tunnelling-journal (1)
tunnelling-journal (1)
  • Home
  • Print
    • Subscribe
    • Tunnelling Journal
    • Breakthrough
    • ITA Activity Report
    • A&NZ Journal
    • WTC Preview
    • Media Kit
  • Digital
    • Newsletter
    • E-Shots
    • TJ Digital edition
    • Products Page
    • Media Kit
  • Conferences
    • BTS Conference and Exhibition
    • Cutting Edge 2022
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • Events Diary
  • Jobs
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Podcast

Home > Hitachi Zosen selected to build Alaskan Way's mega EPBM

Hitachi Zosen selected to build Alaskan Way's mega EPBM

Amanda Foley

Written by Amanda Foley on 18/07/2011 in News

Tagged:

Seattle Tunnel Partners, the Dragados-led design-build contractor for Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) proposed SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct bored tunnel replacement, has selected Hitachi Zosen Corporation to supply the massive 57.5ft (17.52m) diameter EPBM that will be used to excavate the tunnel. Hitachi Zosen will be responsible for designing, manufacturing, assembling, testing and commissioning the world’s largest machine to date, as well as training Seattle Tunnel Partners’ personnel.

“After a decade of debate, we are taking another step toward creating a new waterfront for Seattle, preserving the capacity businesses need to grow and replacing the viaduct,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire. “Hitachi Zosen’s state-of-the-art proposal exceeded WSDOT’s standards and will help Seattle Tunnel Partners deliver this world-class tunnel project.”

Hitachi Zosen was the best value manufacturer based on overall technical requirements, support capabilities, price and schedule. Located in Osaka, Japan, Hitachi Zosen has successfully built a number of large-diameter tunnels including the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway (45 feet in diameter) and the Tokyo Bay Highway Tunnel (47 feet in diameter). They are currently supplying the tunnel boring machines for Sound Transit’s Capitol Hill Station to Pine Street segment, in Seattle, and the Bay Tunnel near San Francisco, California.

“WSDOT required Seattle Tunnel Partners to provide and safely operate a machine that could  successfully bore through soil conditions in downtown Seattle, that would protect city infrastructure and buildings, and would provide real-time monitoring information to inspectors,” said Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. “We are pleased with the selection of Hitachi Zosen and know they will be a strong partner in delivering this complex project.”

Herrenknecht (Germany), Hitachi Zosen (Japan), Kawasaki-SELI (Japan, Italy), and Robbins-Mitsubishi (United States, Japan) all submitted TBM proposals to Seattle Tunnel Partners on May 31. Seattle Tunnel Partners met with the manufacturers numerous times during the evaluation. Some of the factors considered were the teams’ ability to meet technical requirements prescribed by WSDOT and established by Seattle Tunnel Partners specifically for this project; management and supervision on the construction site; cost and schedule; and warranty and bonding.

“Receiving proposals from four highly qualified and experienced tunnel boring machine manufacturers resulted in a very competitive procurement,” said Chris Dixon, Seattle Tunnel Partners executive. “We are confident that Hitachi Zosen will build a state-of-the-art machine that will safely construct the proposed bored tunnel.”

Seattle Tunnel Partners issued a letter of intent to Hitachi Zosen on July 15, which allows them to begin preliminary design until the project receives federal environmental approval next month. Once approval is issued, WSDOT will direct Seattle Tunnel Partners to proceed with final design and construction, and the design-build team will execute a contract with Hitachi Zosen to design and manufacture the boring machine.

For a full length article on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project, visit the December ’10 digital edition of NATJ. To find out more about the Final Environmental Impact Statement, covering alternative replacement methods and their permanent and construction effects see Alaskan Way Final EIS released.

Comments:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Digital Edition

More Like This

12/01/2023

McMillen Jacobs Associates re-brands

McMillen Jacobs Associates re-brands

McMillen Jacobs Associates, specializing in delivering underground infrastructure throughout North America and Australasia, is pleased to announce it has rebranded…

30/01/2023

President Biden and Partners Kick Off B&P Tunnel Replacement

President Biden and Partners Kick Off B&P Tunnel Replacement

US President Biden, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Amtrak have joined Maryland officials to execute the Project Kickoff Agreement…

01/03/2023

Snowy Hydro updates on sinkhole delayed TBM

Snowy Hydro updates on sinkhole delayed TBM

The Snowy 2.0 project client ‘Snowy Hydro’ has given an update as to the current status of TBM Florence, recently…

  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Magazine Archive

Newsletter

The latest from the Tunneling Journal direct to your inbox.

Social



Enquiries

TGS Media Ltd
The Old Library
Webster House
Dudley Road
Tunbridge Wells
TN1 1LE
United Kingdom

© Tunnelling Journal. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. Admin

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more