TfL report shows public support for new Thames Tunnel Crossing
Transport for London’s recently released river crossings consultation report shows there is continued overwhelming support for a new road tunnel between Silvertown and the Greenwich Peninsula in East London, and a new river crossing at Gallions Reach. Read more
Caterpillar to phase out tunnelling business
Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Corporation (CTCC) today notified employees that it will exit the business and cease production at its facilities by mid 2014. Caterpillar purchased Lovat Inc., which is known today as CTCC, in 2008, as its entry into the tunnel boring business. The company has since determined the business no longer represents a strategic growth opportunity. Read more
DC Water awards Anacostia River Tunnel
DC Water’s Anacostia River Tunnel, the second design-build project in its Clean Rivers Program, has been awarded to the Impregilo/Healy/Parsons JV for $253,859,999.00. Impregilo/Healy/Parsons JV was one of three teams short-listed for this design-build contract. The award was based on a combination of technical (35%) and price (65%) proposals. The tunnel will be approximately 12,500ft long (3,840m), 23ft (7m) in diameter, and supported by a bolted, gasketed, one-pass lining system. The work will include six 90ft to 100ft (30m) deep shafts ranging from 12ft (3.6m) to 75ft (23m) in diameter. Three Adit connections are also required between the tunnel and three of the shafts; these adits will be between 4ft (1.2m) and 10ft (3m) in diameter. Read more
Legacy Way claims record breakthrough
The first of two 12.4m diameter Herrenknecht Double Shield Gripper TBMs being used to construct Brisbane’s $1.5bn, 4.6km long Legacy Way Tunnel has broken through – 5 months ahead of schedule. JV Transcity, comprising Brisbane-based BMD Constructions, Italian company Ghella and Spanish company Acciona launched Joyce on the westbound tube in early October 2012 and saw a record 49.7m excavated in one day. Read more
HS2 recommends a further 9km of London tunnel to eliminate bridge replacements
Britain’s high-speed rail network HS2 could have another 9km of tunnel added to its alignment under London. HS2 Ltd will recommend that High Speed Two (HS2) be tunnelled between Old Oak Common and Northolt after HS2 Ltd investigated this suggestion from local residents and Ealing Council. Read more
First breakthrough on 44.6km long Pahang to Selangor Tunnel
The contractor joint venture of Shimizu Corporation, Nishimatsu Construction, UEM Builders, and IJM Construction (SNUI) broke through the first of three 5.23m diameter Main Beam Robbins TBMs at the Pahang Selangor Raw Water Tunnel last month to a large ceremony of cheering onlookers. It was a moment worthy of celebration; the breakthrough is a significant step towards the completion of the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia, a 44.6km water transfer route from the states of Pahang to Selangor. Read more
TTC new appointment
UK-based Technical Tunnelling Components (TTC) have announced the appointment of a new International Sales Manager, Graham Langshaw. Langshaw joins the company with a wealth of experience in the precast tunnel lining industry. Read more
BASF and Atlas Copco to jointly assist sprayed concrete developments
Atlas Copco Underground Rock Excavation Division and BASF Construction Chemicals Europe Ltd. have signed an agreement to join forces to foster further expertise on sustainable sprayed concrete. This cooperation follows Atlas Copco’s acquisition of the MEYCO Equipment sprayed concrete manufacturer in Winterthur, Switzerland, from BASF. The acquisition was finalized yesterday with the closing regular process. Read more
MTR awards SCL 1107 to Seli/Chun Wo
Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation has awarded the US$128M, SCL 1107 contract for the Diamond Hill to Kai Tak Tunnels on the Shatin to Central Line to a 50% Seli Spa/50% Chun Wo Joint Venture. SELI will provide the TBM, and perform excavation as part of the JV. Read more
Crossrail Tunnel fit-out award
Crossrail has announced that it intends to award the contract to undertake the major fit-out of the new rail tunnels to a joint venture comprising Costain Ltd, TSO and Alstom Transport. The award of the tunnel fit-out contract is the last major construction contract to be awarded by Crossrail. Read more
