb Baral for the Nepal Department of Irrigation; Right: Progress of the double-shield TBM, October 2017 - October 2018
Metro Orange Line progressed in Bangkok Kolkata TBM failure causes extensive damage
T
Terratec News Release and break-out of the shafts. The machine ailseal failure on the EPBM Herrenknecht 10 years ago for work on the TunnelTalk reporting
is fitted with an active bentonite face operating on a running tunnel drive Delhi Metro. The lead machine launched
A
support injection system and a double for the Kolkata Metro caused an from the Esplanade Station box in February it was getting washed out. After we failed to
Terratec 6.39m diameter EPBM has
gated screw to ensure face stability and uncontrollable inrush of water and material 2019. The twin machine launched about a bring the situation under control, we began
made good progress on one of three
mitigate settlement during excavation in that led to major damage and collapse of month later. evacuating the homes.” Officials told local
underground civil works contracts
areas of flowing sands and high buildings. The inrush took a day to control, Both TBMs are at an indefinite standstill media reporters that the aquifer of sand
for the first 23km-long east phase of the
groundwater pressure. with residents evacuated from damaged awaiting work to stabilise the collapsed and water could not be identified during
Bangkok Orange Line for contractor Italian-
The machine will install a precast and collapsing homes and businesses in area, assess the condition of damaged pre-excavation ground surveys beneath the
Thai Development (ITD), achieving progress
concrete segmental lining consisting of five the central Bowbazar area. buildings, and secure the tunnel drive. streets of one of the oldest and most dense
rates of up to 18 rings/day.
1.2m wide universal style segments plus The September incident occurred 1.6km More than 450m3 of concrete was injected urban areas of the city.
Contract E3 totals more than 6km of
key, with an internal diameter of 5.7m. into the lead heading of the 2.45km running from the surface and from within the tunnel
TBM excavation and three underground
The Bangkok Metro Orange Line tunnel drives for the new East-West Metro to stop the inflow of sand and water and Industry Feedback
stations, extending from Hua Mak to
will eventually total 35.4km with 26.2km line from Esplanade to Sealdah Stations. continued for the following days to fill the From: Siba Prasad Sen,
Khlong Ban Ma.
aligned underground and 23 underground Senior executives of the Kolkata Metro Rail ground-loss void. Independent Consultant, India
The TBM was designed to excavate
stations. Another 9km and seven stations Corporation (KMRC) said the machine had A senior management spokesman With regards to the reported Kolkata Metro
the variable soft ground geology of the
are on elevated structures. The Orange Line just taken a tight radius turn into an alignment for KMRC told TunnelTalk that in addition drive collapse, I believe this took place as
city, which ranges from soft and medium
will provide a vital transportation link from under Ganguly Street, placing severe to the volume of concrete pumped into the TBM entered a buried tidal channel.
to stiff and very stiff clays, with lenses
Bangkok city centre to districts in the east, pressure on the three-row wire brush tailseal. the collapsed area, “a bulkhead of poly- Kolkata is built over the delta of the Ganga-
of dense sand and the potential for high
reducing traffic congestion and paving the The turn occurred as the machine entered fibre reinforced shotcrete was installed Brahmaputra confluence on sand and silt.
pressure groundwater inflows. In addition,
way for improved accessibility, economic an unexpected geological deposit of highly at the end of the 75m TBM to prevent As a result, there are many such buried tidal
it will excavate through numerous
growth and new residential and commercial water-charged sand. The inrush of water and water flowing back into the working shaft. creeks below the city. It is hard to accept
diaphragm wall shafts and, potentially,
Terratec 6.39m diameter EPBM opportunities along the alignment. sand through the damaged tailseal quickly Another bulkhead of cast concrete was the statement that geological investigation
concrete piles.
Terratec has now delivered seven TBMs became uncontrollable, flooding the tunnel installed about 5m behind the first.” He during planning did not indicate the
“We are in a very congested area
to underground works projects in Thailand and the TBM, and causing collapse damage confirmed that, “the 6.35m diameter TBM presence of any water body. For such
of the city, tunnelling underneath a
in the last three years, representing every on the surface. is completely flooded” and that “it is not cities, geological studies are always
busy highway and buildings with deep
type of machine currently being operated The Esplanade to Sealdah drives known the state of the 5.8m i.d. segmental insufficient and should be supplemented
foundations on both sides, so we need
in the country. n are part of the eastern 4.5km section of lining ahead of the shotcrete bulkhead.” by geo-anthropological study. n
to carefully protect those structures,” said
the new metro line that runs between Managing Director of KMRC, Manas
Prakin Arunotong, Senior Vice President
of ITD MRT Business Unit. References Esplanade to the transition ramp of an Sarkar, explained that, “in normal situations
References
• Challenging drive ahead for Bangkok Metro elevated guideway to Salt Lake Sector V [when encountering poor ground conditions]
The TBM soft ground cutterhead – TunnelTalk, August 2018
• Progress and plans for city metro systems
and are being advanced by the ITD/ITD we inject a mixture of concrete and certain in India – TunnelTalk, November 2016
features a spoke style and the addition of • Go! for new Orange Metro Line in Bangkok Cementation Ltd JV. The JV is using two chemicals to plug the holes. But this time, no • Indian demand for TBMs continues at pace
back-loading knife bits to assist break-in EPBM ready for launch – TunnelTalk, December 2016
refurbished EPBMs that ITD procured from matter how much we pushed the mixture in, – TunnelTalk, October 2012
ASIA
ASIA
Tight curve drive breakthrough in Bangkok Vishnugad Pipalkoti TBM finally set to start
A
Terratec News Release “We started out straight into the 35m
radius curve with the first machine, going
TBM set to excavate the majority of the headrace tunnel. The machine Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk
of the 13.4km long headrace specification was developed by Terratec
T
under a busy five-lane road and around
he first of two EPBMs on the complex tunnel for the Vishnugad Pipalkoti with Seli Overseas, which will supply the Seli Overseas and HCC previously
the corner of a department store at the
Chidlom cable tunnel project in hydro project in the Indian Himalayas was operating crew. The machine will be able to experienced success in the complex
intersection with Phloen Chit Road,”
Bangkok celebrated a successful prepared for launch after years of delays. switch quickly from double to single shield geology of the Himalayas at the
explained Khunviriya. “This is an old
breakthrough. The 3.2m diameter Terratec The plan was to launch the new 9.86m EPB mode. Kishanganga hydro project in Kashmir
building, so the foundation piles extend
machine completed a challenging portion diameter double shield three years ago after Ciocca said the 12.3km long TBM with a 6.18m diameter double shield.
down to about 20m. The tunnel is at
of the project that included a tight 35m main contractor Hindustan Construction bore is expected to take 36 months. “The In the past, TBMs have suffered from
exactly the same level, so we had to be
radius curved drive for contractor Italian- Co (HCC) awarded the TBM tunnelling geology for the first 200m of the drive is problems when excavating hydro
very careful not to cause any settlement.
Thai Development (ITD). subcontract to Seli Overseas. While quite critical,” he said, “consisting of mainly tunnels in the Himalayas resulting in
We also had to negotiate the Skytrain
Running from the Central Embassy manufacturer Terratec had the TBM ready sandy silt layers. For this stage, we will use most tunnelling projects using the slower
foundations on the other side, giving us a
mega mall southwards to Lumphini Park, to despatch in 2016, the project developer, face consolidation, chemical grouting and drill+blast method. n
window with about 1m either side of the
the project, for the Metropolitan Electricity Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India hand mining to open a top heading.”
Authority, is located in one of the most
machine through the intersection.”
(THDC), reported slow progress by HCC on Beyond the initial section, competent References
An array of monitoring equipment • Double shield for challenging India hydro
exclusive and built up areas of downtown much of the early tunnelling works, including rock is anticipated, consisting of low grade drive – TunnelTalk, April 2016
recorded zero movement during the
Bangkok (Fig 1). To remain within public preparing the TBM launch area. Shipment of quartzitic sandstone, dolomitic limestone, • New award follows Seli Kishanganga
curved drive. ITD credits much of this
road easements and negotiate building the TBM was therefore delayed. and slates with metabasic sills and dykes. success – TunnelTalk, May 2014
success to the skill of the Terratec field
foundations and the deep piles of the HCC was awarded the engineering,
service team, whose experienced TBM TBM set for launch at
Sukhumvit Skytrain, the tunnel drive procurement and construction (EPC)
operators steered the TBM throughout Vishnugad Pipalkoti
alignments require several tight radius contract to build the 444MW Vishnugad
the curve and which is assisting TBM
curves to bring them into the Chidlom Pipalkoti project five years ago. Early
operations and maintenance throughout
electrical terminal station. To achieve this, underground works by HCC have
the project.
the EPBMs have been designed with an included drill+blast excavations for
Designed to accommodate a new
X-type articulation system. access adits, the diversion tunnel and the
high-voltage cable system, the Chidlom
“We have worked closely with Terratec powerhouse complex.
Fig 1. Tight curve TBM drives follow cable tunnel project is one of a series being
on several projects in the past and The major tunnelling task yet to
public road easements; Short steel built to answer increased power demands
have had a close collaboration with the start is the majority of the 13.4km long
segment rings follow the TBMs through in the Thai capital by the Bangkok
company from the tender stage of this headrace tunnel which will convey water
the sharp radius curves Metropolitan Electricity Authority. The
project,” explained Project Manager Supak to the power plant on the Alaknanda River
projects will improve the reliability of the
Khunviriya for ITD. machines progress, with shorter steel in Uttarakhand Province. To date, the
power transmission system. n
The soft ground TBM cutterheads segment sets utilised during the course balance of work on the headrace has been
feature an open spoke design with the of the sharp radius curves. The geology excavated by drill+blast.
addition of knife bits to assist break-in along the project is typical for Bangkok, References Gianluca Ciocca, India Projects
• EPBMs chosen for Pune Metro drives –
and break-out of the concrete shaft generally comprising stiff to very stiff clay, Director for Seli Overseas, said that the
TunnelTalk, May 2019
eyes. Universal tapered precast concrete with lenses of sand and a groundwater • Metro Orange Line progresses in Bangkok TBM should be launched in November
segments are typically installed as the head of about 2 bar. – TunnelTalk, April 2019 2019 to start boring the main reach
TBMs delivered for Pune Metro in India Hard rock TBM for Mumbai water transfer
Terratec News Release Terratec News Release erector and shotcrete pumps to assist in
ground support activities. Terratec gripper TBM for
F A
ollowing successful factory hard rock open gripper TBM of 3.2m “This will be the 25th Terratec machine Mumbai water transfer
acceptance tests, the first two of three diameter ordered from Terratec by delivered to India in the last six years,”
Terratec 6.6m EPBMs were delivered Patel Engineering is completing said Bruce Matheson, Terratec Sales and
to the Gulermak-Tata Projects JV for its two drives for a 5.5km long Amar Mahal Marketing Director. “It continues Terratec
underground works contracts on Line 1 II water transfer tunnel contract for the successes on projects including Phase III
of the Pune Metro project, in Maharashtra Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai of the Delhi Metro and on the Lucknow,
State, India. This follows a major funding in Maharashtra. Ahmadabad, Mumbai and Pune Metros
milestone for the project signed off by To work effectively in the mixed basalt where prompt onsite assistance, a readily
the European Investment Bank. The two conditions expected along the alignment, available stock of TBM spares and
other TBMs for the project were being at an average depth of 80 to 90m below specialised support is offered throughout
manufactured at the Terratec assembly the surface, the Terratec open gripper the tunnelling operation.” n
plant in Nansha district, Guangzhou, in TBM is equipped with 22 x 15in back-
loading disc cutters and fitted with anti-
References
Guangdong province, China • First TBMs delivered for Pune Metro in India
Early in 2019, Maharashtra Metro Rail wear plates and lubrication systems to – TunnelTalk, November 2019
Corporation (MahaMetro) announced that the assist with wear prevention and dust • TBM drives under old town Mumbai –
joint venture had won both packages of the suppression. In addition, the machine will TunnelTalk, August 2019
• Double breakthrough after challenging drive
twin-tube underground alignment of the new be fitted with drilling systems for probing in Lucknow – TunnelTalk, June 2018
16.6km north-south metro corridor. The 5km and pre-excavation grouting and for • Delhi Heritage Line moves closer to
underground section with five underground installing rockbolts. It will have a steel arch completion – TunnelTalk, February 2016
stations that runs from the College of
Agriculture in Shivajinagar to Swargate, is
Breakthrough celebrations in Mumbai

considered the most challenging portion
of the line, as it passes under the densely
populated areas of Kasba Peth, Budhwar
E
Fig 1. Pune Metro includes a 5km
Peth and Mandai market. underground section on Line 1 xcavation of the 3.8km Terratec News Release
Along with the twin-tube EPBM drives, southbound link between
the Gulermak-Tata Projects JV includes “Gulermak-Tata has again put its corporate and industrial infrastructure Chhatrapati Shivaji
ripper tools, and feature large bucket
design and construction of the Shivajinagar confidence in our machines,” said Gulshan over the last decade. Existing roads in the terminal and Mumbai central
openings to provide a 10% opening
and Civil Court underground stations on Gill, Managing Director of Terratec India. “In city currently carry an average of 8,000 station on Mumbai Metro Line
ratio. The 2,000kW electric variable
contract UGC-01 and the Budhwar Peth, recent years, Terratec has emerged as the commuters an hour in each direction and the 3 has been completed on a
frequency drives provide a maximum
route that required the TBM to
ASIA
ASIA
Mandai and Swargate underground stations leading TBM supplier in the Indian market, city experiences hours of traffic jams during cutterhead rotation of 7 rev/min and a
on UGC-02 (Fig 1). Contract award value with continuing success on underground peak hours that leads to increased pollution. advance delicately under some
torque of up to 8,500kNm to excavate
of UGC-01 is a combination of USD$124.2 sections of Phase III of the Delhi Metro, the The Pune Metro aims to provide a of the oldest buildings in Mumbai.
efficiently in harder rock zones and
million in Indian Rupees plus USD$37.6 Lucknow Metro, the Ahmadabad Metro and solution to the issues by offering a safe and Following breakthrough of the
cope with more fractured zones.
million, and for UGC-02 is USD$119 million the Mumbai Metro. The success is due to eco-friendly journey with a 50% reduction in 6.7m diameter TBM, the section
The machines have active shield
in Indian Rupees plus USD$40.57 million. purpose designed TBMs, prompt onsite travel time. UCG-02 became the first of
articulation and a two component
“We are ready to launch the first two assistance, readily available stock of spare With two lines in development, the seven contract packages to be
annular backfill grout system.
Terratec TBMs,” said Ashish Dwivedi, parts, and skilled specialised support,” project is constructing a total 31.3km completed. Contract UCG-02
Construction of the line is divided
Geotechnical Manager for the Gulermak- added Gill. network with 30 stations. The budget for was awarded to the Hindustan
into seven tunnel and station packages
Tata Projects JV. “Terratec TBMs have a As the TBMs progress, they will operate the complete project is almost €1.8 billion Construction Company-
that were awarded to five contracting
successful track record in India with seven at pressures of up to 4 bar and will install (USD$1.9 billion). A major development for Moscow Metrostroy Joint
joint ventures in 2016. These five
currently working on the Mumbai Metro. 1.4m wide x 275mm thick rings of precast the project is agreement by the European Venture in July 2016. It is using
contractors will deploy a total of 17
We expect to complete our 5km Pune concrete lining, consisting of five segments Investment Bank of a loan of €600 million one of seven Terratec TBMs
TBMs with Terratec being the lead
Metro Line 1 twin tube excavation within plus a key in each ring. (USD$657 million). Additional funding of €245 being used on Line 3.
TBM supplier of seven machines on the
the project schedule.” Major challenges Local contractor Kumar Infraprojects million (USD$268 million) is being supplied by When finished, the 33.5km
project, equal to a 41% market share.
on the project will include passing beneath was awarded a works package in mid- the French Development Agency. long Line 3 will be the first
Terratec field service support experts
century-old surface structures, crossing 2018 to perform shaft access works When complete, in 2022, the Pune Metro underground metro in the city
are on call to assist TBM operations
under the River Mutha and launching and at Agricultural College and Swargate, network will comprise three rail corridors with and will connect Cuffe Parade
with close monitoring throughout. n
retrieving TBMs with limited access in where it will also construct the multimodal a total length of 54.5km. n business district in the south to
Contract packages on the 33.5km Mumbai Metro Line 3
the built up areas near Budhwarpeth and transportation hub on top of the the Santacruz Electronics Export
References
Mandai Stations. underground station built by the Gulermak- References Processing Zone in the north, with the dual-mode TBM in this geology was • Progress on Mumbai Metro Line 3 –
Terratec EPBMs have robust mixed- Tata JV. Consultancy services to the client • Twin Crossover TBMs prepare for Mumbai 26 underground and one at-grade stations. |highly satisfactory.” TunnelTalk, September 2018
face dome-style cutterheads designed Metro drives – TunnelTalk, July 2018 With production rates of up to 24m/day, The first of the TBMs to break through • First deliveries to Mumbai with more
for Line 1 are provided by Systra, AECOM,
• Double TBM breakthrough in Lucknow – the production record for the project, the on Line 3 was on the first 690m section to follow – TunnelTalk, August 2017
to work effectively in the compact EGIS and RITES. TunnelTalk, October 2017
basalt expected on the alignment of the Pune is an industrial city that has • Progress and plans for city metro systems in
machine was driven via NATM-excavated of the UGC-06 contract from the CSIA
two contracts. witnessed much growth in the areas of India – TunnelTalk, November 2016 station boxes at Kalbadevi, Girgaon and International Airport Station to Sahar Road UCG-02 is the
Grant Road, at an average depth of 20m, Station. It is one of three Terratec dual mode first section
From left: Terratec TBMs successfully factory tested; Design of Swargate multimodal station hub through basalt, breccia, and tuff, as well as hard rock TBMs working for the J Kumar/ to be completed
reclaimed sand with negligible settlement. China Railway No 3 Engineering Group
Excavation was completed on schedule, (CRTG) JV on the 4.45km-long twin-tube
despite challenges that included proximity UGC-06 package and on the 4.94km long
to the ocean, boring through reclaimed twin tube UGC-05 contract. “The Terratec
land, and congested working areas, as well dual-mode TBM worked successfully
as mining beneath some of the oldest parts through mixed geology and considerable
of the city. water ingress,” said Haluk Emre, Package
“Most of the tunnel alignment is under 6 Project Manager for the JV.
the oldest and most densely populated The Terratec single shield TBMs are
area of south Mumbai with many equipped to operate in either open or
dilapidated residential buildings,” said closed mode. The hard rock cutterheads
Ravi Ranjan Kumar, Chief Project Manager are equipped with heavy-duty 17in
for Mumbai Metro. “The performance of cutters, which are interchangeable with
Talbingo power station and the reservoir that is to
become the lower basin of the Snowy 2.0 scheme
Sydney opens new underground highways

T
he M4 element of the WestConnex tunnels, with 75 cross passages, link Jonathan Rowland, TunnelTalk
underground highway in Sydney opened Kingsgrove to a new St Peters Interchange
to traffic, while work on the M5-M4 link to the southwest of Sydney. Excavation was
junction that will be one of the largest in
and the Rozelle interchange continues. The a roadheader operation with 20 roadheaders
the world. The JCL John Holland/CPB
5.5km M4 route features twin tunnels with and 11 Robodrill bolters working from four
Contractors JV was selected as the design-
Snowy Mountains adds long-planned element a three-lane highway in each direction and
was finished on time and within its budget of
AUD$3.5 billion. Running through the west
construction sites.
The Lendlease/Samsung/Bouygues JV
began excavation on the third element of
build contractor.
Both M4 and M5 excavations were
supported by tunnel construction software
Shani Wallis, TunnelTalk Snowy Hydro Chief Executive Paul of Sydney, excavation of the M4 section the underground network, the M4-M5 link,
developed by VMT. The company supplied
Broad said it was negotiation in November was completed by the CPB/Samsung/John in March 2019. The 7.5km twin four-lane
the guidance systems for the roadheaders
C
2018 of favourable long term supply Holland JV using 21 roadheaders and 11 route connects the M4 at Haberfield with
onstruction of another element and rockbolting machines, ensuring they
agreements with solar and wind generators Robodrill bolting rigs working across four the M5 at St Peters (Fig 1).
of the Snowy Mountains water excavated the designed tunnel profile and
for supply of off-peak energy to pump water sites. It includes 50 cross passages for a total Stub tunnels to connect the
management and hydro scheme on accurately positioned the tunnel support.
back to the upper reservoir and provide underground excavation of about 14km. underground road network to the Rozelle
the borders of New South Wales and Victoria VMT provided full-time service for seven
an estimated 175 hours for peak demand Excavation work on the $4.3 billion Interchange and to future extensions for
in southeastern Australia will begin following months on the M4 excavation and for about
storage that contributed to the favourable WestConnex M5 contract by the CPB/ the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches
confirmed award of the civil and mechanical two years on the M5 project.
economics of advancing Snowy 2.0, Dragados/Samsung JV was completed in Link are also part of the contract.
installation contract to the Future Generation VMT is now working on the M4-M5
improving anticipated returns of the project December 2018 and also opened to traffic The final contract is the Rozelle
group led by Salini Impregilo of Italy. The link element of WestConnex with a new
to about 9%. in early 2020. The 9km long twin three-lane interchange, a $3.9 billion underground
economics of construction versus the value generation of equipment and also on the
Approval to progress with construction
of power to be generated, together with the Fig 1. Full scope of the WestConnex project final WestConnex contract, covering the
Fig 1. The Snowy Mountains Scheme in February 2019 committed a Federal
green energy objectives in Australia, now Inset: The new Concord Interchange and entrance to the M4 underground highway Rozelle Interchange.
Government equity investment of up to
supports the feasibility of the Snowy 2.0 six reversible Francis-type pump turbines, Officials at the opening of
$1.38 billion over a six-year period. The
project. Designed as a pumped storage three of variable speed and each with a the M4 acknowledged that,
balance is to be financed through financial
installation, the scheme will link the existing rated output of 333MW. Voith will also supply “congestion in cities is a real
agreements secured by Snowy Hydro.
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
upper Tantangara Reservoir and the lower the six motor generators and power plant problem and the Australian
With approval of the environmental impact
Talbingo Reservoir to increase the hydro automation systems. Government is doing everything
statement, main contract works started
capacity of the overall Snowy Mountains Leed Engineering of Adelaide will it can to fix it through a record
in 2020. First power from the project is
installation from 4GW to 6GW (Fig 1). perform exploratory and pre-construction $100 billion investment pipeline
expected to be online by 2024.
In February 2019, the Future Generation works. These include a 3km long exploratory of infrastructure projects over the
Snowy 2.0 will be the largest hydro
JV was selected as the preferred bidder for tunnel to the top of the cavern complex to next decade.” n
power station in Australia and will triple the
Snowy 2.0 which includes excavation of up confirm the best location and orientation
pumping capabilities of the overall scheme.
to 27km of headrace and tailrace tunnelling of the powerhouse. The exploratory tunnel References
Snowy Hydro produces some 33.9% of the
and powerhouse caverns located at up to is to be excavated using drill+blast and • WestConnex final link awarded – TunnelTalk,
nation’s current renewable energy power.
800m below the surface. TBM methods and will become the main December 2018
The existing Snowy Mountains Scheme, • Precision roadheader and rockbolting on
Salini Impregilo signed the AUD$5.1 construction and permanent access to the
constructed between 1949 and 1974, is the WestConnex – TunnelTalk, December 2018
billion (€3.228 billion) contract for the civil underground power station.
largest public works engineering scheme
works and electromechanical component of Proposals to progress with the Snowy
ever undertaken in Australia and comprises
the project in its capacity as the combined 2.0 project came in March 2017 as part of
sixteen major dams, nine power stations,
65% leader of the JV with its USA subsidiary efforts by the Federal Government towards
Driving Progress in Tunnel Projects.

a pumping station, up to 145km of tunnels
Lane Construction and with JV Australian increasing Australia’s renewable energy
and 80km of pipelines and aqueducts. The
partner Clough with a 35% stake. The sources. This resulted in commissioning of
scheme is Australia’s largest producer of
contract was signed in early April 2019 the $29 million feasibility study by SMEC for
renewable energy, and manages irrigation
with Snowy Hydro which has the Australian Snowy Hydro.
water flows via the western Murray and
Federal Government as its sole shareholder. In March 2018 the Federal Government
Murrumbidgee Rivers to a vast agricultural
The six-year contract includes the civil works of Australia became the 100% shareholder of
area of the nation. n
and installation of the power generation and Snowy Hydro by buying out the 58% share
pumping components to be supplied under held by the State Government of New South References
a procurement contract with Voith Hydro. Wales and the 29% share held by Victoria • Programme challenges at Bogong hydro
The underground powerhouse will contain State for a total cost of more than $6 billion. project - TunnelTalk, March 2009
READ MORE HERE
Kidston hydro set for construction Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk
T
he Genex Power Kidston pumped with Energy Australia. The Northern Australia ventilation shafts. The main powerhouse
storage project in Queensland Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) is providing is 82.2m long x 17.5m wide x 44m high
secured key debt funding that will funding of up to $610 million (USD$410 and the transformer cavern is 31.8m long
enable work to start on the complex million) and finding is also received from the x 10m wide x 10m high. The intake shaft
underground infrastructure. Genex itself is Australian Renewable Energy Agency. is 240m deep x 4.8m diameter. The two
investing AUD$25 million (USD$17 million) The Owner’s Engineer on the 250MW tailrace tunnels are each 160m long x 6m
equity into the project, as a 50:50 co-owner scheme is Entura, and the EPC contractor wide x 6m high. Most excavation will be by
is a JV of McConnell Dowell/John Holland, drill+blast, with raise boring for the shafts.
Fig 1. Major works at Kidston project;
with hydro machinery supplied by Andritz. All hydraulic tunnels will be lined
The contractor was appointed in late with steel closest to the caverns, where
2017 under an early contractor involvement water pressures will be highest, and with
(ECI) procurement process. Following concrete for other waterway tunnels.
financial close and the notice to proceed, The project is designed to provide about
the EPC contractor will begin detailed design eight hours of generation at constant 250MW
and start main construction activities.
The underground infrastructure, based
in an old gold mine, has a headrace drop
output, and take eight hours to pump water
to the upper reservoir. The project is expected
to come online in 2022. n
Discover our latest innovations before they
shaft from the upper reservoir to the power
cavern complex (Fig 1). Other excavations
References
• Snowy Mountains adds long planned
disappear underground.
will include an access tunnel and cable and element - TunnelTalk, May 2019
74 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 www.TunnelTalk.com www.vmt-innovations.com

Sydney Metro expansions
Jonathan Rowland, TunnelTalk The first TBMs for the running tunnels the drive, but after extensive additional For underground station works, the
launched in late 2018 to excavate the 8.1km geotechnical investigation by the contractor, stations at Crows Nest, Waterloo and
A
section between Marrickville and Barangaroo a Mixshield was procured. This additional Barangaroo are cut-and-cover constructions.
s work continues on the 15.5km
on a route that took them under the city’s ground investigation also eliminated the At Victoria Cross, Martin Place
City and Southwest extension it likely that double shield TBMs will
central business district to break through at anticipated need for additional ground and Pitt Street, the stations are mined
to the Sydney Metro, planning be selected, according to Lamonte,
Pitt Street Station, a distance of about 6km. treatment of the transition zones between caverns. The cavern at Victoria Cross is
progresses on a set of underground although final machine selection will
After launch in October and November 2018 the sandstone and sediment deposits from 40% larger than any other station on the
infrastructure that will almost double be made by the contractors.
the TBMs achieved advance rates of 128m/ barges anchored in the harbour. Sydney Metro. At 270m long x 25m wide
the length of the network (Fig 1). In addition to the tunnels, there will
week and 136m/week respectively. The Mixshield was launched from x 20m high, it has been excavated by
Corridors for the rapid build-out of the be eight new underground stations. Of
To the north of the Harbour, the second the working site in Barangaroo in June three roadheaders. The Pitt Street Station
system are being future-proofed and these, six are likely to be cut-and-cover at
two TBMs excavated the 6.2km alignment 2019. During advance under the harbour, comprises two 247m long x 14m wide
early investigations have started of Westmead, Paramatta, Sydney Olympic
between Chatswood and the reception shaft the machine encountered more clay than caverns set 84m apart. A concrete pile
a Metro Greater West expansion to Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North
at Blues Point. The first of these machines expected, reducing advance rates to about retaining structure was built before start of
service western suburbs and the new and Bays Precinct. Five Dock Station
launched in January 2019, breaking through 29m/week. At the end of the first 885m excavation to support the ground during
Western Sydney International Airport. is expected to be a cavern design,
at the site of the new Victoria Cross Station long drive in October 2019, the TBM was excavation. Drill+blast and roadheaders
The objective by the Australian and New constructed by roadheader. Designs
in late August. After relaunch in November retrieved from the Blues Point site and were used for station excavations.
South Wales Governments is to have for the central Sydney and Paramatta
2019, it bored the final 1.7km section of the returned on a barge across the harbour In addition to the new Sydney Metro
Metro Greater West operational in 2026, Stations are the subject of ongoing
alignment to the edge of Sydney Harbour at to Barangaroo to start the second under- platforms, construction works at Central
when the Western Sydney Airport is assessment, including community and
Blues Point. The second TBM was launched harbour drive in early 2020. Station include an 19m wide underground
scheduled to open. stakeholder engagement. Additional
in mid-February 2019 and broke through at Ahead of relaunch, some adjustments passenger concourse. Excavation of the
The first of the western extensions stations may also be added at Rydalmere
Blues Point in December 2019. were made to improve productivity, including underground metro platforms began in
is the 24km long, Sydney Metro West and Pymont.
Excavation rates of up to 157m/week increasing the size of the cutterhead 2018 and is expected to be complete in
underground line that will run between Initial construction work on the line
have been achieved by the TBMs through openings to enable the machine to excavate late 2022.
the two commercial districts of is expected to begin in 2020 at Bays
the competent sandstone. more efficiently through clay. Some of the The City and Southwest line and its
Paramatta and Sydney. Metro West is Precinct to prepare the site for the start
The slurry Mixshield machine was soft-ground tools were also changed to stations are due to open and start service
the third element of metro development of tunnelling work, including site surveys,
the last to begin work, departing from its improve the rate of excavation through the in 2024. n
for the state capital city of New South investigations, and early works such as
Barangaroo launch site on the south side softer harbour sediment.
Wales and follows the successful road relocation.
References
of the Harbour in early August 2019. Under The machine took two months to

opening in 2019 of the first 15km Metro Formal expressions of interest from • Slurry TBM makes five on Sydney Metro –
the Harbour, the Hawkesbury Sandstone excavate the second tunnel, a month faster
Northwest line and the 15.5km City contractors and supplies for the new TunnelTalk, September 2019
drops below the alignment, leaving the than the first, and in March 2020 it broke
and Southwest route, which is under lines are expected to be invited during • Sydney Metro awards mega extension project
twin tubes to pass through a reach of through at Blues Point to end TBM excavation – TunnelTalk, January 2017
construction (Table 1 and Figs 2 and 3). mid-2020.
soft sedimentary deposits. Originally a for the project. Five TBMs had delivered 31km • TBM record for Sydney rail mega-project –
Planning for the twin-tube Metro
City and Southwest progress multi-mode machine was considered for of segmentally lined tunnels in 17 months. TunnelTalk, February 2016
West extension is underway, with
the project receiving AUD$3 billion in Meanwhile, five TBMs, supplied by
development funding in June 2019. Herrenknecht, have completed the
Funding for the project is following the
same procedure used for both the
15.5km twin tube underground route
for the City and Southwest line that
Karen Martin, TunnelTalk
Melbourne Metro breaks ground
T
Metro Northwest and Metro City and includes a link under Sydney Harbour
(Fig 3). Four double-shield hard rock unnelling started on the PPP project South Yarra. They will be transported workers to excavate the station caverns,
Southwest projects. back to Domain to be reassembled and greatly reducing disruption on the surface.
TBMs and a Mixshield for twin drives of the Melbourne Metro in Victoria in
When complete, travel time launched towards the central business Trams will continue to travel along
of 885m each under Sydney Harbour, 2019. The Cross Yarra Partnership
between Paramatta and the city centre district and under the Yarra River. Swanston Street during construction.
were procured by the John Holland- of Lendlease Engineering/John Holland/
will be about 20 minutes. “This will The AUD$6 billion project will free up The State Library and Town Hall
CPB-Ghella JV when it secured the Buoygues Construction and Capella
transform how people move around space in the City Loop subway and rail system stations will be built as trinocular caverns.
AUD$2.8 billion contract in June 2017. Capital will deliver a 9km twin-tube link
Greater Sydney,” said Jon Lamonte, by taking three of the busiest train lines out of Roadheaders will excavate three overlapping
From top: Fig 1. Sydney Metro set for major Bechtel is Delivery Management Partner from Kensington to South Yarra as part of
Sydney Metro Chief Executive. the loop and running them through the new tunnels to create a wide open space with
expansion; Fig 2. Metro West will almost double for the client, Sydney Metro. a new end-to-end rail line from Sunbury in
Under current design underground route, allowing for more trains the concourse and platforms integrated
the length of the Sydney Metro; Fig 3. 15.5km In addition to the twin running the west to Cranbourne/Pakenham in the
specifications, at least four TBMs are more often across the network. on a single level, rather than two tunnels
City and Southwest route to open in 2024 tunnels, the new Metro line includes south east with new underground stations
expected to excavate the Metro West The new metro line will be up to 40m separated by cross passages. The new North
six new underground stations at at North Melbourne, Parkville, State Library,
route with roadheaders excavating Precinct to Westmead,” explained Lamonte. deep (Fig 1), with the deepest point under Melbourne, Parkville and Anzac Stations and
Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Town Hall and Anzac.
the station caverns, stub tunnels, and According to geological mapping, the the existing City Loop tunnels. From the entrances will be built by cut-and-cover.
Two 7.2m diameter Herrenknecht
connectors from the mainline tunnels to Metro West route will run through a mixed Martin Place, Pitt Street, and Waterloo station under Swanston Street at Flinders The geology of the area is variable and
Mixshields were assembled at the North
the above-ground Clyde stabling and geology of Ashfield Shale, Hawkesbury plus a launch portal at Marrickville and Street, the underground alignment runs includes soft soils, including Coode Island
Melbourne Station site and were launched
maintenance facility. Sandstone, and quaternary deposits, a temporary TBM retrieval shaft at below the Yarra River before passing Silt, with hard basalt under the Yarra River and
separately in October and November 2019.
“The tunnelling packages are expected such as silty-to-peaty quartz, sand, silt Blues Point. Under a separate contract, under the CityLink highway on its way to in some sections of the western alignment.
Upon reaching the western tunnel portal at
to cover about 20km of twin drives from Bays and clay. These ground conditions make Sydney Central Station will be extended the new Anzac Station. Many sections of the tunnel alignment feature
underground in a AUD$955 million works Kensington, they will relaunch from North
package awarded to Laing O’Rourke in Melbourne towards Parkville and the city To keep Swanston Street open during a mixed-face geology. n
Table 1. Current and planned development of Sydney Metro center (Fig 1). construction, working access shafts
March 2018. The AUD$1.3 billion M&E
Stage Length Status contract for the entire line was awarded to A further two TBMs will launch in are being excavated adjacent to future References
Northwest 15km Opened in 2019 the Systems Connect JV of CPB and UGL. 2020 from the future Anzac Station in the station entrances. These working shafts • Melbourne awards its PPP metro contract –
Domain Precinct and advance towards will transport machinery, equipment and TunnelTalk, July 2017
City and Southwest 15.5km Under construction for expected opening in 2024
From left: Mixshield barged and
West 24km In planning. Invitation for formal expressions of interested in First Mixshield assembled and ready to advance Fig 1. Station depths and TBM routes
transported back to the Barangaroo
tunnelling elements expected in early 2020. shaft for its second under-harbour drive;
Greater West TBC In planning. Martin Place Station cavern construction
Shortlist for Melbourne underground highway Melbourne West Gate TBMs on hold
T
hree consortia are shortlisted to build highway in Melbourne (Fig 1). It is the largest TunnelTalk reporting Jonathan Rowland, TunnelTalk
the 6km twin tunnels that will form infrastructure project in the State of Victoria
part of the 28km North East Link and the longest road tunnel in the State.
The selected contractor will design have been working with the contractor,
The consortia competing for the
the entire project, including the new the EPA and the State to try and find
AUD$7-9 billion contract are:
interchanges, freeway upgrades, and a solution,” said Charlton, but “at the
OneLink, comprising CPB
paths for pedestrians and cyclists. moment, there is no site capable of taking
Contractors, Samsung C&T Corporation,
Construction is expected to start in late the spoil”.
Egis Road Operations, UGL Engineering,
2021, with preparatory works starting in As a result of the issues, Transurban
Pacific Partnership, and DIF Management
early 2020 following planning approvals. said in January 2020 that it had received
Australia
Excavated by TBM, the underground documentation from the CPBJH JV
Spark, comprising Salini Impregilo,
section will run 40m below ground at that purported to terminate its contract
GS Engineering and Construction, China
the deepest point, 20m under the Yarra as it relates to “issues in respect of the
Construction Oceania, Broadspectrum
River, and at least 15m below residential presence, classification and disposal of
Australia, Capella Capital, and John Laing
properties. It is expected to open to traffic PFAS within the project site”, with the
Investments, with advisors, Lendlease
in 2027. n JV agreeing to continue to work on other
Engineering
aspects of its West Gate project contract.
ViaNova, comprising John Holland
Despite the January notification,
Group, Acciona Construction, Lendlease References Transurban said that, although details of
Services, Plenary Group, and Acciona • Politics threatens East West Link in contractual discussion were “a matter
Fig 1. Proposed route of new highway Concesiones Melbourne – TunnelTalk, October 2014 Contaminated ground holds up launch of West Gate TBMs
for the project parties”, CPBJH is now
T
he first of two 15.6m diameter material,” said Scott Carlton, Chief “working to finalise plans to secure
TBM order for Auckland interceptor Herrenknecht TBMs procured by the Executive of Transurban, the client sites for the safe management of tunnel
CPB Contractors-John Holland JV to organisation developing the project under soil.” This was confirmed by the Major
excavate the twin tubes of the West Gate a public private partnership with the State Transport Infrastructure Authority of the

Karen Martin, TunnelTalk owner Watercare specified a EPB TBM, link sewers of 1.1km long x 2.4m i.d and highway in Melbourne was assembled and Government of Victoria. In a conference Victoria State Government, which said
and the GAJV, together with Herrenknecht, 3.2km x 2.1m i.d., excavated with two ready to begin excavation on its 4km long call in February 2020, he explained that in a statement that a tender process to
A
designed a tailor-made machine with pipe-jacking machines. drive in mid-2019 after arriving from the arrangements have been evolving over the source an appropriate site for disposal of
5.45m diameter EPBM supplied
capability to operate at up to 9 bar. Construction work started at the Herrenknnecht factory in China in March. last few years with the result that a spoil the PFAS-contaminated spoil was being
by Herrenknecht will excavate
The central interceptor is part of a Mangere wastewater treatment plant, to The cutterhead, as the last assembly management plan for the project is now carried out by the project partners. Sites
the 14.7km long x 4.5m diameter
strategy by Watercare to reduce overflows install diaphragm walls for a double shaft, component of the TBM was lifted into the required by the State EPA, Environmental bidding to provide the disposal facility
central interceptor project in Auckland.
and improve water quality in the western and a shaft at May Road, the second main Footscray launch shaft in August 2019. Protection Authority. “Everyone has been would need to seek relevant planning and
Herrenknecht was selected following a
isthmus of Auckland (Fig 1). working site of the project. The second mega TBM, which arrived in aware of the issue for a long period of EPA approvals, which will set the limit of
detailed multi-criteria evaluation. “A key
The main interceptor will be excavated “The logistics in the Mangere launch March 2019 for the second 2.6km twin time,” said Carlton. “It was discussed in PFAS that can be stored safely.
factor in the selection was the previous
at depths of between 15m and 110m and shaft and the May Road shaft are tube, is also assembled and in the launch the environment effects statement, EES, Meanwhile, construction has been
experience Herrenknecht has had on
will cross the Manukau Harbour at about demanding in terms of limited space and shaft ready to go. and the way the EPA is looking to manage continuing at the portal locations and on
tunnelling projects in Auckland, coupled
15m below the seabed. “The TBM will depths at up to 69m,” said Saibene. Tunnelling by the machines however it has been evolving.” other elements of the project, including
with its proven global experience,” said
bore through well known soil formations, The TBM is expected to arrive in was yet to begin at the start of 2020, held The West Gate Tunnel Project EES was the widening of the surface highway,
Francesco Saibene, Project Director for
with the possibility of operating in basalt. Auckland at the end of 2020 and will be up following issues with the management prepared for Transurban by AECOM and construction of a bridge over the
the Ghella Abergeldie JV (GAJV). The
The cutterhead is therefore designed launched in the first half of 2021 from the of contaminated soil. The ground through geotechnical assessment was undertaken Maribyrnong River and new connections
technical requirements from the project
for operating in both soft ground and Mangere site using both shafts for the which the TBMs will bore is contaminated by Golder Associates with GHD engaged to the city and to the CityLink highway
hard rock,” said Saibene. “The biggest launch. Pump station construction in the with carcinogenic chemicals known as per- as the technical advisor to the State on to the south east of the Melbourne city
Fig 1. Central interceptor route challenges are likely to be under the larger of the double shaft will start once the and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, PFAS. the project. Design engineering for the centre (Fig 1).
including Grey Lynn extension Manukau Harbour, potentially experiencing TBM has advanced about 200m and its PFAS have been used for decades in a CPB-John Holland JV (CPBJH) is by the To date, about AUD$2 billion of the
water pressures of up to 9 bar, and then operations will be via the inlet shaft alone. range of non-stick, water- and fire-repellent Aurecon-Jacobs JV. AUD$6.7 billion project has been spent.
tunnelling under residential Auckland, The TBM is expected to progress at an and stain resistant products. Recently, In its submission to the 2017 EES, the As a result of the holdup, the expected
predominantly under private property, at average of 16m/day. the health implications of PFAS exposure EPA had warned that there were “limited opening date of the new highway is officially
depths up to 110m.” The project is programmed to be have raised concern, as the chemicals options available in Victoria for managing delayed from late 2020 to 2023. n
Most of the spoil is intended to be completed and commissioned in 2025. n resist physical, chemical and biological or disposing of PFAS-impacted waste”.
reused at Puketutu Island to restore an degradation and are readily leached into The challenge for the project is to find
extinct volcano and create a public park. References
References groundwater from where they may enter a disposal site that can take the PFAS-
• Melbourne Westgate highway approved –
Along the route will be 17 shafts • Preferred contractor selected for Auckland the food chain. contaminated muck and in the quantity TunnelTalk, December 2017
reaching depths of up to 80m, and two interceptor – TunnelTalk, November 2018 “Historically, PFAS was an unregulated and at the speed with which it will be • Two mega-TBMs for Melbourne highway
contaminant and was considered fill produced by the two mega TBMs. “We tunnel – TunnelTalk, April 2017
TBM order confirmation with Herrenknecht by the Ghella Abergeldie JV
Fig 1. Route of the new West Gate highway Fig 2. New highway comprises two tubes of 2.8km and 4km long
Auckland City Rail Link award Mercury Lane and Beresford Square,
including services, architectural finishes,
utilities and foundations for over site
TunnelTalk reporting through station; under Albert Street in the city
development above the Mercury
centre; and for utility-based work at Mt Eden.
Lane entrance.
C
Contract C3 works include: Mount Eden Station: A new station
ontract C3, the largest for the
City Rail Link project in Auckland, TBM excavation of 3.4km of parallel to provide interchange between the City
is awarded to the Link Alliance, 7m diameter running tunnels between Rail Link (CRL) and the existing Western
comprising Downer New Zealand, Vinci Mount Eden Station and Aotea Station, Line including a 7m deep open trench
Construction and Soletanche Bachy, with and a fully grade-separated junction within for the CRL platforms and concourse, an
engineers Aecom, Tonkin & Taylor and mined caverns connecting with two cut- entrance at Ruru Street and foundations
WSP Opus. The signing of the alliance and-cover tunnels to form east and west for over site developments.
agreement with delivery partner CRL facing connections to the existing North When opened in 2024, the project
Ltd follows a NZ$1 billion increase in the Auckland Line. will double the capacity of the rail network
project to NZ$4.4 billion after review of Aotea Station: A 15m deep, 300m in Auckland.
project costs and approval by the New long cut-and-cover station, including The one competitive tender for the
Zealand central Government and Auckland platforms, lifts, escalators, service alliance agreement contract was presented
Council of the additional funding. equipment rooms, entrances at Victoria by the CPB Contractors, UGL (NZ) JV with
During final alliance agreement and Wellesley Streets and foundations for engineers Beca, McMillen Jacobs and
negotiations, Link Alliance began work on an over site development at the Wellesley Jacobs New Zealand. n
NZ$75 million of early works under three Street entrance.
Karangahape Station: A 32m
References
separate contracts: at lower Queen Street/ • Auckland calls for rail link proposals –
Britomart to convert a terminus station to a deep mined station with entrances at TunnelTalk, October 2018
Route of the new City Rail Link Scope of the works in Contract C3
Brisbane Cross River Rail mobilises for construction EBRATIN

EL
TunnelTalk reporting and integrating with new roads and bus
G
C
services for more readily accessible public
W
ith the Cross River Rail contract in
transport across the region. years
The Cross River Rail project includes
Brisbane, Queensland, finalised,
a new 10.2km rail line from Dutton Park
major contractors moved to
to Bowen Hills, including 5.9km of twin
mobilise their workforces and to begin
tunnels under the Brisbane River and the
construction towards completion by 2024.
city centre, plus four new underground
Pulse, the consortium selected as
stations at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba,
the preferred proponent, and comprising
Albert Street, and Roma Street.
the CIMIC Group companies, Pacific
Albert Street Station will span 294m
Partnerships, CPB Contractors, and UGL,
underground. As the first train station built
with international partners DIF, BAM,
and Ghella, will deliver tunnelling works,
new underground stations, and ongoing
in the city in more than 120 years, it will
be the deepest station on the network at since 1979
31m below street level. It is expected to be
maintenance services. CPB Contractors,
the busiest of the four new underground
in a joint venture with Ghella and BAM
stations, with 70,000 passengers projected
International, will deliver design and
to use the station every weekday by 2036.
construction of the civil works with UGL
Woolloongabba and Roma Street Stations
delivering the mechanical and electrical
will be 27m below street level and will have
works and providing maintenance services
220m long platforms to accommodate nine- Model 4500HD
for 24 years.
car trains for future capacity, while Boggo
The Pulse consortium sponsors and Heavy Duty Piezometer
Road Station will be 19m below street level.
equity providers are Pacific Partnerships
The Woolloongabba site will become the SCAN ME
(49%), DIF (26%), BAM PPP PGGM (15%),
The Cross River Rail route will integrate staging area for the TBMs and roadheaders
and Ghella Investments and Partnerships
with Brisbane Metro services before becoming the location of the new
(10%) with the Queensland State
underground station. n Producing Quality Geotechnical
Government providing an AUD$5.4 billion for passenger rail services is forecast to
capital contribution for construction. almost triple by 2036. The Cross River Instrumentation Since 1979. Learn more:
The rail network in Brisbane is Rail project will unlock the bottleneck
References www.geokon.biz/TunnelTalk
• Brisbane revives Cross River rail project –
constrained by a single rail river crossing into the Brisbane central business district TunnelTalk, April 2016
and all lines run through the same four by delivering a second river crossing, • Australia examines terrific regional workload geokon | +1.603.448.1562 | [email protected]
city centre stations. In addition, demand allowing more trains to run more often, – TunnelTalk, November 2017

Lesotho Phase II dam and tunnel shortlists Ground freezing assistance under Suez Canal
Ibrahim Raafat, EAAF; Haider Fadhel, CDM-Smith GmbH, Germany; Mina Philips, Arab Consulting Engineer
TunnelTalk reporting Table 1. Gravity transfer tunnel shortlist
connection of the transfer tunnel into
E
the existing Katse reservoir. Four groups Sinohydro-UMSO-Nthane JV xcavation of cross passages between collar is homogenous in homogenous soil
A
fter attracting a high level of of companies all from South Africa have • Sinohydro Corporation (China) the twin tubes of the new highway conditions and those not influenced by tunnel
interest for prequalification, six submitted bids for the contracts. • UMSO Construction (South Africa) under the Suez Canal at Ismailia temperatures. Values below -5°C at the outer
groups, dominated by construction Progressing in the meantime is • Nthane Brothers (Lesotho) in Egypt have been excavated with the circumference confirm that the required
companies from China, are shortlisted to drill+blast excavation of the Polihali dam Senqu River JV assistance of ground freezing. The freeze freeze body thickness of 2m is achieved.
bid for the Polihali dam and the transfer diversion tunnels following award of the • China Communications Construction supports the sandy and silty soil below the Further it must be validated that the average
tunnel contracts of the Lesotho Highlands Maluti 517 million contract in early 2019 • China Gezhouba Group groundwater table and under a hydrostatic temperature within the freeze body is equal
Water Project Phase II. to the SCLC Polihali Diversion JV of • Raubex Construction (South Africa) head of up to 5 bar. to or colder than Tmin = -10°C.
From 12 groups that prequalified, six Salini Impregilo and CMC di Ravenna of • ENZA Construction (South Africa) The 4.8km long x 11.4m i.d. twin Assuming that temperatures at the outer
have been shortlisted (Table 1) for the Italy with LSP Construction of Lesotho • Subcontractor: Murray and Roberts tube road tunnel, with two lanes in each, design-circumference of the freeze body
38km long x 5m diameter gravity transfer and CMI Infrastructure of South Africa. Cementation (South Africa) is procured by the Egyptian Government shall be below -5°C, and under conservative
tunnel that will connect the new reservoir The twin 1km long tunnels, one of 7m in Polihali Transfer Tunnel MVR JV and was excavated using two 13m o.d. consideration of a simplified linear
at Polihali with the existing Phase I project diameter and the other of 9m diameter, • Mota-Engil Construction (South Africa) Herrenknecht Mixshields. The new highway temperature distribution versus the freeze
reservoir at Katse. will divert the river flow around the dam • Mota-Engil (Portugal) passes under a main railway line, the old wall thickness, the minimum temperature at
Of eight groups that prequalified for construction site. They will also provide • Vinci Construction (France) Suez Canal, and the new canal which the centerline of the cross passage core has
construction of the 165m high concrete- capacity to carry flood waters and the • RAZEL - BEC (France) opened in August 2015. As they progressed, to be equal to or colder than Tmin = -15°C.
faced rockfill Polihali dam and appurtenant flexibility to work in one tunnel while the • Subcontractor: Redpath Mining the Mixshields erected 600mm thick x 2m At the opposite tunnel, where freeze
works, six have been shortlisted (Table 2). river flows in the other. n (South Africa) wide rings of segmental lining. pipes fall short of touching the opposite
Also currently in procurement is award Wan Shui JV While two of the four cross passages are tunnel lining, the freeze body has to grow
of the geotechnical investigation drilling close to the canals, the design avoids locating by at least 1.5m to connect to the opposite
References • Shanxi Hydraulic Engineering
programmes for the Polihali transfer tunnel • Lesotho appoints experts and calls for Construction Bureau (China) any passages directly under the waterways. tunnel. Due to the circular shape of the main
alignment and for the proposed lake tap prequalifications – TunnelTalk, January 2019 • Shanxi Yellow River Water Industry Segments of heavier reinforcement were tunnel, the -5°C isochrone has to validate the
Group Corporation (China) erected in the area of the cross passage 1.5m connection zone of the freeze body at
Plan of the Polihali Dam and transfer tunnel • Setheo Engineering (South Africa) breakouts and pre-grouting was applied the opposite tunnel where the shape of the
at cross passages to support breakout cross passage connection is an ellipse.
CBSL Tunnel JV
of the lining and to transfer stresses to the It took, on average, about four weeks to
• China Railway Group
strengthened ground. install and establish the freeze around each
• China Railway Tunnel Group
Drilling for the freeze pipes was executed cross passage.
• Odebrecht (Brazil)
according to designs prepared by CDM-Smith
• Concor Construction (South Africa) Cross passage excavation
Consult, which considered the compliance
AFRICA
AFRICA
Sunshine Tunnel JV Once the freeze zone met the design criteria,
with the geothermal design and potential
• Salini Impregilo (Italy) track sewing and core drilling was used to
deviation of the drill holes (Fig 2). Close
• Stefanutti Stocks (South Africa) cut out the precast segmental lining and
monitoring considered whether additional drill
• AXSYS Projects (South Africa) create a 2m wide x 3.5m high breakout.
holes were required. Dewatering stand-pipes
Sequential excavation of each cross
fitted with blow-out preventers were installed
passage advanced in 1m x 19.6m2 full face
Table 2. Polihali dam shortlist and pressure tested to verify the water
rounds and was supported with a 25cm
Senqu River JV tightness of the connection. Dewatering
thick layer of shotcrete reinforced with steel
• Gezhouba Group (China) pipes would also release ground water in the ribs and wire mesh. Excavation progressed
• China Communications Construction core, in case of increased water pressure. at about 1m/day. The primary lining created
Company (CCCC) Preparation for cross passage breakout a natural load-bearing ring, controlled
• RAUBEX Construction (South Africa) and installation of the freeze pipes began once deformation and minimized heat transfer to
• ENZA Construction (South Africa) the TBMs passed the cross passage zones. the frozen body.
Subject to structural design confirmation, a From top: Frozen cross passage face;
Mota – Engil Polihali Dam JV The waterproofing system of a geotextile
full circle watertight brine-freezing collar of Extra support frame; Breakout of
• Led by Mota–Engil (Portugal) layer of 700gm/m2, a double PVC layer
about 2m thick was established around each segmental lining
Sinohydro-UMSO-Nthane JV of 3mm and 2mm, plus water-stops and
cross passage excavation (Fig 1). is inserted into the freeze pipe. The cooling injection hoses was installed. The cross
• Sinohydro Corporation (China) Up to 48 freeze pipes were installed
• UMSO Construction (South Africa) medium flows through the supply pipe and passages were then finished to a 3.8m i.d.
to form the freeze collar. Temperature backs up through the freeze pipe. The heat is with a 350mm in-situ concrete lining with
• Nthane Brothers (Lesotho) measurement pipes of 3m long were installed exchanged between the soil and the cooling reinforced collars at each tunnel. The final
CWE-SCIG-VUMANI JV along with 6m long dewatering pipes. medium. Continuous flow of the cooling lining is designed to ensure water tightness
• China Water and Electric Corp The closed circuit freeze system chillers medium maintains the watertight ring of ice. and to carry the permanent load once the
• SHANXI Construction Group (China) were located inside the tunnel at about When the ice ring closes, the water freeze thaws.
• VUMANI Civils CC (South Africa) 40m from the cross passage breakouts. inside the ring cannot run off which increases Construction of the cross passages was
CBSL Dam JV Temperature measurement pipes were the water pressure in the core and indicates a considerable achievement for the Ismailia
• Odebrecht (Brazil) installed from the opposite tunnel. that the freeze has achieved closure. During highway project which was scheduled to
• Concor Construction (South Africa) Freezing technique principles the freezing process the water pressure is open to traffic by mid-2019. n
• China Railway International Group Ground freezing is based on heat withdrawal measured by the manometer at the head of
• China Railway No2 Engineering Group References
from the soil. A close-ended freeze-pipe is the dewatering bore. • Breakthroughs for Suez Canal underpasses –
Sunshine Tunnel JV placed in the soil and an inner, or supply, pipe It is known that the growth of the freeze TunnelTalk, January 2018
• Salini Impregilo (Italy)
• Stefanutti Stocks (South Africa) Left: Fig 1. Installation of freeze pipes, dewatering pipes and temperature measurement pipes for the 2m wide freeze collar;
Right: Fig 2. Location of freeze pipes and temperature measurement pipes across the length of the 14m long cross passage
Open days for potential apprentices ITACET training courses at the WTC 2019 in Naples
T
of the heavy machine manufacturing Herrenknecht News Release unnelling 4.0: Information Technology Roland Herr for TunnelTalk
business. They were offered the chance to and Communication were the topics
make a rose out of metal, design technical “I am personally pleased that the offer of two ITACET training courses at the
drawings, use soldering irons, and explore Space (ITACUS), focused on the use of
to get a taste of our apprenticeships is so WTC2019 in Naples.
the inside of a TBM via virtual reality. The new media and social networks in relation
well received,” said Klaus Himmelsbach, The two-day course on Information
highlight of the visit was viewing first hand to tunnelling and underground space
Head of Training at Herrenknecht. Technology attracted 75 delegates and
the rotating cutterhead of a TBM for a projects. There were presentations also
Hands on training at Herrenknecht About 150 apprentices, student highlighted the use of BIM (building
metro project. about the communication efforts on mega
information modeling) in particular.
T
trainees and degree interns are in training projects of the world including the Brenner
he fourth open day at the Pupils were given three options for Professor Markus König of Ruhr University
at the Herrenknecht centre in Schwanau Base Tunnel, the Swiss Alpine base
Herrenknecht workshop in joining apprenticeships at Herrenknecht Bochum in Germany explained the
annually, making Herrenknecht one of the tunnels, the Lyon-Turin railway project,
Schwanau, Germany, attracted while still studying. Current apprentices fundamentals of BIM and described how
largest trainers in the region. n the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement
350 interested boys and girls from local and training supervisors were on site to BIM allows the visualization of complex Virtual training for nozzlemen and
schools, together with their parents, to look answer questions about the application simulated TBM operator training is project in Seattle, USA, and a large
situations in order to assess possible risks
behind the scenes at Herrenknecht. process, the theoretical and practical References becoming more common underground space construction project in
• Refugees among new apprentice intake – more accurately. He explained how to use
Pupils visited 15 stations showcasing content of the training occupations, the South Korea.
TunnelTalk, November 2017 BIM and described the advantages and
13 different options for training in course of the apprenticeship, and details • Hands on training – TunnelTalk, disadvantages of this technology. Ten years of ITACET training
industrial, technical, or commercial areas of degree internship programmes. July 2018 Further topics of the 21 presentations ITACET, the ITA Committee on Education
The machine park was of special interest About 350 young people attended included the use of automation as well as and Training, has organized about 80
virtual and augmented reality as tools to training sessions since its first in 2009, with
improve tunnel construction processes; the numbers of participants ranging from
advanced technologies for geotechnical 35 to 400, depending on the venue, the
mapping and exploration; surveying and country, the topic of the session, and if the
monitoring; and automation applied to event is associated with an international
underground construction equipment. conference. For the two sessions at
Karin Bäppler, Head of Business Successful communication can turn the WTC 2019 in Naples, both SIG and
Development Traffic Tunnelling with public opposition to acceptance of ITACET conducted an effective promotion
E D U C AT I O N A N D T R A I N I N G
Herrenknecht, gave an overview of the major infrastructure projects campaign to attract participants.
digitization and networking features applied Hats off to the organisers for high-
to TBM technology and in particular of Ten specialists from all parts of
quality presentations and the selection of
the interaction between machine, cutting a project gave insights about the
topics and to the presenters. But how to
tools and prevailing geology for real-time latest communication techniques and
increase the number of participants?
networking of products and processes. approaches that can be applied to foster
Despite a lot of promotional information,
Max Eckstein, Sales Director of interaction amongst stakeholders and
the number of participants was too low for
shotcrete machinery for Sika Aliva and within the scope of major underground
NATM Master of Engineering programme
such important topics in which the whole
NATM Course News Release President of EFNARC, gave insights with works projects. My own experience was
industry should be interested. Solutions are
Eric Odkrans of Edvirt into robot-assisted delivered in a presentation from my point of
needed to attract more participants to the
L
sprayed concrete and digital technology view as a journalist.
eading the education and other country of the world; ITACET training sessions.
for mechanised shotcreting. The industry Pietro Jarre and Roberto Mezzalama
accreditation of engineers in the • A Bachelors degree in a relevant subject; gave an impressive presentation from
design and construction of NATM • At least three years of professional is working on automatized spraying Training sessions are a must!
with self-positioning and thickness a job site’s view of communication. In I would like to call on all engineers to join
(The New Austrian Tunnelling Method) experience in a relevant subject area. the past, decision-making in regard to
is the programme offered jointly by the The programme is divided into six control including real-time control of all these outstanding chances of training
operational parameters, data recording development of infrastructure was almost and knowledge transfer from specialist
Montanuniversität Leoben and TU Graz in three-week modules scheduled across exclusively the domain of architects,
Austria. NATM has become a gold standard three years. This part time programme and transition, preventative maintenance, presenters from everywhere in the industry.
alternative power sources, and personal engineers, planners and a handful of There are many ITACET training events
approach for versatile underground provides candidates the opportunity to public authorities. But the general public
excavation worldwide. As a result, there is a maintain employment while studying for safety to achieve total automatisation of planned in the coming months, including
the spraying process. This can be realized has increased its influence and is now a at future World Tunnel Congress events.
strong and growing demand for engineers their degree at the same time. major force in determining the success
with qualifications in this field. A maximum of 30 students are with different scanning and automatisation Future themes of the courses include
technologies using laser, ultrasound, or failure of an infrastructure project. Innovation in Tunnelling, Geotechnical
The course, offered by the Institute accepted to each programme cycle. The authors explored some underlying
of Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling at In addition to university lectures and radar, and cameras. Parallel to these Engineering, and Project Management. n
developments, EFNARC, founded in 2009 trends and presented some techniques
TU Graz and the Institute for Subsurface field trips, the course also has access to to effectively address the increasing
Engineering at Montanuniversität Leoben, the facilities offered by the Zentrum Am to improve and secure a high skill level References
among concrete spraying operators and complexity of dealing with a skeptical and
progresses across six semesters and leads Berg, ZAB, research centre operated • A new era begins for ITA at WTC2019 –
nozzlemen, now offers a virtual training often adversarial public. TunnelTalk, May 2019
to a Master of Engineering, MEng, degree. by the Montanuniversität Leoben. The Antonia Cornaro and Han Admiraal,
and assessment of nozzlemen, which • Missed opportunity at WTC Dubai training
The programme, titled NATM underground facility provides two parallel both of the ITA Committee on Underground course – TunnelTalk, May 2018
Engineering: Construction, Rehabilitation road tunnels and two parallel rail tunnels is in high demand worldwide. A similar
and Operation of NATM and TBM Tunnels, as well as a test tunnel, enabling research, development was presented by Nicolas Overview of new technologies for mechanized tunnelling by Karin Bäppler
offers the opportunity to study geotechnical development,and training under realistic Ziv of Bouygues who introduced the Thalia
engineering and tunnel excavation, as well 1:1 scale underground conditions. simulator that uses digital technologies
as both NATM and TBM excavation in “The concentration of tunnelling and augmented reality for training TBM
detail. Completing the course equips the expertise in Austria inspired TU Graz operators and workers.
From top: Studying in the art of NATM
graduates to design, build and supervise and the Montanuniversität Leoben to
excavation; All aspects of NATM Stakeholder engagement
the construction of tunnels, shafts and offer this programme,” said Professor
excavation are covered Whether a tunnel is needed or not
underground caverns according to the Schubert of TU Graz. “The success of the
NATM principles. construction or mining, and is designed for programme confirms the strong demand sometimes seems of less importance than
All parts of the programme are held geotechnical and geological engineers who for engineers with specialist knowledge the acceptance of the project by the public.
in English as the language of instruction, want to specialise in tunnel construction in this area.” n Communication about major projects has,
and its programme flexibility attracts and NATM engineering in particular. therefore, become more relevant, with
participants from across the world. To date Applicants must have one of the References communication to be established at very
65 students from 32 different countries following qualifications: • TBMs a main focus at Salzburg early stages of project development. The
• A Masters or Diploma degree from an GeoColloquium – TunnelTalk, November 2018 Italian Tunnelling Society (SIG) and the
have graduated from the programme with
• Rock mechanics mix with civils in Salzburg
an MEng. Austrian or international university; ITACET Foundation picked up this topic
– TunnelTalk, October 2015
The programme is open to engineers • An equivalent degree at a third-level • Salzburg marks 50 years of NATM – for a one day Communications training
who have entry-level qualifications in educational institution in Austria or TunnelTalk, October 2012 session that attracted 35 participants.
Skills support for young professionals in the USA New CEO and SmartDrive developments for Normet
A
UCA News Release n Australian citizen, achieved the strongest TunnelTalk reporting
Ed Santamaria, was growth while the Ground
A
s the underground construction appointed as the Control and Construction
pump, improving process performance.
industry continues to grow, more new President and CEO Technology division declined
For increased safety and user comfort, the
skilled personnel are needed to bring of the Normet Group in modestly compared
machine has a remote driving system, which
complex and influential projects to fruition. June 2019. Taking over to 2017.
allows the operator to drive and spray from a
To assist this effort, the Young Member from interim President “The outlook for year
safe distance.
Committee of the UCA Underground and CEO Aaro Cantell, 2019 is still positive, although
UCA Young Members networking event To accommodate the manufacture of
Construction Association of the USA Santamaria will be based the market growth is slowing
the new SmartDrive range of equipment,
encourages students and young Member Executive Committee of Everett in the Normet Espoo office down,” summarized Aaro
Normet is investing in its Iisalmi factory to
professionals to gain technical knowledge Litton, Demetrio Criscuolo, Ritika Kundu, in Finland and started in Cantell. “We are in the
build a new digital testing center, expand
and leadership skills by providing networking and Luis Avila welcomed students and his new role in November. process of scanning new
the production capability and invest into
opportunities, specialist seminars and links young professionals to the North American Santamaria, who has Ed Santamaria, CEO, Normet growth areas to secure our
production automation. Demand for
between universities and industry. Tunneling Conference in Washington DC in an MBA degree, brings to renewal and future growth.
fully-electric machines is expected to
In 2019, the UCA Young Members June 2018, introducing them to the world the position a wealth of experience of the Our aim is to identify and launch two to
grow significantly.
presented a webinar by Steven Kramer, of underground construction through a mining industry and from his previous role as four of these growth initiatives during 2019-
In early 2020, and to better
Senior Vice President of COWI North presentation and panel discussion. President of the Parts and Services Division 2020.”
support customers in South America,
America, who discussed current trends in At the end of 2018, the UCA Young 2019 executives of the UCA Young at Sandvik Mining & Rock Technology. An important launch for the company
Normet opened a new service
procurement and delivery of major tunnel Members presented a well attended Member Committee. From left, top: He has spent in total 13 years in different in 2019 was the Normet SmartDrive
centre in Chile. The new centre will
projects in the USA. webinar by Dr Gabriel Walton, Assistant Everett Litton, Demetrio Criscuolo management roles within Sandvik and technologies for sustainable and green
also provide equipment rebuilds and
Members were encouraged to attend Professor at the Colorado School of Mines, Bottom: Ritika Kundu, Luis Avila spent the previous 20 years with SDS underground civil works and investments.
process training.
the RETC Conference in Chicago in June who discussed the influence of the geology Corporation, a designer and manufacturer Another is its investment in expansion of its
new techniques for renovation and repair “The service centre will enhance our
where the UCA hosted a Young Members on underround excavation projects of drilling equipment, which was acquired factory in Iisalmi, Finland.
projects, and current developments in capability to deliver refurbished machines
IN DUSTRY NEWS AND DEVELOPM ENTS

networking event and a scholarship At the Cutting Edge Conference in by Sandvik in 2006. SmartDrive, is a fully electric, battery-
digital technology and 3D imaging. n and help train technicians of our customers
orientation for students who had won Atlanta in October 2018, the UCA Young “Ed knows well how to lead people in operated and totally emission-free range
to improve the competence of their staff
bursaries to attend the conference. Member Committee hosted a session on References this kind of a global matrix organisation,” said of equipment that saves costs at the same
on key processes,” said Juan Albanece,
The group hosted a series of educational innovative uses of underground space, • Tunnellers to meet in Washington DC – Cantell, who is also Chairman of the Normet time. With the SmartDrive launch, Normet
General Manager, Services for Normet
webinars in 2018 and the UCA Young emerging tunneling trends and technology, TunnelTalk, June 2018 Group. “I believe he can help us find areas to also introduced its SmartScan 3D laser
South America. “For example, with sprayed
improve our operational efficiency as well as scanning technology which is the next step
concrete we have proven that training will
Training to extend life of water systems (1.8m-3.7m) in diameter,” said Professor
Tom Iseley, Chair of the BAMI-I Board
help identify new growth areas.”
“Joining an entrepreneurial
towards fully automated concrete spraying
and technology. SmartSpray increases the
improve productivity, reduce rebound and
of Directors. “The CTAM course covers reduce CO2 emissions.”
agile company with a global reach is an automation level of the spraying process,
BAMI-I News Release all underground water assets and was Normet, with its broad offering of
opportunity for me,” said Santamaria. “Using and SmartScan is a system to measure
developed by industry professionals for underground mining and tunnelling
my experience and my MBA credentials, I concrete layer thickness to improve quality
equipment, construction chemicals, rock
T
water utility decision makers, such as can contribute to the further development control, inspection and reporting.
raining utility personnel on how reinforcement products and services,
managers, supervisors, crew leaders, of the Normet business both within the A new safe and efficient concrete
to implement asset management currently employs more than 1,200 business
consulting engineers and service providers.” tunnelling and mining sectors.” spraying machine for the most confined
to extend the life and efficiency professionals from its headquarters in
The four modules of the program are: News of the new CEO announcement places was also launched in 2019. Agile
of water and wastewater systems is the Finland to its global operations in more than
• Overview of asset management. came after Normet reported a strong year yet powerful, the Minimec is used in areas
mission of the Buried Asset Management 50 bases in 30 countries. n
• Developing an asset management of growth and profitability for fiscal year of limited access, such as cross passages,
Institute International (BAMI-I). In 2019,
the Institute teamed up with the City
program. 2018. Turnover grew by 21% to €315 shaft excavations and small adits, and
• Managing an asset management million and earnings, before depreciations outperforms nozzleman handheld spraying
References
of Atlanta Department of Watershed • New facility in India and greater customer
Management to offer a four-day
program. and amortizations, reached €38 million, in safety, reach and productivity. focus – TunnelTalk, May 2018
• Financing an asset management almost double that of 2017. The Normet Despite its small size, Minimec can • Improved concrete spraying and explosive
workshop. Participants of the Certificate
of Training in Asset Management (CTAM) program. n Equipment and Services businesses apply the full capacity of the spraying charging – TunnelTalk, July 2017
Offering water asset management
program received Associate Water Asset training worldwide
Manager designation.
References
• Tight squeeze for Singapore sewer drives –
BAMI-I created the CTAM program in “The principles and practices of TunnelTalk, November 2018
2008. It is usually offered online and so far asset management apply to all networks. • Final push for cleaner waterway in
individuals from 16 countries have enrolled. About 80% of water pipelines are 6ft-12ft Washington DC – TunnelTalk, July 2018
Studying TBMs in Turin • Contractual and legal aspects of

tunnelling, site management, and
quality control
TunnelTalk reporting Modules include: • Safety and environmental issues at
• Tunnel design and construction work sites
methods The course is delivered in English at the
N
ow running for more than 12 • Rock mass characterisation, geo- Politecnico di Torino Lingotto Campus.
years, the Specialising Masters investigations, and risk assessment Graduates go on to careers at design
Programme in Tunnelling and TBMs • Tunnel supports firms, construction companies, and suppliers
at the Politecnico di Torino, Italy, provides • Numerical design of tunnelling tools and equipment. Endorsed The SmartDrive range of fully electric, battery-operated and emission-free Normet equipment
the basis for a career in the tunnelling • Mechanised tunnelling and hard rock by the ITACET Foundation for Education
sector. The programme is designed for TBMs and Training on Tunnelling and Underground
students who have already completed a • Soil mechanics Space and the Italian Tunnelling Society,
Masters Degree in civil or environmental • Plants and microtunnelling the course has recevied support from the
engineering or geology. organisations developing the Tunnel Euralpin
Politecnico di Torino, Italy
The course combines academic high-speed rail link between Lyon and Turin
teaching with lectures and presentations and the Brenner Base railway tunnel between
by industry experts from construction Austria and Italy. n
companies, equipment manufacturers, and
design engineering firms. It includes nine References
teaching modules, an internship, and a final • ITA focus on skilling future tunnellers –
project, and is completed in seven months. TunnelTalk, October 2017 From left: Compact shotcreting; Investment will expand the factory at Iisalmi; New service centre in Chile
F or all-round digitalisation of pumping technology on
construction sites, manufacturer Tsurumi presented its smart
controller solution that integrates water pumps electronically to
make operations as efficient as possible.
“Casing, motors, impellers - the time when components like
these were solely responsible for dewatering appears to be over,”
said Daniel Weippert, Managing Director of the Düsseldorf base
of the Japanese pump manufacturer in Germany. The company
used its bauma exhibition booth to demonstrate how pumps can
be integrated into the digital network of the construction world.
Latest equipment advances on show at bauma Munich Tsurumi Connect is a multifunctional solution that marks the
start of the new era. A small hardware box is connected to the
C
onvened on the vast show grounds of the Messe
Table 1. Top TunnelTalk reporting pump via the motor protection plug or a control cabinet. It records Tsurumi Connect links electrical devices on site and an app
München in Germany, the bauma trade fair of 2019 and analyses the rated flows, controls the aggregate automatically (right) for control and analysis is included
exhibitor countries
covered more than 600,000m² of exhibition space on request and also prevents wrong direction of rotation or over-
including 18 halls of 200,000m² space and 414,000m² Germany 1,269
C elebrating 30 years service in the current. The box is connected to the Tsurumi Connect Cloud via to have a separate SIM card for the mobile phone,” explained
of open air exhibition space. More than 3,700 exhibitors Italy 549 mobile telephone, WiFi or LAN, either permanently, for special developers Stefan Himmelsbach and Andre Conraths. Complex
tunnelling field, Condat displayed
presented their products to more than 600,000 visitors with situations, or as a result of an alarm. In case the connection fails, applications can be realised and, for the accountants in the
China 401 its full product range at bauma –
many more waiting for a space to become an exhibitor. the box is able to record data in an offline mode for 30 days. head office, invoices can be generated, maintenance intervals
from TBM tail seal and main bearing
Among the significant themes of the show was digitisation Turkey 189 The system is not a proprietary manufacturer solution. can be planned, and failure costs reduced to a minimum. Field
greases, fire resistant hydraulic fluids,
and efficiency, both of them targeting higher productively “Tsurumi Connect is able to monitor and control any electrical test with up to 70 devices connected are planned to conclude
UK 133 main bearing sealing products, foaming
as an end goal. Within the tunnelling sector, all the main consumer,” said Weippert. It is possible for data of various at the end of the year and deliveries of the system, developed
agents and polymers, additives for
TunnelTalk industry partners were represented including a USA 126 sensors to be recorded, analysed and taken into account by and produced in line with German standards, started at the
filling grouts, additives for ground
higher number of Chinese companies, some exhibiting for the control logic. “Configuration is easy and it is not necessary beginning of 2020.
France 120 consolidation and many others.
the first time. n
Landmark tunnelling projects for
Netherlands 116

Condat across its 30 years in business
References
•
•
bauma China 2018 – China manufacturing on show –
TunnelTalk, December 2018
bauma Conexpo India 2018 – TunnelTalk, December 2018
Spain
Austria
96
91
include its very first, the Channel
Tunnel between Britain and France; the
Groenehart project in the Netherlands;
A t its stand, Normet introduced
its SmartSpray SmartDrive semi-
automated concrete spraying machine.
A s a major exhibitor at the bauma China
trade shows in Shanghai, Chinese
tunnelling equipment manufacturer
• bauma 2016 - Tunnelling attractions at the world’s trade fair – Finland 56 and the Port of Miami and Seattle SR “This is the next step in the journey CRCHI was exhibiting at bauma Munich
TunnelTalk, April 2016 99 highway TBM tunnels in the USA. towards our end goal of fully automated for the first time. Discussions with the
As a leader in TBM specific products, shotcreting in civil and mining team were about the extraordinary lengths
Condat offers certified products with applications,” explained Mark Ryan,
A s a full-range supplier of mechanised tunnelling technology, the Herrenknecht of civil underground excavation achieved
proven technical benefits including Vice President Equipment Offering and in China each year. Confirmation was that
stand presented its journey in tunnelling. Through an impressive set of interactive
fire resistance and self-extinguishing R&D at Normet. “When co-ordinates are CRCHI manufactured 145 TBMs last year
screens, videos and graphics, Herrenknecht described how its focus is on making the
properties. entered, the SmartSpray machine will in the range from 0.5m to 13m diameter
tunnelling process faster and more efficient. A particular display illustrated an almost
Condat is one of the few to complete a spraying cycle automatically with most in the 6-10m range. CRCHI
continuous single shield TBM operation with the segments erected one at a time as
design and produce its main range of with the operator controlling just the is the manufacturing arm of Chinese
the forward thrust is applied to the previous ring segments. Counter-intuitively, the
products, mastering the whole process angle of the nozzle. Ultimately, our aim construction company CRCC, one of the
concept demonstrates higher progress with narrower segments rather than the wider
from R&D and raw materials to the is to have spraying machines operating top three general construction companies
2m+ rings used commonly with current single shield TBMs where excavation stops
finished product, ensuring consistent underground fully independently in the world. CRCC completes more than Liu Feixiang headed CRCHI for the
while the ring of segmental lining is erected.
and reliable product quality. In 2010, of operators.” 2,000km of tunnel infrastructure per year first time at bauma Munich
Herrenknecht was also celebrating its presentation of the coveted bauma
it upgraded its top-selling range of The new SmartDrive Spraymec and has about 6,000km of tunnelling
Innovation Award 2019 in the machine category for its innovative E-Power Pipe®
products to meet biodegradable OECD 8100 unit on display on the stand work currently under construction. As an example, Liu explained that some
installation method. Developed in cooperation with Amprion GmbH and RWTH
301 standards to reduce the impact also featured a 100% electric battery As well as TBMs, CRCHI also 85% of an 800km railway connection to
Aachen University, the centre piece of the method is the newly developed AVNS350XB
of products on the environment and drive with the laser scanner unit that manufactures drilling jumbos which Tibet from Chengdu will be in double-track
micro machine with an excavation diameter of 505mm and a jet pump for handling
on the excavated soil. To further this, assists the semi-automatic operation. are supplied to Chinese contractors to single-tube drill+blast tunnels. He added
excavated material. Jet pumping of excavated material allows drives up to 10 times
Condat recently developed a new The machine is plugged into the main contribute to the 10,000km of tunnelling that several of the company’s TBMs are
longer than previously in the small diameter range. Drives of more than 1,000m and
grease for TBM main bearings. Fully electric power supply for the spraying completed in China per year. used in the coal mining industry in China to
at shallow installation depths of 1.5m are possible with the E-Power Pipe technology.
biodegradable and molybden free, operation, which at the same time An interesting point made by CRCHI create the connecting roadways between
The system has been developed as a more environmentally friendly alternative
BTG 4602 has been approved by recharges the on-board battery to Chairman Liu Feixiang is that 90% of levels of existing mines. These are often
to long distance pylons to bring high voltage electricity cables from the wind farm
Herrenknecht after a joint program of provide electric tramming for up to tunnelling in China is by drill+blast and open steep inclined drives of up to 45 degrees
installations in the North Sea to the high electricity demand powerhouses in Southern
validation. Launched in 2018, BTG 15km before needing a recharge. face methods with the remainder by TBMs. and more.
Germany. The AVNS350XB machine excavates the pilot bore with fully fitted service
pipes installed from behind using the Herrenkencht Direct Pipe technology. The service 4602 is being used on several TBMs
including those working on the Grand From top: SmartSpray SmartDrive
pipes are then retrieved, to be used again on the next drive, as a conduit pipe is pulled
Paris Express Metro projects in France. shotcreting from Normet; Part of the
F
in from the front. Once installed the high voltage power cable is pulled through – each or Brokk, the launch at bauma was
Condat can also supply study and risk range of new SmartDrive machines Double power breaking from Brokk
drive being 1,000m long to match the supply reels of cabling. of its Brokk 70 hydraulic breaker
assessment of its product toxicology to
demonstrate no relevant risks for either machine which offers 100% more power
Herrenknecht E-Power Pipe a 2019 bauma Innovation Award winner
the environment or human health. then its predecessor and the latest Brokk
SmartPowerTM technology.
Condat products on vital TBM The SmartPowerTM electric
operation duty powertrain increases the unit’s power
from 5.5kW to 9.8kW and enables the
demolition robot to power twice the
size breaker as the Brokk 60, providing
smoother, more precise movements
of the heavier and more powerful
attachments. The Brokk 70 comes with
several brand new attachments including
the new BDC40 drum cutter that brings
real cutting power to the smallest
segment of demolition robots, and the
G32 demolition grapple, as the tool of
choice for more efficient soft demolition.
Mining Equipment and Bauer MAT buy Mühlhäuser assets
I Italian construction consolidation
nvestor and court approvals helped
move forward the merger of Salini
Impregilo and Astaldi through the
TunnelTalk reporting monorail system. Under the deal, SMT
Scharf supplied the major elements of the Progetto Italia initiative, which aims to group capable of pursuing infrastructure Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk
form an internationally competitive Italian projects of more than €250 million in value.
A
transport equipment, while Mühlhäuser
fter initiating insolvency proceedings construction conglomerate. Salini Impregilo The aim is to compete against large French
advised customers, designed tunnel- Naples in May 2018, he warned that, “New
in June 2019, the status of has already acquired Cossi, GLF, and and Spanish groups, TunnelTalk was told.
specific solutions, and managed sales players must be big enough to be able
Mühlhäuser company assets Seli Overseas. The Progetto Italia initiative consolides
and service. The takeover, however, was to obtain an investment grade rating and
became clearer with acquisition of separate The merger was subject to creditor the domestic Italian construction sector,
dependent on the results of insolvency seize opportunities in global alliances. In
divisions. Mining Equipment of the USA approvals in February and March 2020. which is facing economic and financial
proceedings and in October SMT Scharf size, we are talking revenues of more than
has acquired unspecified elements of In addition to the planned Astaldi pressures (Fig 1).
announced that after an assessment, it €10 billion.” n
the company and in December 2019 merger, Salini Impregilo gained control of Progetto Italia aims to create a global
would no longer be pursuing the acquisition.
Bauer Group confirmed its buyout of the Italian tunnelling specialist Seli Overseas EPC company with revenues of about
It is not known how ownership by References
subsidiary Mühlhäuser-Obermann. in late 2018. In early 2019, it bought €12–€14 billion, an order book of more • Consolidation of Italian construction
Mühlhäuser of the NFM TBM business
With acquisition of Mühlhäuser a majority 63.5% stake in Cossi than €60 billion, and an employee base contractors – TunnelTalk, July 2019
since February 2019 is to be resolved. It
locomotive, rolling stock and ventilation Costruzioni SpA. of more than 45,000, with most parties,
is known that no part of NFM is part of Fig 1. Recent media reports indicated
equipment divisions, Mining Equipment aims Salini Impregilo was itself formed by including banks, taking equity stakes in
the deal with Bauer MAT or with Mining fragility of companies in the Italian
to build a presence in the European market. a merger in 2013 when Salini acquired the debt-for-equity swaps.
Equipment, leaving NFM and its future construction industry
“We are ready to build a reputation in the bigger Impregilo business. In other changes Underground infrastructure is to remain
in limbo.
European market,” said Mining Equipment to the Italian construction sector, the long- a core of the merged business.
Mühlhäuser acquired French TBM
Co-President Matt Pope. “This is a great standing TBM and tunnelling business, Seli Astaldi declared insolvency in the
From top: Mining Equipment loco manufacturer NFM Technologies in
opportunity to do what we do best in a SpA, was restructured in 2015 into three Italian courts in September 2018. The
and muck cars in action; Mühlhäuser February 2019. NFM had been in financial
new market and to prove ourselves to new separate companies: Seli Technology, Seli start of troubles began in its 2017 financial
operations on the Channel Tunnel difficulty since the insolvency of its principal
customers, one project at a time.” Terms and Tunneling Denmark, and Seli Overseas. results with payment delays in Venezuela.
shareholder, NHI Heavy Industries of China, in
value of the acquisition are undisclosed. under the name Obermann MAT. Mühlhäuser Salini Impregilo later bought Astaldi had previously
2016. The Mühlhäuser acquisition comprised
The deal establishes the first European acquired the Obermann portfolio of injection
the NFM brand, the intellectual property, the Seli Tunneling Denmark, both Pietro Salini, CEO sold its stakes in the Milan
office for Mining Equipment in Breuberg, and grouting technology in January 2015.
manufacturing plant at Le Creusot, the stock firms working together on Salini Impregilo, warns Metro Line 5, the Chacayes
Germany, about 50km south of Frankfurt. “The company will stay in Michelstadt and
of components and a staff of 82 people. As the Copenhagen Cityringen of difficulties in the hydro project in Chile, and the
Paul Zeder and Marco Langnickle are hired 15 new colleagues will join the Bauer Group,”
a separate undertaking NFM Technologies Metro. Since late 2018, Seli construction sector Third Bosphorus bridge and
from Mühlhäuser to lead the European said Alexander Konz, Branch Manager of Overseas has been controlled in the Gebze-Orhangazi-Izmir
made 15 buy-back TBMs available for resale
operations. Bauer MAT Slurry Handling Systems, a through the Seli Tunneling highway in Turkey.
and appointed KPMG to assist in the sale of
Mühlhäuser, with a 110 year history, subsidiary of Bauer Maschinen. Denmark business. “In the infrastructure
these machines.
is a recognised innovator and supplier of Bauer MAT Slurry Handling Systems The merger rescues Astaldi sector, the key to competing
NFM machines are currently working
rail-bound and trackless transportation was formed in April 2008 when MAT Mixing from financial difficulties and is globally is size,” said Salini
on the Semmering Baseline railway tunnel
equipment, and equipment for concrete, Plant Technology was incorporated into part of the Progetto Italia plan Impregilo CEO, Pietro Salini.
project in Austria, the Tideway sewer project
grout and related applications. Mühlhäuser Bauer Machinery GmbH. by Salini Impregilo to create In a keynote speech at the
in London, UK, the Paris Metro in France and
innovations include the one side self- In August 2019 it was reported that a major Italian construction World Tunnel Congress in
the Lyon-Turin high speed railway project
discharger and the rota-dump muck cars, SMT Scharf was considering the acquisition
between France and Italy. n
both of which have been used on projects of Mühlhäuser-Obermann, alongside its
around the world. With its rolling stock and
ventilation interests, Mining Equipment also
sister company Karl H Mühlhäuser GmbH
& Co KG. There had been a co-operation
References
• Mühlhäuser expands into tunnel lining sector Bekaert buys out Keller merges subsidiaries
Maccaferri
has a large inventory of mine hoists and agreement between SMT Scharf and – TunnelTalk, 13 January 2015
stage winches used in shaft construction. Mühlhäuser since 2016. The agreement
• New merger for Bauer and MAT – TunnelTalk,
April 2018 in North America
partnership share
The Bauer Group acquisition of covered a logistics solution, developed by • NFM for sale from insolvent Chinese owner –
Mühlhäuser-Obermann will operate in future the two companies and based on the SMT TunnelTalk, 20 September 2018 Jonathan Rowland, TunnelTalk
TunnelTalk reporting
G G
lobal geotechnical contractor Keller merged its construction
Top political visit to Herrenknecht
F
erman Chancellor Angela subsidiaries in North America. The merger includes ground-freezing
ive years after announcing the sales
Merkel visited the Herrenknecht specialist Moretrench, which was acquired in 2018 by Keller group
partnership, Bekaert concluded buyout of
headquarters in Schwanau in company Hayward Baker. From 1 January 2020, Hayward Baker and
the 50% Maccaferri share in the Bekaert
October 2019, affirming her support of the apprentices present the opportunity to Herrenknecht News Release Moretrench integrated with other Keller subsidiaries, Bencor, Case Atlantic,
Maccaferri Underground Solutions (BMUS)
company and its innovations being used speak with her in person. Following the Case Foundation, HJ Foundation, Keller Canada, and McKinney, into one
enterprise. From January 2020, the Underground
on projects around the world, which “really tour, the Chancellor spoke to 200 invited operating company.
put them into action and then see that Solutions team works under the Bekaert
are projects that go down in history,” the guests and media representatives and Founded in 1860 in the UK, Keller has operations in more than 40 countries
progress really is being made,” she said. name alone.
Chancellor declared. addressed topics such as the shortage of across six continents. The company has been active in North America for
Martin Herrenknecht emphasised the For staff and customers, it has been confirmed
On a tour of the factory, company skilled workers, the acceleration of public more than 70 years and currently operates from 50 offices in the USA and
importance of the active backing of the as business as usual with no difference in the
founder and Chairman of the Board Martin planning and approval procedures, as well Canada. The region is the biggest market for the company, accounting for
Chancellor and the German Government service level of providing and supplying the BMUS
Herrenknecht showed the Chancellor as investments in research and innovation. about half of the total group revenue of £2.2 billion in 2018. Operating profit
in the current challenging market and range of Dramix®, Duomix® and Synmix® products.
the tunnelling technology developed and In her address, the Chancellor spoke of the from its North American operations totalled £78.6 million in 2018, an increase
competitive conditions for family-run The current team of engineers and employees
manufactured by the company to enable immense changes that have taken place of 3% on the year before.
businesses, SMEs, the region, and the more in the underground solutions division will continue
challenging projects. She praised the within a single generation. “This is down to The integrated company will be managed as eight business units. Seven
than 5,000 Herrenknecht employees. n to offer customers technical guidance and support
innovation of the company and its ability to the fact that there are always people who of these will be based geographically across North America, offering a full
in the application of fibre reinforced concrete in
respond rapidly to new market demands. believe you can change the world, that there References range of products.
underground projects, including in shotcrete and
The Chancellor also visited the training are people who have an incredible amount • State visit to Herrenknecht China – “Operating as one company will make the Keller group
precast segment linings.
workshop, giving the more than 100 of technological ideas who try things out, TunnelTalk, February 2012
companies easier to understand and engage with,” said James Hind will lead
With conclusion of the buyout, the
From left: Martin Herrenknecht welcomes Chencellor Angela Merkel; Learning about a new method for trenchless installation Underground Solutions division became a wholly James Hind, President of Keller North America. Under the the merged company
of cables; With one of the 19 Herrenknecht TBMs for the Grand Paris Express project owned division of Bekaert, the global producer and new structure, “customers can be confident they are getting
supplier of steel wire and coating technologies. the best, most competitive solutions, especially when these
Headquartered in Belgium, the publicly traded involve multiple techniques.”
company has 29,000 employees worldwide and is The eighth business unit will offer speciality products,
listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Brussels, such as diaphragm walls, speciality grouting, ground freezing,
with a reported combined revenue of €5 billion. n and dewatering. GEO-Instruments, the instrumentation and
monitoring subsidiary, will remain a separate brand. n
References
• Bekaert + Maccaferri form sales partnership – References
TunnelTalk, June 2014 • Keller-Hayward Baker buys Moretrench – TunnelTalk, April 2018
Recipients
of the 2019
ITA Awards
Innovative Underground Space Concept of the
Year Awarded to an underground green farming
Canada honours global
concept developed by the Swiss Center for Applied
Underground Technologies (SCAUT). Underground input to its national fabric
green farming offers the opportunity to produce food
locally in urban areas and to produce several harvests TunnelTalk reporting
T
per year. The underground space offers other major
advantages including constant climate conditions hrough history, nations have relied on the skills and labour of immigrants
and protection from natural climate variations. and internationals to build their infrastructure. Canada recognised both in
its 2019 Tunnelling Association of Canada TAC Awards.
Other finalists in the category were:
Presented during a gala dinner at a symposium in Winnipeg, Manitoba,
TunnelTalk reporting
2019 ITA Award celebrations • Prefabricated urban underground parking
spaces using small TBMs, China.
engineers from around the world and their innovations were recognised for their
contributions to building the nation.
P
• Southern Nevada Water Authority low level In a deserving tribute, TAC honoured Enrique Fernández González of Spain
rojects of complex design and back anchors supporting the basements of been successfully used to completed intake pumping station, USA. n with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award after a fatal accident in his
construction, and developments existing buildings, and an SEM alternative to urban tunnelling in complex geologies
of outstanding achievement in the open cut for a crossover cavern. and to undercross live rail lines and a home town near Madrid. González, of Dragados and its engineering division
fields of industry safety and innovation, • Client: Los Angeles County 14-lane highway. References gGravity, began the association with Canada at the start of the Eglinton LRT
• Winners of the 2018 ITA Awards – TunnelTalk, project in Toronto on which Dragados was involved on contracts for both TBM
were selected as the best of the best Metropolitan Transportation Authority Other finalists in the category were: November 2018
and recipients of the 2019 ITA Awards (LA Metro) running tunnels and station construction. González is recognised for other major
• ARCHITA, a multi-dimensional mobile underground infrastructure projects in Canada including the current Ottawa and
Brunel Trophy. At the end of the day-long • Contractors: Skanska-Traylor JV mapping system, Italy
conference, during which the Award finalists Fellow finalists were: • AXON, wireless connectivity for
ITA Lifetime Achievement Award Montreal LRT projects.
in each of eight categories provided details of The 2019 Innovation Initiative of the Year Award was presented to the
• Toluca suburban railway, Mexico tracking personnel and equipment,
their projects, the winners were announced design of the Lyon and Parliament underground stations of the Confederation
• Badaling tunnel and Great Wall Station monitoring the environment and
at the gala dinner in Miami, USA. Line of the Ottawa Metro designed by Dr Sauer & Partners in collaboration with
on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed integrating with other systems including
gGravity Engineering and built by the Dragados/SNC-Lavalin/OLRT/EllisDon JV.
railway, China pumps and ventilation fans, Australia
Major Project of the Year with a budget Permanent tensioned tie rods across the span of mined underground stations
• Sha Tin to Central metro immersed • Tunnel inspection and maintenance
of more than €500 million Presented under shallow cover were installed to take the load and transfer it away from
tube link, Hong Kong using artificial intelligence, Switzerland
HONOURS, AWARDS AND TRIBUTES
to the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok subsea

the walls of adjacent high rise building basements. The tensioned tie rods are
highway link in Hong Kong. The 4.5km long • Ulriken TBM railway tunnel, Norway Technical Project Innovation of the Year
encased permanently in the concrete decks of the mezzanine floor of the stations.
twin-tube subsea tunnel was constructed • Victory Boogie Woogie highway Extension of three existing Toulouse Line A
A trenchless no-dig microtunnelling alternative to open-cut sewer installation
using two Herrenknecht slurry Mixshield tunnel, The Netherlands underground metro stations in France, the
was the TAC Project of the Year. The alternative, offered by contractor Ward and
TBMs at up to 55m below sea level and project required the removal of the existing
Safety Initiative of the Year Awarded to the Past ITA President Tarcisio Celestino Burke Microtunnelling for a 770m section of the South Surrey Interceptor project
under hydrostatic pressures of up to 5 station tunnel linings, while keeping the
Air Quality Working Group of the Australian for Metro Vancouver, was completed using a Herrenknecht microtunnelling TBM
bar. The first 630m of the first TBM drive subway in operation and minimising, as presents award to Harvey Parker, joined by
Tunnelling Society (ATS) for its industry- and jacking pipes designed and manufactured by Langley Concrete Group.
was excavated using a 17.63m diameter much as possible, the disturbance caused his wife and ITA travel partner Karen
first collaboration on research and control The Photo of the Year was awarded to the Dr Sauer & Partners and CTS JV
by the works in the urban environment.
T
shield, for a three lane roadway for the of silica dust in underground excavation he 2019 award honours the career of Dr Harvey for an impressive image of station excavation works for the Eglinton Crosstown
up-gradient exit for the highway, with the environments. Silica dust is a major health • Client: Tisséo Ingénierie Parker. With more than 45 years of experience LRT project in Toronto.
machine rebuilt and reconfigured into a issue for the Australian tunnelling industry. • Contractors: Eiffage Genie Civil/I. in the tunnelling industry, Dr Parker is a University To continue the theme of recognising international collaboration, TAC is
14m diameter shield to continue a two During a 12-month period, the stakeholders CO.P/BG Ingénieurs Conseil / of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus, where he preparing to publish a book to celebrate the history of tunnelling in Canada and
lane roadway. As an alternative to ground of ATS took a proactive approach to Forézienne d’entreprises/Fontanié received his PhD in Civil Engineering with a Minor its 40th year of representing the industry for Canada. The book will reference
freezing, a mini TBM was developed to controlling silica dust and producing a • Engineering firms: Arcadis/Puig Pujol in Geology, and is the author or co-author of Canada’s rich history of all the major types of underground civil engineering
excavate 41 subsea cross passages much-needed body of reference material Associés/Betem more than 60 publications, often on planning, risk infrastructure and will acknowledge the efforts of immigrants to Canada in
between the parallel highway tubes. available on the ATS website for free Other finalists: management, and geotechnical investigations. The
• Client: Highways Department of the building the national fabric of the country. n
download and sharing. • Single-tube double-line rectangular many projects he has been involved with include
Government of Hong Kong shield technology system, China the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement highway
Fellow finalists of the category were: References
• Contractors: Dragages-Bouygues JV • Intersecting and overlapping tunnel tunnel project in Seattle, the metro system in Los
• An automatic geological-prospecting • Canada salutes top class engineering – TunnelTalk, November 2018
• Engineering firms: AECOM, ARUP, construction for the Tianjin Metro Angeles, and the inception of the metro system in
technique for TBM tunnelling, China • Canada rewards national achievements – TunnelTalk, October 2017
Atkins and Golder Lines 5 and 6, Lot 1, China Washington DC.
• Robotisation of the tubular steel arch
Fellow category finalists were: installation, Italy • Construction of a large cross-section From top: Lifetime Achievement: Recognition of an outstanding career
• The Follo Line railway tunnel, Norway in extremely gassy conditions, China brought to an end too soon; Photo of the Year: Station excavation for
Technical Product or Equipment
• The Seoul metropolitan high-speed The Project of the Year with a budget Young Tunneller of the Year Toronto Eglinton Crosstown LRT
Innovation of the Year A project,
railway Yulhyeon tunnel, South Korea up to €50 million Modernisation of the
• The road and metro Sanyang tunnel
under the Yangtze River in Wuhan, China
developed in Malaysia, for autonomous
operation of TBMs using artificial
intelligence algorithms for the autonomous
Vladivostok railway tunnel in Russia. Water
seepage was a major problem for the 1.4km
A manda Kerr of the
USA was selected as
the from among fellow
Project of the Year with a budget operation of multimode TBMs working long single-track railway tunnel built 82 candidates from Singapore,
between €50 million and €500 million on Line 2 of the Kuala Lumpur Klang years ago, with more than 1,800m3 of ice Switzerland, China and
Awarded to the estimated USD$1.2 Valley MRT. The system is installed on being cut from the tunnel each winter. The Japan. Amanda received
billion Regional Connector project for an industrial PC module to assess the upgrade required casting of a new multi- a Bachelor of Science
the Los Angeles Metro in California, the thousands of data points sampled every layer drained lining. in Engineering in Civil
design-build procurement of the 1.9 mile minute by the more than 400 sensors on Other finalists: Engineering and a Master
underground light rail system, with three the TBMs. A computer processes these • Finsbury Park Station step-free of Science in Engineering in
new underground stations, included twin data points and responds instantaneously access upgrade in London, UK Construction Engineering
tubes excavated using a TBM on tight with appropriate decisions, much faster • Outram Park metro station from the Arizona State
curves, an open cut section to deal with tie than human operators. The system has connection, Thomson Line, Singapore University in Phoenix and
began her tunnelling career
From left: MMC-Gamuda team receives Technical Initiative Award for autonomous TBM operating system; Kate Cole of the ATS as a leading engineer on Amanda Kerr,
Working Group accepts the Safety Initiative Award; Regional Connector achievements including first SEM cavern in Los Angeles the Northgate Link metro aspiring tunneller
extension in Seattle with
Michels-Jaydee-Coluccio. She has been involved
in TBM design and hardware selection; has led
a team of engineers managing construction of
eleven shafts; served as lead project scheduler;
has overseen structural design modifications
that reduced construction costs and saved more
than 180 calendar days; and negotiated project
change orders with the client, preventing any
outstanding claims.
UK engineers and engineering celebrated Beaver Award Dick Robbins 1933-2019 ITA and long-time friend of the Robbins trade magazines. In TunnelTalk, The Robbins
A fter a career lifetime dedicated to the family. “He was very active in industry Company and its TBMs feature in articles
TunnelTalk reporting Several interesting topics were part of recipients development of mechanized TBM professional associations both in the USA
and internationally. I was honored to work
about the Severomuiski railway tunnel in
Russia, started in the 1970s in Siberia, that
the discussions during the anniversary event. tunnel excavation and the advancement
The Beavers News Release closely with Dick during his significant employed a Robbins TBM for its pilot tunnel
S
Some of these included the following facts: of the company that his father founded in
o many projects and achievements 1952, Richard James Robbins, President involvement in the ITA, where he served headings; the Channel Tunnel
• The IChemE Green Book form of
F
are the legacy of the recipients of our renowned engineers are and CEO of The Robbins Company from on the Executive Council, was elected First Project where Robbins TBMs
contract, rather than the more usual ICE
the annual BTS (British Tunnelling recipients of the 2020 Golden Beaver 1958 to 1993, and known to everyone as Vice President, and was a leader for the ITA were supplied to both the
5th Edition, was adopted by the project
Society) James Clark Medal since its first Awards, one of the highest honours in Dick, died in May. Working Group on Mechanized Tunnelling.” French and English side of
and it applied, successfully, a target cost
award in 1981. Established in honour of the field of heavy engineering construction Dick was widely regarded in the Through his career, Dick was the undersea connection;
price based procurement for the civil and
the career in tunnelling of James Clark who in the USA. international industry, building The Robbins recognized with numerous honorary the Wanjiazhai Yellow River
tunnelling works.
worked for Charles Brand & Son and who Daniel Adams, President and CEO Company into a manufacturing leader and degrees, memberships and directorships in water supply tunnel in China
• The methods of contract procurement
was instrumental in establishing the BTS of McMillen Jacobs Associates of filing 11 US patents and 56 foreign patents organizations ranging from Virginia Mason in 2001, among the first
adopted by Thames Water avoided
in the early 1970s, the Medal is presented Seattle, Washington, was presented the in the field of underground mechanical Medical Center to the Board of Trustees of many Robbins TBMs to
lengthy periods of contract evaluation,
to a leading UK professional to recognise Engineering Award. Adams joined Jacobs excavation. In 2009 he was the recipient of the at his alma mater Michigan Technological be used in China; the Blue
with bids for many contracts being invited
a major contribution to the industry, a Associates in 1995, where he was sent to Benjamin Franklin Medal in Engineering for University. In 1999, the Engineering News- Mountains wastewater
with a three week notice and an award
contemporary achievement or an innovation Melbourne, Australia, to serve as the senior his contributions. Record selected him as one of the top tunnel near Sydney, Australia,
three weeks later.
within the industry. tunnel design engineer for the Melbourne “In 1968 when I first had the chance to 125 people of the past 125 years as an on which a 3.4m diameter
• Principal TBM supplier to the project,
Recipients and BTS Committee CityLink project. As President of the firm, work for what was then known as James equipment innovator who “helped shape Robbins TBM set several advance records
Lovat, with also Markham at the time,
guests at the annual luncheon in 2019 Adams led the Jacobs Associates merger S Robbins Co, I did not fully appreciate this nation and the world”. through sandstone; and the Lesotho
came to the assistance of the project in
were welcomed at the Institution of Civil with McMillen in 2014. that I was getting a chance to work with Dick recognized the importance of Highlands Water Project in southern Africa
time of trouble, including on the Tooting
Engineers (ICE) by current BTS Chair Ivor Jack Brockway, President of the greatest innovator in the tunneling sharing knowledge and experience with where four Robbins TBMs helped excavate
Bec contract in South London where
Thomas. In his welcome address, Thomas Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems USA, is industry,” said Lok Home, current owner, colleagues and fellow industry professionals more than 80km of water transfer tunnelling
ground freezing was needed to rescue the
presented a list of current UK innovations recipient of the Service & Supply Award. President and CEO of The Robbins and also through the pages of the industry beneath the highlands of Lesotho.
TBM drive in a reach of sands and gravel
and aspirations, including the first use of Brockway joined The Robbins Company Company. “Dick was a great mentor, as “Dick was always generous with his
within the prevailing London Clay geology. Dick receives the 2009 Benjamin Franklin
a boltless trapezoidal segmental lining in 1973, where he worked his way up to a boss and as a person. He was always time,” said Shani Wallis, Editor of TunnelTalk.
A new EPB TBM was needed from Lovat Medal for engineering innovation
in the UK and a 30-30-30 initiative by a become General Manager in 1991. In pushing the limits of what could be done “He, and his wife Bonnie, always had a
urgently to maintain programme. A further

BTS workshop to strive to reduce the 1997, he joined Herrenknecht and helped with TBMs. His integrity, energy, and warm welcome whenever and whenever
three Lovat machines were purchased to
cost of tunnelling projects by 30%, have to move the industry from hand mining passion improved the worldwide tunneling we met.” n
complete the second stage of the ring
excavation advance faster by 30%, and under compressed air conditions to the industry, and his creations set many of the
main project.
both by 2030. pressurized face TBM systems used on industry standards.” References
• At the end of the project, the full • VIDEO: Face to Face with Dick Robbins –
The BTS was founded in 1974 and soft ground tunnel projects today. “Dick gave back to his industry and to
programme project was completed and TunnelCast, June 2013
is an Associate Society of the ICE. Many Timothy Barnard, Chairman of his community unselfishly,” said consultant
delivered “two years ahead of programme • Robbins celebrates 60 years of achievement
members of the BTS are Fellows and the Barnard Construction Company Harvey Parker, former President of the – TunnelTalk, October 2012
and under budget”.
Members of the ICE, and many renowned of Bozeman, Montana, received the
The opportunities to honour engineers,
tunnelling engineers and statesmen have Management Award. Starting 44 years
their achievements and their projects, are
also been President of the ICE. Membership ago with only a pickup truck and some Enrique Fernández González crossing. This followed the similar Thimble of the underground bypass of the Sydney
rare and are so appreciated by all when
of the ICE is not a requirement for being a tools, Barnard developed a successful Shoals project where Dragados led the centre business district and excavation
member of the BTS and all those engaged
they occur, not only to bring friends and 1958-2019
T
colleagues together but also to ensure that contracting company that now has here was a sense of deep loss and process to convince the client to select a and construction of the
in tunnelling, both in the UK and abroad, annual revenue of USD$850 million and a TBM drive over a second immersed tube for 15km of twin running
the achievements of projects past are not emptiness at many job sites and project
are welcome to become members and to company culture of high safety standards. the Chesapeake Bay crossing. tunnels for the Sydney
lost or forgotten in current recollection or offices around the world and among
enjoy the advantages of membership. Clayton Gilliland, Senior Vice President In California, González was involved Metro North West rail link.
national industry history. n colleagues and friends at the shocking
A second event to celebrate UK and Area Manager of Stacy and Witbeck, in the successful proposal by Dragados to Of projects in Spain,
news that Enrique González of Spanish
engineering achievements was held in References of Alameda, California received the Golden contractor Dragados lost his life after a be selected for the 11.25km long x 5.5m González counted among
the city of Reading, west of London, to • Tideway TBMs well into excavations – Beaver Award for Supervision. Gilliland i.d. TBM effluent conveyance tunnel in Los them the Calle 30 highway
TunnelTalk, September 2019 cycling accident in March near his home
recognise the 25th anniversary of the began his 28-year construction career Angeles and its involvement, in a JV, in tunnels around Madrid in the
• Award for British inventor of slurry TBM close to the city of Madrid. He died at the
completion of the Thames Water London as a surveyor and labourer and steadily the construction of the first sections of the early 2000s, using a 15m
concept – TunnelTalk, October 2018 scene of the accident.
Ring Main, a system of more than 80km • 2018 James Clark Medal recipients hosted progressed through the ranks to join California High Speed Rail project. diameter Mitsubishi EPBM,
As a professional civil engineer dedicated
of deep level drinking water supply lines to at BTS tribute luncheon – TunnelTalk, Stacy and Witbeck in 1999, where he has Other projects in the USA included and the Guadarrama high
to the world of tunnelling, González was
households and businesses. October 2018 managed more than USD$2.3 billion of the TBM running tunnels for the East Side speed rail bored tunnel using a set of four
• 2017 UK honours decades of tunnelling
known on major Dragados projects and
The gathering welcomed engineers passenger rail construction projects in the Access railway project in New York City and TBMs, two from Herrenknecht and two from
expertise – TunnelTalk, October 2017 for assisting the work on job sites as the
who managed and controlled the project last ten years. n most notably the SR99 Alaskan Way double Wirth (now CREG).
• 2016 BTS hosts James Clark Medal head of the tunnelling department. He was
from its early inception, through its design, deck highway tunnel under the streets of Through all his project and team
recipients – TunnelTalk, December 2016 among the young generation of engineers
its construction and its inauguration • 2015 BTS James Clark Medal awards References who spearheaded the charge by Spanish Seattle, a project that tested the skills and associations González established long
into operation. These included Roger gathering – TunnelTalk, September 2015 • Distinguished US engineers receive top abilities of González and all his colleagues lasting collaborations and friendships with
honors – TunnelTalk, November 2019
contractors onto the international tunnel
Remington who was awarded the • 2014 BTS honours James Clark Medal within the joint venture with Tutor Perini, fellow like-minded engineers.
winners – TunnelTalk, November 2014 construction stage. González knew his
BTS James Clark Medal in 1993 in with contract suppliers, importantly among González began his professional career
• 2013 BTS James Clark Medal awards Top: Daniel Adams, Jack Brockway industry; could build, inspire and support a
recognition of his contribution and team; and manage high level negotiations them Hitachi of Japan which delivered the after graduating in mining engineering from
gathering – TunnelTalk, November 2013 Below: Timothy Barnard; Clayton Gilliland
leadership of the project for Thames Water, • 2011 BTS celebrates James Clark’s legacy – to win high profile projects and succeed, 17.48m diameter EBPM that experienced the Oviedo University in Spain with honors
the owner authority. TunnelTalk, September 2011 sometimes against all odds. major technical problems during its drive. It in 1985 and joined Arthur Andersen in its
In recent times, González was is a credit to the Dragados/Tutor Perini team operation of auditing coal mine operations.
celebrating with his team new high-level that the contract survived the immediate In 1988 he joined leading Spanish
successes in the USA and the UK and was difficulties to rescue and repair the stricken contractor Dragados, and spent the first
visiting Dragados projects in Canada the machine and bring the TBM and its drive to 12 years involved in projects in Spain,
week before the tragic accident. The tour a successful final breakthrough in April 2018. France, Portugal and Thailand. In 2000 he
in Canada took him to the Eastern Section In the UK, the latest success is award to was promoted to Technical Director of the
contract of the Eglinton Crosstown Metro Dragados, in joint venture with Mace as the Dragados Tunnelling Division and in July
project in Toronto, the Confederation Line preferred bidder, for construction of the £1.3 2018, he became head of the Dragados
for the Ottawa Subway, and to the metro billion Euston Station terminus for the High engineering company gGravity.
job site beneath the city centre in Montreal. Speed Rail 2 (HS2) in London. This followed There is no doubt that González touched
In the USA, the newest award of contract successful completion of more than 9km of the careers and working lives of many
Medal recipients at the 2019 luncheon (and the year of award) from left: for González and his Dragados tunnelling twin running tunnels for the Crossrail project engineers and workers and professionals
Alastair Biggart OBE (1991), Maurice Gooderham (2005), Alan Dyke (2006), team was for the alternative TBM drive to in London and the Bank Station upgrade for in the world of tunnelling and there will be
Rodney Craig (2004), Alan Runacres (2016), Dave Court (2012), Gordon Ince create the parallel road carriageway under London Underground. great sadness at his very untimely death.
(1998), Roger Remington (1993), Andy Sindall (2013), Hugh Doherty (1996), the Chesapeake Bay shipping channels for In Australia, involvement included the Sincere condolences are extended to his
Gerard, Ged, Pakes (1997), Oliver Bevan (1992) and Terry Mellors (2011) the Hampton Roads highway bridge/tunnel WestConnex M5 to create a significant part work colleagues and to his family. n
James Monsees criteria for all tunneling projects to be business, and were considered as possibly David R Yankovich 1953 - 2019 structural engineering in Arizona and highway project in Boston;
A
undertaken by the agency as part of its suppressing the development of innovative Massachusetts. He worked for Sverdrup • the Clean Water Conveyance and
R enowned civil engineer James Monsees, fter a career in civil engineering, with
capital investment program. technologies. The new Recommended particular expertise in the design of and Black & Veatch in project engineering Operations Program in Las Vegas;
of the USA, died in August 2019. Known
Other projects on which Monsees Contract Practices for Underground complex tunneling projects in the USA, and project management before joining • Phase 1 and 2 of the Central Outfall
as Jim to his colleagues, Monsees was
contributed included the Central Link light Construction was intended to provide David Yankovich died peacefully at his Parsons in 2008. While with Parsons Sewer Rehabilitation project for the City of
recognised internationally as an expert in the
rail system in Seattle; the extension of the owner agencies and their engineers with a home in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January he worked as a project manager and Los Angeles; and
design and construction of
No 7 Line subway in New York City; the set of best contracting practices to improve 2019, aged 66. as Vice President overseeing water and • the Deep Tunnel Storm Water System
underground structures, and
West Side and East Side CSO projects in the development of contract documents Yankovich was born in Albany, New wastewater tunnel projects. in Dubai.
in the sciences of soil and
Portland, Oregon; the East Side Access and the administration of underground York, and obtained a BS in Civil Engineering As a civil engineer in the Yankovich dedicated
rock mechanics.
railway project in New York City; and the construction contracts to make projects at Union College, Schenectady, New York, United States and on projects much of his last 10 years
Monsees worked for
DTSS sewerage project in Singapore and more cost-effective for owners and more in 1981 and a MS in Civil Engineering overseas, his expertise and to the design of the new
civil engineering practice
the Mexico City subway in Mexico. profitable for contractors, while contributing from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, experience encompassed effluent outfall tunnel for the
Parsons Brinckerhoff, rising Monsees earned BS and MS degrees to the growth and advancement of the planning, design and Sanitation Districts of the Los
Massachusetts, in 2000. He worked his
to Senior Vice President in Civil Engineering from the University of underground industry. construction services for Angeles County Clearwater
way through his schooling at a foundry and
and Technical Director for Missouri and held a PhD in Civil Engineering Monsees was also a principal author water and wastewater and Project. At a groundbreaking
as a practicing engineer.
Underground Structures. (Soil and Rock Mechanics) from the of the Technical Manual for the Design and transportation projects. ceremony in May 2019,
He was a member of the American
During a career of more University of Illinois. He was a registered Construction of Road Tunnels prepared by Some of his major projects he was remembered
Society of Civil Engineers and was a
than 50 years, he played key roles on professional engineer in seven states of Parsons Brinckerhoff and published in 2009 throughout his career included: for his commitment to
licensed professional engineer in the
design projects for transit, water, hydro, the USA and the District of Columbia. He by the US Federal Highway Administration. States of California and Nevada and of • the Big Dig underground the project. n
highways, and nuclear waste disposal, as was elected to the US National Academy Following the September 2001 terrorist
well as in the fields of geotechnical studies, of Engineering in 1991 and was active in attack on the World Trade Center in Lower
protective structures, and for on-location many industry associations including the Manhattan, he was appointed, on behalf of
and laboratory-testing of soil and rock.
James Barbera 1940-2019
M
American Society of Civil Engineers; the a Federal Government agency, to a team anufacturer of trenchless installation
He served as Chief Tunnel Engineer for Underground Construction Association of engineers and professionals charged equipment, and an influential figure
the first segment of the Los Angeles Metro of the USA; the National Academy of with developing guidelines for securing in the trenchless industry, James (Jim)
Red Line during the 1990s, responsible Science, Underground Technical Research underground facilities against future Barbera died in July 2019.
for the design of all underground facilities Council; the American Rock Mechanics potential terror attacks.
A graduate of Timken Vocational High

for the heavy rail transit system. He then Association; The Beavers; and The Moles. In responding to a call by TunnelTalk, School, Barbera went on to serve in the
served as a senior advisor for technical In the early 2000s, he was part of a Greg Kelly President and CEO of WSP US Army before working for the Canton
review of the Eastside Extension of the steering committee tasked with preparing which acquired Parsons Brinckerhoff in City Police Department until 1974. He
Los Angeles Metro Gold Line, which was an update of the USA Better Contracting 2014, said: “Jim brought vision, skill and worked then for his brother, Leo Barbera,
completed in November 2009. In 2010, he for Underground Construction manual deep experience to our organization and at American Augers where he oversaw
was selected by the Los Angeles County of 1974. Standard contract provisions to our clients for thirty years. He was a Jim and Leo Barbera, centre left and right respectively, receiving their Lifetime
the sales department and had direct
Metropolitan Transportation Authority to had become increasingly restrictive, valued colleague and friend to all and will Achievement Awards with Professor Tom Iseley (left) and friends
oversight of several initiatives, including the
lead the development of seismic design pushing many contractors out of the be deeply missed.” n reconditioning of a 19ft Robbins TBM. He Both Barbera brothers were honoured commitment to workforce development,”
was an active organiser in the auger boring by the Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) said Tom Iseley, Professor of Civil
schools that were held in Arizona. at Louisiana Tech University with Lifetime Engineering and Construction Engineering
Jack Feller 1922 -2019 Vladimir Ratkowsky 1930 -2019
In 1989, Barbera founded Barbco. Achievement Awards for their contributions Technology and Associate Director of TTC
E xpert in the heavy engineering

construction industry, John Feller,
better known as Jack, died aged 96 in
A fter a long career as advisor and
technical consultant for project
owners, contractors and government
Technical University in Bratislava,
majoring in traffic structures. In Slovakia,
he was one of the leading scientists and
Based in Twinsburg, Ohio, the company
manufactured directional drills and pilot
to the trenchless industry. Additionally, a
new training and educational facility, the
at Louisiana Tech University. “He clearly
understood that organisations could
tube machines. The company expanded Barbera Education, Research and Training have the best equipment in the world but
June 2019 at his home in bodies, and a long association with the consultants in the field of underground considerably in both facility size and (BERT) Facility, is being erected in the without properly trained and motivated
Orangevale, California. ITA, Vladimir Ratkowsky of Slovakia, died construction and specialized in both product line, moving to East Canton, Ohio, family’s honour at Louisiana Tech University. crews, successful projects are at risk. He
Jack was well known in June 2019 after a long standing illness. municipal road construction and long- in 2003, where it has been run by three of “From the first time I met Jim over was overwhelmed to have the training
within the tunneling industry Vladimir, known as Vlado to friends distance rail and road connections in his sons for the past five years. 30 years ago, I was impressed with his facility named after him.” n
of North America as a and colleagues, was closely connected his country.
President of the Beavers, with the ITA and contributed significantly After qualifying as an Assistant
as Chairman of the annual to membership of Czechoslovakia, as Professor in 1979 he used his excellent
Beaverdilly, and as one of it was then, as a Member Nation in the knowledge of tunnel construction, both Giovanni Barla 1940-2019 Fred Benjamin Estep 1938-2019
the four founding officers
in 1977 of the Beavers
Charitable Trust.
ITA since early establishment of the
international Association in 1974. This
effort and dedication laid the foundation
mined and cut-and-cover techniques, for
scientific research, consulting activities,
and the training of young engineers.
I nfluential rock mechanics researcher and former Professor of Rock Mechanics
at the Politecnico di Torino in Italy, Giovanni Barla died in November 2019.
As Head of the Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering at the
W ell known to the civil tunneling and
hydropower industries in the USA, Fred
Estep was a professional civil engineer for 45
The oldest of three stones for the membership of the later He was best known for his work in Politecnico di Torino from 2003 to 2011, Barla was also Editor in Chief of the years. He spent the last 10 years of his working
brothers, Jack was an Czech Republic and Slovakia in the ITA the preparation phase of the Bratislava journal Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. He was a past President of life between 2000 and 2010 with
enterprising, engaging, and adventurous together with encouragement to other Metro and the construction of various the Italian Geotechnical Association (AGI) and Vice President for Europe of the civil engineering practice Parsons
person. From his first job selling magazines Eastern European nations shield-driven public utility International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM). as a construction manager on
aged 7, he worked continuously until to become Member lines and road tunnels. Barla received many recognitions through his long and distinguished career the San Vicente water tunnel in
November 2018, when he finally retired for Nations of the Association. He strongly influenced including being elected as a Fellow of the ISRM in 2012; awarded for outstanding San Diego, the Chattahoochee
the last time. After serving in the United As the representative development and progress contributions from the IACMAG in 2014; and granted Emeritus Membership of sewer tunnel in Atlanta, and the
States Army Air Corps during WWII, he to the ITA, he was a in the field of underground the AGI in 2015. He was a member of the Torino Academy of Science and a Los Angeles Metro.
returned to school to pursue a degree lecturing member and construction in Slovakia. renowned international consultant. Before that he spent 35 years
in Civil Engineering at the University of presenter at the annual “Vladimir will be Graduating in mining engineering from the Politecnico di Torino in 1965, at Tudor Engineering Company,
South Dakota. ITA congresses and was missed by all associated Barla specialised in rock mechanics for his post-graduate work and obtained which in 1990 merged with
After completing his studies, part of the organising with the Slovakia Tunnelling a Masters Degree from Columbia University, New York. He was awarded the Kaiser Engineers. While there,
he pursued his career in heavy civil committee that hosted the Association, as well as Doctor of Engineering Science Degree from Columbia University for a thesis he worked on BART and MARTA metro systems
construction, working his way up through ITA Congress and General the tunnelling public, as a on stress analysis of underground excavations. in San Francisco and Atlanta respectively; the
the levels of responsibility from project Assembly of Member long-time educator His research interests spanned several specific Exchequer and Austrian Dams in California; the
manager, to Vice-President, President, Nations in Prague in 1986 who has trained several topics in the fields of rock mechanics, tunnel Rollins, Sly Creek, Monticello, Jones Fork, and
CEO, and Chairman of the Board. He and again to Prague in the generations of tunnelling engineering, rock slope and dam engineering, and North Fork hydroelectric projects in the USA; and
ended his career as an Arbitrator. Czech Republic in 2007. experts involved in the numerical methods in geomechanics. He acted as the South Bay tunnel outfall in San Diego.
He was accomplished at all his For a time, he also current construction of designer, geotechnical consultant, or was responsible Estep gained a BSc in Agriculture from UC
endeavors and challenged others to be the worked in the UK in the tunnels in Slovakia and of the numerical studies for a wide range of rock, Davis and a BSc in Civil Engineering and another
best they could be. With a great sense of Tunnels Division of the then Transport and abroad,” said Miloslav Frankovsky, geotechnical, and mining engineering projects. in Industrial Engineering from the University of
humor and unwavering Christian faith, Jack Road Research Laboratory. current Chairman of the STA. “He His reputation will live on in his many authored Washington. He also contributed to the fields of
had a very generous heart and was moved Vlado graduated from the faculty was a fine person and a kind friend to and co-authored papers and text book publications rapid transit, roads and highways, bridges, dams
to help as many as he could. n of Civil Engineering at the Slovakian all of us.” n in his specialist fields. n and hydroelectric powerhouse designs. n
Sprayed Concrete Lined Tunnels - 2nd Edition Ground Characterization and
• Author: Alun Thomas Structural Analyses for Tunnel Design
• ISBN: 9780367209759 • Authors: Benjamín Celada, Z.T. Bieniawski
• Pages: 274pp • ISBN: 9780815386629 - CAT# K345074
• Published: September 2019 • Pages: 454pp
In this second edition of the book, • Published: August 2019
beyond a general update to reflect new This practical and design-oriented book focuses on ground
developments, the sections on permanent characterisation and structural calculation, as part of the active
sprayed concrete, the innovative structural design methodology. With a focus on rock tunnelling, it offers
technology of spray applied waterproofing a comprehensive, rather than a topic-based perspective, deriving
membranes, fibre reinforcement (both steel sound tunnel design criteria and methods from basic principles.
and macro synthetic), and composite lining Ground characterisation includes excavations, site investigation, and
design have been expanded. Sustainability in-situ stress determination, culminating in geotechnical classifications.
and environmental impact is also addressed The book then deals with various construction methods and their
in a new section. appropriate calculations, which range from constitutive models for the
Other chapters of the book address: stress-strain behaviour of an excavation and tunnel support elements
• What is an SCL Tunnel? to a full stress–strain analysis methodology.
• Sprayed Concrete The heavily practical approach of the book draws on 20 years
• Construction Methods of tunnelling experience in Spain and South America. It will help any
• Design Approaches young or established professional who wants to develop a career in
• Modelling Sprayed Concrete the underground field across both civil engineering and geology. As it
• Detailed Design incorporates the very fundamentals of tunnelling design, it can be used
• Construction Management as a support for tunnelling courses or as a textbook for Masters and
Sprayed concrete lined (SCL) tunnels are growing PhD courses.
rapidly in popularity due to their versatility. The design and Benjamín Celada was Chief Tunnel Engineer at Hunosa and
construction of both hard rock and soft ground tunnels Potasas de Navarra S.A. before founding Geocontrol S.A. He has also
has been revolutionised by the advent of the SCL method. worked for twenty years as Professor of Underground Works at the
The use of permanent sprayed concrete linings has now Polytechnic Mining University in Madrid, Spain.
unlocked the true potential of the method to minimise Z. T. Bieniawski directed the Rock Mechanics Department of the
BOOKS AND REPORTS
construction costs and times. Yet the complex early age Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria, then taught at
behaviour of sprayed concrete makes the design difficult and the Pennsylvania State University for 20 years.
requires a robust management system during construction. • Table of Contents
Consequently, the great advantages of the method must • Typology of underground
be balanced against the risks, as a few high-profile tunnel excavations and design issues
collapses have illustrated. • Tunnel design methodologies
Practising engineers on site, in the design office, or in • Site investigations
client organisations will find Sprayed Concrete Lined Tunnels • In situ state of stresses
an excellent introduction to the topic. It covers all aspects of • Laboratory tests
SCL tunnelling – from the constituents of sprayed concrete • Engineering classifications
to detailed design and management during construction. of rock masses
Although there is a close interdependence between all the • Methods for tunnel
facets of sprayed concrete, few engineers have the right construction
breadth of experience and expertise to cover all of them. This • Constitutive models to
needs urgently to be transferred to the wider engineering characterize the ground behavior
community as SCL tunnels play an increasingly important role • Types of tunnel supports
in the delivery of the underground infrastructure that modern • Stress–strain analysis
urban life demands. Printed hardback (£125) and
Printed hardback (£110) and ebook (£90) versions are ebook (£112.50) versions are available
available to order from CRC Press. n to order from CRC Press. n
Index of Advertisers in the TunnelTalk Annual Review

ACCIONA 67 www.acciona.com
BabEng GmbH - TPC Tunnelling Process Control 10 www.babeng.com
BASF 2 www.ugc.basf.com
CREG - China Railway Engineering Equipment Group 99 www.crectbm.com
DSI Underground 23 www.dsiunderground.com
Gall Zeidler Consultants 10 www.gzconsultants.com
Geokon 81 www.geokon.biz
Herrenknecht AG 100 www.herrenknecht.com
ITC SA 35 www.itcsa.com
Lovsuns - a LNSS Company 61 www.lovsuns.com
Mayr GmbH 31 www.mayr.com
Normet International 55 www.normet.com
The Robbins Company 7 www.therobbinscompany.com
Tsurumi (Europe) GmbH 81 www.tsurumi.eu
VMT GmbH 75 www.vmt-innovations.com
World Tunnel Congress 2021 9 www.wtc2021.com
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BRENNER BASE TUNNEL, AUSTRIA – ITALY

PUSHING LIMITS 10th ANNIVERSARY Direct by Design

TUNNELTALK ANNUAL REVIEW 2019

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE THE AMERICAS

YOUR PARTNER FOR

Designed for water pressures up to 30 bar and featuring

wells: Engineers in Norway are studying

New era begins for ITA at WTC 2019

takes over from President Tarcisio Celestino

8 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 www.TunnelTalk.com www.TunnelTalk.com

Emerald Book contract specifically for underground projects

baseline, the hard rock TBM and segmentally lined

Brenner Baseline begins, Fehmarnbelt Denmark-Germany

Grand Paris Express, France, 2017 Cityringen, Denmark, 2010

Operating pressures of more than

Rail connections California creates the

Midtown immersed tube crossing

Industry news and events

Careers in underground engineering

Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok undersea

Snowy 2.0 prepares for arrival of

Fleets of roadheaders create the NorthConnex

to a new treatment works. In Abu Dhabi,

Middle East, Africa, South America

Several metro and rail

Water will flow from a new

Effluent outfall, Buenos

22 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019

TU N NELTECH INNOVATIONS AND DEVELOPM ENTS

TU N NELTECH INNOVATIONS AND DEVELOPM ENTS

TU N NELTECH INNOVATIONS AND DEVELOPM ENTS

Correct TBM launch in a NATM starter tunnel

34 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 www.TunnelTalk.com

Poland progresses new TBM road link

XRE TBM conquers toughest drive in Turkey

Journey through completed reaches to

Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk

D Subsea links for Faroe Islands

Norway trims ship tunnel cost References

Tideway more than a third through TBMs drives

Fig 1. High voltage cable route and headhouse locations

Russia link for China-Europe transport corridor

54 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 www.TunnelTalk.com

Nadezhda shield used for the St Petersburg metro

Robbins News Release Through one stretch, the TBM

60 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 www.TunnelTalk.com

Delaware aqueduct bypass breakthrough

Buenos Aires outfall excavation nears completion

Sustainability key for Quito Metro, Ecuador

Right: Top quality single-tube,

NEW LINE | 22.9 KM OF TUNNEL AND 15 STATIONS

Early breakthrough in Nepal for Bheri Babai

Breakthrough celebrations in Mumbai

Sydney opens new underground highways

Driving Progress in Tunnel Projects.

Kidston hydro set for construction Patrick Reynolds for TunnelTalk

74 TunnelTalk ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 www.TunnelTalk.com www.vmt-innovations.com

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Brisbane Cross River Rail mobilises for construction EBRATIN