tunnelmachines projects

Astaldi of Italy and ICE of Bolivia using Robbins TBM in hard, faulted, abrasive sandstone of 40-125 MPA. March 1999.

A state of emergency was declared in Bolivia following protests about the expected rise in water charges that will accompany the $200 million Misicuni waterworks contract in Cochabamba. The centrepiece of the project is a very difficult 19 km-long diversion tunnel, which was commenced in 1995. TBM operations in the Calio sector got underway in November, 1998 and less than 500 m has been accomplished to date due to cataclastic rocks associated with a 700 m-wide fault system under 800 m cover. The plasticity of the strata causes a squeezing of 10-12 cm immediately behind the TBM which, if not supported before the crown opens, results in cave-in. Advance in April at Calio was 85 m, the highest achieved to date and in the Bocatoma sector the Robbins TBM has completed 2.5 km. Type in Misicuni at www.alltheweb.com for further details. May 2000.

Contract extension granted to Astaldi to complete excavation until 30th April, 2002 of the 19.5 km Misicuni water tunnel in Cochabamba and install the lining by 11th March, 2003. Contractor ICE withdrew from the contract. Early September, 2001, 8.4 km had been bored between the intermediate shaft and the Bocatoma portal, as well as 6.1 km between the intermediate shaft and Ventana Calio with 4 km still to go on the latter section. Bolivia's government accepted in September, 2001 a proposal by US consultant Glenn Genkins to separate the US$62 million construction of the Misicuni tunnel from other assignments. 46/01.

Supreme Decree issued by the government of Bolivia on 25th February, 2002 allowing Empresa Misicuni to negotiate a contract with another contractor to finish the last 500 m of the 19.3 km-long Misicuni tunnel. Contract with Astaldi-ICE jv was cancelled after the jv stopped work in January. The project, first proposed nearly 50 years ago, has been underway since 1995 after extensive engineering studies by Electrowatt Engineering in the 1980s. Tunnelling started in 1998 and the Bocatoma section of the tunnel was completed in May, 2000 when the Robbins hard rock TBM reached the intermediate shaft. This shaft, at over 3,800 m elevation, is one of the highest in the world. The Robbins TBM at Calio achieved advances exceeding 840 m/month, 240 m/week, 55 m/day and 30 m/shift. Antony Ivan Smith is presently the Superintendente of the 12 km-long Calio section of the Misicuni tunnel. More from aivansmith@msn.com. 12/02.

Empresa Misicuni signed on 19th March a contract with Robbins to complete the last 500 metres for $680,000 saying Robbins has the know-how to finish the tunnel under the same terms as the Astaldi-ICE jv, which pulled out from the project. Robbins equipment was used by the jv. Tunnelling is to resume by the end of March. Time frame of 45 days. Court arbitration will be given in Paris to sort out the dispute between the jv and Empresa Misicuni. Visit www.robbinstbm.com 13/02.

The 19.2 km-long Misicuni tunnel was completed on Thursday 4th July, 2002 when the Robbins TBM 1015-271 finally bored into the Pozo section of the tunnel, which had been found flooded at original breakthrough on 15th June, 2002. Water is now flowing through the 5 km-high Cordilleran Andes to the Cochabamba Valley, realizing a 45 year dream. After the removal of the TBM, the Calio section of the tunnel will be concreted. For further information contact Antony Ivan Smith aivansmith@msn.com or visit www.robbinstbm.com 29/02.

Impregilo using 4.94 m-diameter NFM double-telescopic hardrock TBM in Shanxi province. Machine manufactured mainly in China, cutterhead at Le Creusot. Delivery July, 1998. March 1998.

Wan Long JV reports excellent progress at the Wanjiazhai Yellow River diversion project. The joint venture comprises Impregilo (48%) and Cooperativa Muratori Cementisti Ravenna (42%) with local partner The China Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering Bureau No 4 (10%). The project consists of five primary lots. Wan Long JV won contracts for lots II & III in international tender. Lots II & III require 88.9 km of tunnel located 50 to 300 m below the surface. Of this, 1.5 km is being excavated by road header, and the remainder by three double-shield Robbins TBMs and one NFM TBM. Three of the machines were designed and produced specifically for this project. All are erecting honeycomb segment lining. Boring started on 3rd December, 1998 and by the end of March this year, more than 40 km of tunnel (45% of the total) was complete. Overall monthly production reached a new record in January, with the four machines excavating and lining 4,871 m of tunnel. The Robbins TBM working on contracts T4 and T5 has achieved the best figures to date with 99.4 m in one day, 1,822 m in one month, and an average monthly performance of 863 m. Wan Long JV has also produced record numbers of concrete lining segments with a maximum 653 segments manufactured in a single day. Visit www.robbinstbm.com May 2000.

Robbins reports that the four 5 m-diameter double shielded machines have recorded 1.826 km excavated and lined in a single month. Visit www.robbinstbm.com Sept 2000.

High-Point Rendel appointed as special advisor for 90 km of the 370 km of tunnels, internal diameters from 4.2 m to 5.4 m, being excavated with TBMs and lined with 25 mm thick hexagonal prefabricated concrete segments by a jv of Impregilo, CMC and the China Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering Bureau No. 4. Visit www.hprendel.com 44/01.

Alpine Mayreder received a EUR47 million contract to build the 25 km Pinglu tunnel in Shanxi province, to be driven from one side only by a TBM. The 4.8 m-inner diameter tunnel will be lined with precast concrete segments. The tunnel will supply water to the provincial cities of Pinglu, Shuozhou and Datong, located in water-deficient regions. This project will represent a substantial component for the further economic development of the region. The start date of the tunnel drive is middle of June 2006. Construction to end in February 2009. The project is part of the north main line of the Yellow River diversion project. The client is Shanxi Wanjiazhai Yellow River Diversion Corporation, based in Taiyuan. Visit www.alpine.at
The tunnel passes through sedimentary rock, such as sandstone, mudstone, limestone and through coal. The tunnel site is located next to the largest open pit coal mines in China. The overburden is up to 430 m high.
A Robbins hard rock double shield TBM will be used. The TBM is provided by the client and was already used at the south main line of the Yellow River diversion project. The segment moulds, used already at the south line, are also provided by the client. New moulds were purchased from Kawasaka Heavy Industries (Shenzhen City). Concrete rings of orthogonal segments. Mucking-out by locos and muck cars. Other underground structures include an underground cavern after 13 km for TBM refurbishment. The dimensions are 35 m x 11 m x 15 m. Visit www.robbinstbm.com
The south main line to Taiyuan was already completed some time ago. It was financed by the World Bank and Alpine Mayreder was involved in Lot I (1997-2001), including in particular two underground pump stations. Lots 2 and 3 were executed by Impregilo, CMC and the China Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering Bureau No 4 with four Robbins double shield TBMs. Click cn/15. 13/06.

18.5 km from Xilang to East Station to be commissioned June, 1999 at final cost of $US1.53 billion. April 1999.

Construction of 21.34 km-long section of Metro Line 2 commenced in July, 1998 for completion 2003 at a cost of $1.2 billion. Undergoing feasibility studies is Suburban LRT Line with a total length of 26 km. Contact Director, Guangzhou Preparatory Office of Underground Railroad, No 204 Huanshi Road, Guangzhou, China 510010. November 1999.

Work commenced on 23.3 km-long Line 2 with 22 stations at projected cost of $1.3 billion. Phase 1 being undertaken by Shanghai Tunnel Shareholding Company involves TBM boring 190 m-long connection under Pearl river from Haihu Square station site for completion in 2002. Project commissioning scheduled for 2004. May 2000.

First lot of present extension awarded to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (STEC) with two TBMs refurbished by Mitsubishi/Robbins with STEC, in China. Visit www.robbinstbm.com October 2000.

Fourth subway planned 17.7 km to Bazhou and fifth from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport 35.3 km to Guangzhou East Railway Station. To date, five stations on the second subway, Jiangxia 23.265 km to Bazhou, have been excavated. Detailed plans for third subway, from Guangzhou East Railway Station 32 km to Panyu District, have been submitted to the State Development Planning Commission. Visit www.xinhua.cn 15/01.

Construction of 8.55 km-long experimental section of third metro line, crossing Pearl River twice and with five stations, to start late-2001. 35.75 km-long third line from Guangzhou East Railway Station to Panyu District will be Y-shaped and have 18 stations. Completion is planned for 2007 at $1.92 billion. Visit www.xinhua.cn 24/01.

Government approval for line 3 with 18 stations over 35.75 km length. The main line will run from Guangzhou east railway station to the Fanyu Square with 13 stops. Extension line from Tianhe bus stop to East Tianhe Street will have five stops. Construction of 8.5 km-long experimental line to start end-2001. Visit www.xinhua.cn 32/01.

Robbins TBM completed 8.6 km headrace and moved onto second 11 km tunnel. May 1995.

Robbins model 105-144 drove 5.8 km of 6.2 km x 3 m internal diameter tunnel in volcanic tuff at 3,717 m elevation. Contractor Kunz experienced major crown fallouts at 5 km mark with ravelling ground and water. Some 1,200 cu m of material flowed into the TBM drive. Drill/blast relief heading from exit portal met struggling TBM after 400 m in May, 1990. See also Hall of Fame entry. October 1991.

11.4 km-long x 4.04 m-diameter segmentally-lined TBM tunnel underway by Brazilian contractor Odebrecht using Robbins TBM. More from scabrera@ec.odebrecht.com October 2000.

Odebrecht reports progress of more than 1 km/month by Robbins double-shielded TBM on 11.4 km-long x 3.5 m internal diameter tunnel lined with hexagonal steel-fibre reinforced segments. Best 24h daily advance 67.4 m; best 7-day week 400 m; best month September, 2000 with 1.505 km of lined tunnel. Assymetrical backup designed by Seli runs on its own track to one side of the tunnel, allowing forward access for trains along the parallel track. Completion expected by end-2000. Second 4.1 km-long tunnel will start February, 2001 for completion by June 2001. Owner is Centro de Rehabilitacion de Manabi, and designer a jv of Engevix/Acolit. More from daniloa@ec.odebrecht.com or visit www.robbinstbm.com October 2000.

Odebrecht reports breakthrough of 4.04 m-diameter Robbins double-shield TBM at La Esperanza-Poza Honda on 13th December, 2000. Final statistics: length 11.49 km; start boring 17th February, 2000; best day 67.43 m; best week 413.57 m; best month 1,568.59 m; average 39.05 m/day; TBM utilisation 36.9 %. Visit www.odebrecht.com and www.robbinstbm.com 04/01.

Odebrecht reports breakthrough of 4.5 km x 4.04 m-diameter Tunnel 3 by Robbins double-shielded TBM after 69 working days in soft, dry and homogeneous sedimentary rock at 65.86 m/day setting hexagonal precast concrete segmental lining with a 3.5 m i.d. TBM utilisation 50.8% with best 24 h advance 101.01 m, best 7-day week 535 m, best month 1,842 m. Visit www.odebrecht.com and www.robbinstbm.com 24/01.

Hydro
Hidroagoyan, Odebrecht and Ansaldo/Coemsa awarded 30-year BOT contract by Conelec for $302 million San Francisco run-of-river hydro scheme with 11.2 km-long headrace. Drill/blast to be used for 413 m at top end and 847 m at penstock end, from where Robbins 7 m-diameter TBM will drive remaining 9.8 km in granite and gneiss starting April, 2003. Visit www.odebrecht.br and www.robbinstbm.com 28/01.

Iceland
Kárahnjúkar - is/14
Hydro
Replacement for the abandoned Fljotsdalur project will utilise three dams with capacity of 8.5 million cu m of water which will feed underground powerhouse with maximum dimensions 90 m-long x 18 m-wide x 40 m-high through a 40 km-long x 7.5 m-diameter TBM-driven headrace tunnel and 500 m-high x 6 m-diameter penstock shaft. A 650 m-long access adit will be required for the powerhouse together with a 1.6 km-long x 8 m-wide tailrace tunnel. A 400 m-high x 5 m-diameter surge shaft, a 11 km-long x 6.5 m-diameter TBM-driven diversion tunnel and 12.7 km of 5 m-high drill/blast horseshoe section tunnels will also be required. Detailed design will take until 2002 with construction commencing 2003 for completion in 2006. Visit www.lv.is for the fuller picture. July 2000.

Invitation to prequalify, deadline 2nd October, 2001, for construction of 40 km-long Vatnjokull headrace and associated tunnels. Contact Landsvirkjun, fax +354 5159006. Visit www.lv.is 35/01.

Landsvirkjun, the national power company, has prequalified four candidates for the 39.8 km headrace tunnel that will carry water flow east from the Hálslón reservoir, then northeast under Fljótsdalsheiði to an underground power station at the uppermost reaches of Fljótsdalur valley. They are Impregilo; Balfour Beatty; a joint venture of NCC, Hochtief and Iceland Prime Contractor (IPC); and a joint venture of Skanska, Ístak, E. Pihl & Søn and Vinci.
The tunnel will head eastward to a juncture with a diversion tunnel from the Ufsarlón reservoir. From there, a single tunnel continues north-east to the Teigsbjarg escarpment. The tunnel between the Hálslón reservoir and the Teigsbjarg escarpment is 39.8 km-long, approximately 7 m in diameter and will be drilled using full-face TBMs (23.7 km) and drill/blast (16.1 km). The tunnel from the Ufsarlón reservoir totals 13.3 km (phase 2, component 2), is 5.5 m in diameter and will also be TBM-driven and blasted (9.9 km / 3.4 km). Access to the tunnel is via four adits, one at the Hálslón reservoir, one in the Glúmsstadadalur valley (2.8 km), one at river Axará (2.7 km) and one at the Teigsbjarg escarpment (1.4 km).
River Jökulsá á Dal will be diverted past the Kárahnjúkar dam site, using two underground diversion tunnels. Rivers Kelduá, Grjótá, Innri-Saudá, Ytri-Saudá, Fellsá and Sultarranaá will be diverted into the Ufsarlón reservoir through the Kelduárgöng tunnel (2 km-long, 4.5 m in diameter) and the Grjótá tunnel (1,750 m, 5 m in diameter). This is called the Hraun diversion (phase 2, component 4).
Also 1.7 km 4.5 m-diameter surge tunnel, to be drilled/blasted.
Geology will consist of basaltic formations. The tendering phase for the headrace tunnel will start on 29th November, 2002. Main contracts to be awarded in March 2003 for commissioning in 2007. The lead consultants are the Kárahnjúkar Engineering JV including VST Consultants, Almenna Consultants, Rafteikning Consultants - all Icelandic - Elektrowatt-Ekono of Switzerland and Montgomery Watson Harza of the US.
The powerhouse will be located underground and will be approximately 115 m-long, 14 m-wide and with a maximum height of 34 m. Tranformer room approximately 100 m-long, 13 m-wide and 16 m-high. Access to the powerhouse and to the transformer room will be through a blasted 800 m-long tunnel extending from the Fljótsdalur (Nordurdalur) valley. A separate 800 m-long 4 m-diameter cable tunnel will extend from the transformer room to the switchgear house. Drill/blast excavation. From the power station, the water will run via a 1.1 km-long 9 m-diameter tailrace tunnel, to be blasted, that opens into the Fljótsdalur valley. Visit www.karahnjukar.is 46/02.

Restricted procedure, deadline 9th December, 2002 for construction supervision of civil works. Lot KAR-66 is for a 54 km headrace tunnel, 5.5 m to 7.6 m in diameter, excavated by TBM and drill/blast. Lot KAR-67 is for two 400 m-long pressure shafts, an underground powerhouse, a 800 m-long access tunnel and a 1,100 m-long tailrace tunnel. Lot KAR-68 is for the Hraunaveita diversion which includes drill/blast tunnels. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=174364-2002, OJ S 219, or contact Landsvirkjun, Reykjavík, fax +354 5159006. 47/02.

State electricity producer Landsvirkjun opened bids for two construction projects, a dam and a headrace tunnel it had estimated to be worth around €590 million. Italian construction group Impregilo has been named lowest bidder. Impregilo offered to build the tunnel for about €285 million, 7% under the tender value. Balfour Beatty, in JV with E. Phil & Søn and Ístak, proposed €538 million and Eurohydro JV tendered about €419 million. Skanska, NCC and Vinci withdrew from the race prior to the opening of bids. A final decision on awarding the contracts will be made in January.
Icelandic Prime Contractor (IPC) and NCC just started blasting a 700 m access tunnel at Mt. Fremri from the west bank of river Jökulsá á Dal. The 6 m-high x 6 m-wide tunnel was not scheduled to start until 2003 but it has been decided to speed the project up to keep it within schedule. Completion is programmed for April 2003. Visit www.karahnjukar.is 51/02.

Icelandic power producer Landsvirkjun has announced it chose Italian construction group Impregilo to build the dam and tunnels worth ISK47 million for the hydropower plant due to provide energy for a 322,000 tonne aluminium smelter that Alcoa plans to build. Landsvirkjun is expected to sign final deals with both Impregilo and Alcoa regarding the power plant and aluminium smelter in March. Landsvirkjun accepted three tunnel drives instead of two and the construction of a wider tunnel for the Jökla river bypass at the dam site during the construction phase. It has been agreed to widen the headrace tunnel by 0.4 metre to 7.2-7.6 metres. Impregilo will undertake as an additional task the full-face drilling of the section of the diversion tunnel for river Jökulsá í Fljótsdal to the intake tunnel, involving a total of just under 10 km of the 14 km diversion tunnel. Work to commence in late March or early April. Drilling equipment will be delivered to Iceland end of 2003. Visit www.landsvirkjun.is, www.karahnjukar.is/en and www.impregilo.it 08/03.

Open call for bids, deadline 19th May, 2003 for civil works construction of an underground power station cavern (115 x 14 x 34 m), an access tunnel, pressure shafts, two 3.5 m-diameter 410 m-long pressure tunnels, a transformer chamber (103 x 13.5 x 16 m), a cable tunnel, and a tailrace tunnel. Project completion programmed for 1st November, 2007. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=040120-2003, OJ S 46, or contact Landsvirkjun, Reykjavik, fax +354 5159006. E-mail Th. Halldorsson Innkaup@lv.is. 11/03.
Open call for bids, deadline 19th May, 2003 for design, furnishing and installation of steel linings, butterfly valves and ultrasonic flow meters for distributors, pressure shafts, valve chambers and connected tunnels. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=040121-2003, OJ S 46, or contact Landsvirkjun, Reykjavik, fax +354 5159006. E-mail Th. Halldorsson Innkaup@lv.is. Visit www.landsvirkjun.is and www.karahnjukar.is 11/03.

Open call for bids, deadline 15th June, 2003 for construction supervision for the civil works of the underground power station, tunnels, pressure shafts and underground structures. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=076356-2003, OJ S 85, or contact Landsvirkjun, Reykjavik, fax +354 5159006. E-mail innkaup@lv.is 19/03.

The Káranjúkar underground power house (contract KAR-15) will be built by the Fosskraft JV including Hochtief, E. Pihl & Son of Denmark, and Icelandic contractors Ístak and Iceland Prime Contractors. The power house calls for the construction of a 7.5 x 7.2 m access tunnel, a 4 x 4 m cable tunnel, a 115 x 14 x 34 m power house cavern, a 103 x 13.5 x 16 m transformer cavern, two penstocks, each 410 m-long and 3.5 m in diameter, and a 9 x 9 m tailrace tunnel. Contract value: €36.7 million. Visit www.hochtief.de, www.pihl-as.dk and www.istak.is
A joint venture led by Mott MacDonald and comprising Línuhönnun, Fjarhitun and HNIT from Iceland plus European companies SWECO, Norconsult and Coyne et Bellier has been appointed by national power company Landsvirkjun to oversee construction of the 190 m-high concrete faced rockfill dam and 60 km of tunnels. The dam and tunnels are part of the Kárahnjúkar power station being built to supply energy to US company Alcoa's new aluminium smelter. As lead consultant, Mott MacDonald will direct the single integrated construction supervision team which will be created and based near the Vatnajökull glacier. Mott MacDonald will project manage all dam construction work and will provide specialist expertise for the 7.2-7.6 m-diameter tunnel, 33 km of which will be created using TBMs and the remaining 27 km using drill/blast techniques. It is anticipated that the dam will be completed in late 2006 and the tunnelling by the middle of 2008. Visit www.mottmac.com, www.coyne-et-bellier.fr, www.sweco.se and www.norconsult.no
Development of the Kárahnjúkar power station entails harnessing the glacial rivers Jökulsá á Dal and Jökulsá í Fljótsdal and creating the 57 sq km Hálslón water storage reservoir and the smaller Ufsarlón reservoir. From the Hálslón reservoir, water will be conveyed through an underground headrace tunnel eastward joining another tunnel from the Ufsarlón reservoir. The water will then be carried in a single tunnel north eastward to the Teigsbjarg escarpment, where it will drop through two steep penstocks to the underground power house. There the water will enter six generating units in the power house and then travel through a tailrace tunnel and canal into the course of the glacial river Jökulsá í Fljótsdal. The hydro power station will have an installed capacity of 690 MW, and a power generating capacity of 4460 GWh per year. The dam will be constructed in the Jökulsá á Dal river to create the Hálslón reservoir. Visit www.karahnjukar.is 39/03.

Open call for bids, deadline 4th May, 2004 for contract KAR-21, Ufsarveita Diversion. Excavation of the 3.4 km drill/blast section of the Jökulsá tunnel, 6 m in diameter, and construction of the Ufsarlón power intake and the intake canal. Also new road construction works and improvements to existing road. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=018352-2004, OJ S 21, or contact Landsvirkjun, Reykjavik, fax +354 5159006. E-mail innkaup@lv.is. Also visit www.landsvirkjun.is and www.karahnjukar.is 07/04.

Arnarfell won contract KAR-21 for ISK1.9 billion which includes the construction of the Ufsarveita diversion, consisting of a 3.4 km 6 m-diameter drill/blast section of the Jokulsá tunnel, the Ufsarlón power intake and intake canal and 13 km of road works. The largest tunnelling project of its kind ever undertaken solely by an Icelandic contractor, it will involve the movement and clearance of some 100,000 cu m of rock and soil. Visit www.karahnjukar.is and www.arnarfell.is 37/04.

Open call for tenders, deadline 24th January, 2006 for contract KAR-24 of the Kárahnjúkar hydroelectric project. This contract includes the construction of two diversion tunnels, each about 2 km long and 4.5 m wide, together with intake and outlet canals. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=212618-2005, OJ S 215, or contact Landsvirkjun, Reykjavik, fax +354 5159006. E-mail innkaup@lv.is. Also visit www.landsvirkjun.is 46/05.

Open call for bids, deadline 14th February, 2006 for contract KAR-67, construction supervision of the Ufsarstífla dam and the Hraunaveita diversion, including two drill-and-blast tunnels, each 2,000 m long and 4.5 m wide. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=248398-2005, OJ S 251, or contact Landsvirkjun, Reykjavik, fax +354 5159006. E-mail innkaup@lv.is 02/06.

India
Himachal Pradesh - in/19
Chamera
Hydro
TBM
Jaiprakash underway using Robbins 8.3 m hardrock TBM to bore headrace in quartzite and six Atlas Copco 352 and 353 drillrigs mining the chambers. Norconsult is involved as designer. October 1999.

Hindustan Construction Company has been awarded Stage III of the Chamera hydroelectric project by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). Stage III of the scheme is located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh on the banks of the river Ravi. The project comprises of a 68 m-high dam, an underground power house (3 units of 77 MW each), a 340 m-long 8.2 m-diameter horseshoe-shaped diversion tunnel, a 15.93 km-long 6.5 m-diameter concrete-lined headrace tunnel, a 18 m-diameter 110 m-high surge shaft, and two underground parallel desilting chambers (each 300 m x 13 m x 22 m in size). The project is valued at Rs5.05 billion and has a completion period of 60 months. Visit www.nhpcindia.com/english/press/uri2chamera3.htm and www.hccindia.com 46/05.

12.4 km second aqueduct being driven by 7.2 m Robbins variable frequency drive, single shield TBM in deformed Palaeozoic rocks including abrasive quartzite and compact green schist with UCS of 33 to 120 Mpa with fractures and faults. TBM equipped with back-loading 17 in wedge-block cutters; rotary segment erector for six-piece precast concrete lining; ZED guidance system and automatic thrust control and steering. April 1995.

9.8 km x 10 m-diameter tailrace being driven by Robbins TBM equipped with 68 x 432 mm front/back loading disc cutters suited to rock hardness to 200 MPa. Gneisses, quartzites, gabbros, amphibolites and granites expected with faults, blocky conditions and water inflows. Maximum cover 1,220 m. Contracting jv of Fletcher, Dillingham and Ilbau. Value US$ 85 million. TBM operations commenced mid-1998 with support generally comprising rockbolts, mesh and shotcrete. Dec 1998.

Robbins 10 m-diameter hardrock TBM with flat, narrow cutterhead driven by eleven 2-speed electric motors offering torques of 6,300 kNm at 5 rev/min and 9,500 kNm at 2.5 rev/min and total power of 3,500 kW. High-capacity three-axis type main bearing. Cutterhead dressed with 68 x 432 mm disc cutters rated at 267 kN which can be front or back loaded. Ring beam erector and equipment for grouting, roofbolting, spiling and drainage mounted on machine. Rates of up to 30 m/day reported with completion planned for October, 2000. May 1999.

During late August, 1999 the TBM passed the 3 km mark and intercepted and crossed the third major fault. Groundwater flows have remained constant at a total of 475 l/sec while water pressures in the probeholes ahead of the TBM are as high as 38 bar. All six permanent pumps have been installed in the dewatering complex and are available if needed. Visit www.robbinstbm.com for more information about the face machine. November 1999.

Aquatic Sciences Inc reports that has been awarded a challenging underwater tunnel inspection for Meridian Energy Limited, New Zealand at Manapouri. An underwater remotely operated vehicle will conduct an internal sonar and video inspection of the existing 9.8 km tailrace tunnel to survey structural conditions. The shutdown period for the inspection procedure to 48 hours, and no dewatering is necessary. The ROV is tethered by a sophisticated umbilical that transmits sonar and video data real-time to the surface via fibre optic telemetry.

ASI has completed continuous surveys of 10 km from a single access point using this robotic system, including inspections of a 120 km water supply tunnel in Finland. More from www.aquaticsciences.com March 2000.

Breakthrough reported on 4.3 km-long Chimay drive by 5.7 m-diameter Robbins TBM in ten months at rates of up to 190 m/week. Several areas of weak rock were encountered. Drill/blast drives also completed earlier this year. Visit www.robbinstbm.com May 2000.

Robbins has announced the delivery of a 4.1 m-diameter Mk 12 TBM with single-track backup system and 4,500 m conveyor to Skanska/Cosapi/Chizaki to bore two 4.5 km reaches of the 15 km-long headrace tunnel. The 360 t/h conveyor system and 150 m belt storage cassette will be moved forward to an adit to be excavated at the halfway mark. A second 3.5 m TBM owned by Skanska will complete the headrace drive. Yuncan will have a capacity of 130 MW. More from www.robbinstbm.com March 2000.

First 6.7 km TBM drive to commence in July. Total length of tunnels will be 26 km at a cost of $117 million, and overall cost of the project is estimated to exceed $300 million. More from www.skanska.com May 2000.

Skanska/Cosapi/Chizaki to start TBM boring of first 6.7 km-long, 4.1 m-diameter tunnel in July, 2000. Complete project requires 26 km of tunnels which include 9.5 km bored at 3.5 m-diameter and many drill/blast sections. Value of tunnels is $117 million and project total is $304 million. Visit www.skanska.se May 2000.

Philippines

Manila - ph/17
Water Diversion
Breakthrough by Robbins double-shielded TBM reported on 13 km-long, 4.9 m-diameter segmentally lined tunnel to complete connection between Umiray river and Angat reservoir to provide additional 30 % water supply for Manila. Contractor is Italian jv of GLF and Seli, with Angeles Construction Corporation. Visit www.robbinstbm.com May 2000.

Spain

Bilbao - es/12

Sewers

Some 6 km required: 3 km pipejacked at 1.5 m and 1.2 m internal diameter from Lamiako to University awarded to Ferrovial; and 2.3 km at 3.6 m outside diameter to be bored by Robbins TBM through hard rock from 15 m-diameter shaft by jv of ACS, Obras Subterraneas and Sycasa commencing in mid-1999. February 1999.

Open tendering, deadline 6th March, 2002 for the construction of a 3,750 m interceptor sewer in landfill and rock. A 1.2 m-diameter shield boring machine will be used on 50% of the length, traditional means on 10% and open cut on 40 %. Mechanised tunnelling with pipejacking. Tender value of €12.1 million. Commissioning in December, 2004. Engineering consultancy Saitec designed the project. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/ojs/en/frame.htm, OJ S 14, document 10573-2002 or contact Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia, Bilbao, fax +34 944873110. 08/02.

Open tendering, deadline 6th March, 2002 for the construction of a 2,300 m tunnel to divert the Elguera stream. Outer diameter of 3.60 m and inner diameter of 3 m. A TBM will be used. Shales, marls and limestone. Support with rockbolts, shotcrete, mesh and TH16 steel arches. Tender value of €10 million. Award in June, 2002. Works start in July, 2002 for completion in November, 2004. Engineering consultancy Tecnoconsult designed the project. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/ojs/en/frame.htm, OJ S 14, document 10574-2002 or contact Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia, Bilbao, fax +34 944873110. 09/02.

Award to a jv of Tecsa and Cavosa of a €9.5 million contract to build the 3,750 m Udondo-Erandio interceptor. 39/02.
Necso has secured the construction of the 2.3 km tunnel to divert the Elguera stream for €8.1 million. 39/02.

Open call for bids, deadline 27th October, 2003 for construction of the Nervion interceptor, section San Miguel-Arriaga-Miraballes. There are four pipejacked sections in rock, total length around 1.5 km, inner diameter 1,600 mm, with two crossings under river Nervión. A microtunnelling machine will be used. Depth: 16 to 18 m. Tender value: €10.5 million. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=157717-2003, OJ S 174, or contact Consorcio de Aguas de Bilbao Bizkaia, Bilbao, fax +34 944873110. 38/03.

Ferrovial-Agroman has secured a EUR7.7million contract to build the Nervion interceptor, section San Miguel-Arriaga-Miraballes, including four pipejacked sections in rock, total length around 1.5 km, inner diameter 1,600 mm, with two crossings under river Nervion. A microtunnelling machine will be used at a depth of 16-18 m. Visit www.ferrovial.es 15/04.

Open call for bids, deadline 7th April, 2006 for construction of the Ugarte-Kareaga sewer, consisting of a microtunnel of 1.1 km approximately, to be built using a 1,200 mm closed face microtunnelling machine and reinforced concrete jacked pipes, trenches and secondary works. The tender estimate is EUR11.1 million, whereof about EUR7 million for the microtunnel. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=035935-2006, OJ S 33, or contact Consorcio de Aguas, Bilbao, fax +34 944873110. Also visit www.consorciodeaguas.com 10/06.

Theiler & Kalbermatten boring 3.5 km pilot using refurbished Robbins TBM. May 1998.

Invitation to tender for 3.2 km x 5 m-diameter pilot drive for proposed bypass tunnel. August 1999.

Pilot drive for N8 highway tunnel under excavation by jv of Batigroup/Frutiger/Bilfinger & Berger using Robbins 4.75 m-diameter TBM refurbished at Robbins' new Cesate plant in Italy, and supplied with backup and continuous conveyor. Visit www.bilfingerberger.de and www.robbinstbm.com October 2000.

Open tender, deadline 12^th November, 1999 for construction of 2.5 km tunnel on N4 highway. Fax +41 418752610. Sept 1999.

Contract awarded to joint venture of Zschokke/Locher/Murer/CSC/Rothpletz & Reinhard who will utilise Robbins Herrenknecht TBM ex Bozberg and Murgenthal. Segmentally lined, single tube for bi-directional traffic will commence boring Summer, 2000. TBM has been cleaned and overhauled and is stored near Murgenthal ready for reassembly at site. Visit www.murer.ch April 2000.

Motorway
$75 million third 1.39 km-long three-lane tube with 143 sq m cross-section awarded to jv of Petsch, Ghelma, Baresel, and Hinteregger to be constructed using two roadheaders in sandstone, clay, silts and marl. Rockbolts, steel arches and shotcrete support. Preconsolidation carried out from 3.5 m-diameter x 320 m-long TBM exploratory drive which will now be extended by 700 m using 3.2 m Robbins TBM. Expected geological conditions poor, but construction should be complete for August 2003. Engineering by Gahler & Partner, www.gpag.ch Visit www.robbinstbm.com November 2000.

Taiwan
Wu-Chien - tw/15
Hydropower
Kumagai-Gumi to use 6.2 m-diameter Robbins TBM ex-Hong Kong Quarry Bay congestion relief works. Visit www.robbinstbm.com May 2000.

Breakthrough reported on 7th June, 2002 on a 6.5 km water tunnel, 6.2 m in diameter, for a hydroelectric project. Client is Taiwan Power. Contractors are New Asia and Kumagai Gumi. Excavation with a Robbins TBM. Support with steel rings, mesh and shotcrete. Geology consisted in sandstone and laminated mudstone. Construction started in April 2000. Stripping out of the TBM is underway, setting up of the concrete shuttering. Completion expected in 18 months. Cost of NT$ 12.4 billion. Visit www.taipower.com.tw and www.robbinstbm.com 27/02.

Kenny/Kiewit/Shea sinking 9.1 m x 94 m-deep working shaft and 10.6 m x 97 m-deep gate shaft and will commence 10.4 km tunnel in April, 1999 using 8.32 m Robbins TBM upsized and modified from recently-completed Des Plaines project. 2.5 km x 4.57 m second tunnel will be started later. Completion November, 2002. All part of the ongoing TARP megaproject. March 1999.

10.5 km mainline drive north underway by Kenny/Kiewit/Shea using 8.7 m-diameter refurbished Robbins hardrock TBM. Second 5.7 m-diameter Robbins working on two 1.27 km spurs, and three Lovat TBMs will be employed later. Sept 1999.

8.7 m Robbins breaking records, having achieved a best month of 1.6 km and best day of 97 m. All rock is being sold from surface plant. Second Robbins underway and first of three Lovat TBMs will start in early-2000. November 1999.

Groundbreaking ceremony took place in Calumet City for the Little Calumet Leg, a 7.9 mile (12.7 km) tunnel, 15 feet (4.6 m) in diameter, which is the last leg of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) or Deep Tunnel involving more than 100 miles of tunnels. Tunnel construction is to end in March 2006. Construction of TARP began in 1976. The cost of the 93 miles (150 km) of tunnel completed so far has been about $2 billion. Two reservoirs to hold billions of gallons of storm water and raw sewage still need to be built. The entire project is expected to be operational in 2014. Visit www.mwrdgc.dst.il.us/plants/tarp.htm and www.epa.gov/25water/tarp 25/02.

The Jay Dee/Affholder JV started tunnelling in mid-February on the final tunnel segment of the District's Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) after months of preparatory work including the excavation of a 10.4 m-diameter 60 m-deep shaft to the tunnel level. This 12.7 km (7.9 mile) tunnel, known as the Little Calumet Leg, serves a 38.6 sq km (14.9 sq mile) area of southern Cook County preventing Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) from spilling into the Little Calumet River. The tunnel will be driven through limestone at a depth of approximately 46 to 91 m (150 to 300 feet) below ground through the use of a Robbins TBM. Electric motors on the TBM turn a 5,537 mm (18' 2") diameter cutting head that is steered and thrust forward by hydraulic cylinders to cut through the rock. The excavated rock is brought to the surface via conveyor belts. The $168.7 million contract was awarded in January 2002 and is scheduled for completion in March 2006. Upon completion of this segment, the TARP system will consist of a total of 176 km (109.4 miles) of tunnels. Visit www.mwrdgc.dst.il.us/default.html and www.robbinstbm.com 11/03.

The Robbins Company reports record progress by Affholder on the 12.8 km-long Little Calumet leg of Chicago's 175 km-long TARP project. Their 5.56 m-diameter TBM is driving the CSO tunnel in two sections from a 60 m-deep central launch shaft through limestone with a compressive strength of 83-96 Mpa. The Robbins TBM Model 1410-251-2 has seven 450 hp (335.6 kW) motors driving the cutter head, which is fitted with 39 wedgelock 19 in (483 mm) cutters. Best advances: 45.75 m/8h shift; 116.7 m/day; and 474.7 m/week. Most rock excavated in 24 h is 2,836.55 cu m. Robbins supplied the TBM, back up, extensible main conveyor, vertical shaft conveyor, surface conveyor, and stacker. More from robyj@robbinstbm.com or visit www.robbinstbm.com 22/03.

Shea/Traylor/Healy well into contract 2 with 8.3 km of total 19 km of 4.93 m-diameter drive completed using Robbins TBM with CTS backup and now gearing up for contract 3A which involves another 1.34 km using roadheader and TBM. Obayashi/Modern Continental meanwhile have completed over 3.4 km of contract 6054 which comprises 7.82 km of 5 m-diameter rockbolted drive using a CTS TBM. Some 1.2 km was in hard, abrasive rock which necessitated cutter changes at a rate of one every 1.5 m of advance. March 1999.

Contract 242 by Shea/Traylor/Healy has completed 8.75 km drive west to break into shaft constructed by adjacent contractor Obayashi/Modern Continental under separate contract. The latter have advanced 5.9 km using 5.25 m-diameter CTS TBM with 2.26 km to complete. Shea/Traylor/Healy now halfway through their 11 km drive west while also mining 1.4 km TBM/roadheader drive under contract CP3A. Sept 1999.

Obayashi/Modern Continental reports mining in difficult ground through a fault zone on contract 6054 with 6.4 km of the total 8.15 km completed. Grouting with steel sets and wire mesh lagging. November 1999.

At 31st October, 2001, work was well underway on the 28.6 km MetroWest water supply tunnel (MWWST). The 7.9 km western tunnel segment CP-1 from Shaft E in Southborough to the 62.8 m-deep Shaft D in Marlborough was 79% completed by the Obayashi/Modern Continental jv using a TBM. The contractor completed the excavation of the tunnel in July, 2000. From Shaft D, the MWWST will connect to the Walnut Hill water treatment plant and to the existing Cosgrove tunnel. Tunnel concrete lining operation began in December, 2000 and by end-October 2001, over 4.1 km of the tunnel has been lined which represents a 53% completion. Over the next few months, the contractor will carry on with the tunnel lining and the grouting operations in the lined section. Work on the CP-1 segment is about seven days behind schedule. Completion is expected for April, 2003. Contract value is $149.7 million. Visit www.obayashi.co.jp and www.moderncontinental.com
The 19.1 km middle tunnel segment CP-2 in Southborough, Framingham, Wayland and Weston was 84% completed by a jv of Shea, Traylor Bros., and Healy. It was tunnelled in two directions using two TBMs from the 123.7 m-deep Shaft L. The 8.5 km west heading tunnel was completed in July, 1999 with 1,280 metres lined with concrete on 31st October, 2001. The 10.6 km east heading tunnel was bored under Dudley Pond in Wayland and past the interconnections at Shafts NE and NW in Weston continues eastward to the eastern tunnel segment. It was completed in May, 2000. The contractor has currently lined 7 km, 66% complete. The raise boring excavation of Shaft NE, 4 m in diameter x 131 m-deep, was completed on 19th November, 2001. It is the last shaft on the MWWST project. Work on the CP-2 segment is on schedule for completion in April, 2003. Contract value is $254.5 million. Visit www.traylor.com and www.sahealy.com
The 1.4 km eastern tunnel segment CP-3A connects the CP-2 segment with Shaft 5A, at the east end of the system, where it will connect to the existing Boston city tunnel to the south and with the 96 m-deep Shaft W and storage tanks to the north. Excavation of the tunnel was completed at spring 2000 by the same jv as CP-2. Concrete lining ended in February, 2001. Since then, 670 metres of 3.05-3.7 m pipes to connect Shaft 5A to the city tunnel is in progress. This contract will be completed in July, 2002. Value is $56.9 million. Visit www.mwra.state.ma.us/water/html/metrow.htm for a full project overview. 03/02.

Part of the No 3 water tunnel scheme that involves excavation of 93 km of deep tunnels. Grow/Perini/Skanska completing final 1,500 m of this 7.9 km x 7.06 m-diameter drive in extremely hard granite and gneiss up to 275 MPa with igneous intrusions and abrasivity in the range 3.3 to 4.3 on the Cherchar abrasivity index. Robbins HP TBM 235-282 giving around 1.8 m/h advance in this rock, but frequent cutter changes distort the overall performance. March 1999.

De Neef reports success by Perini, Grow, Kiewit jv using polyurethane chemical grout injection to stem 200 gpm inflows which trapped TBM. Large diameter holes were drilled and equipped with 1.8 m-long mechanical downhole packers to facilitate stage grouting using Hydro-Active Cut with a high dose of accelerator. More details from www.deneef.com February 2000.

Prequalification underway for construction of 1.93 km-long, 2.23 – 3.5 m finished diameter South Mountain Water Transmission Tunnel. Inner lining will comprise 1.27 m-diameter pipe backgrouted into place. Contact City of Phoenix. March 2000.

Prequalification packages are being accepted by the City of Phoenix, Arizona for the construction of the 1.93 km-long South Mountain water transmission tunnel at 2.23 m to 3.5 m finished diameter with a 1.27 m-diameter pipe grouted in place. Bids due this Spring. February 2000.

Awarded to Modern/Continental, value $73 million for completion May, 2002 comprising three shafts, 700 m of 10 sq m drill/blast tunnel and 3.8 km drive using Wirth 4.13 m TBM from 73 m-deep Weymouth shaft to Nut Island to connect with existing tunnel from Deere Island. All in hard rock with some faulting. Shaftsinking underway with TBM drive scheduled to start late-summer, 2000. Visit www.wirth-drilling.com for details of the TBM. November 1999.

Award to Affholder/Barnard jv of 4.26 km of 3.2 m tunnel to accommodate 1.27 m-diameter water line. Robbins 91-155 TBM will commence in New Year on first section 1.06 km upgrade at 3.4 % followed by 3.2 km at 1.04 %. Machine currently under refurbishment by Affholder. November 1999.

Modern Continental underway from 67 m-deep King's Cove shaft on 3.6 km-long x 4 m-diameter Braintree-Weymouth sewer using double-shielded Wirth hardrock TBM in argillite for completion March, 2002. Also mining 668 m-long x 3 m x 3 m drill/blast connection under Fore river to Quincy. Visit www.mwra.com and www.wirth-europe.com 30/01.

Prequalification completed for $130 million tunnel in granite, 15.8 km-long with 5.1 m finished diameter at depths of 38 m to 112 m together with associated shafts. Bid opening January, 27^th 2000. Contact Wayne Price at Jordan, Jones & Golding, e-mail wprice@jjg.com November 1999.

Prequalified joint ventures include Obayashi/Atkinson, Kiewit/Healy, Kenny/Frontier, and Shea/Traylor. Plans and specifications will be issued and bids taken this Spring. March 2000.

Chattahoochee job awarded to low bidder Kiewit/Healy. Robbins will supply two 6 m-diameter TBMs together with cutters, backup, tunnel conveyors, and shaft conveyor under a partnering agreement with contractor. Visit www.robbinstbm.com May 2000.

Contract awarded by Northeast Regional Sewer District to KM&M/Kenny jv for 4.1 km-long, 6.36 m finished diameter TBM tunnel with cast-in-place concrete lining together with shafts, drop structures and 500 m of exploratory drive. Completion time 4 years. November 1999.

Robbins 235-280 TBM ex-Morocco will be used for $51.5 million Mill Creek drive in Chagrin shale at depths of up to 80 m. Machine is presently at Robbins' Solon, OH workshops for major conversion from single shield to double shield and upgrade with addition of a ring beam erector for the proposed rib and lagging primary support. Robbins will also provide new TBM gantry back-up, 900 mm-wide tunnel conveyor, and vertical shaft conveyor. Design by Montgomery Watson with Parsons Brinckerhoff, Dawn Engineering and URS. Visit www.robbinstbm.com and www.urscorp.com June 2000.

KM&M/Kenny will install ring beam primary support with meshed crown and timber-lagged invert in 100 Mpa shales, followed by CIP reinforced concrete, internal diameter 6.09 m. Robbins Model 234-280 TBM under refurbishment at Solon will be supplied with backup system, and horizontal and vertical conveyors. Start date late-November, 2000. Visit www.robbinstbm.com October 2000.

Ute Water Conservancy District has awarded a $14.1 million contract for a 4 km-long, 3.18 m-diameter tunnel in sandstone and siltstone to a jv of Affholder and Barnard Construction. Affholder will use a Robbins hardrock TBM on a 20-month programme commencing April, 2000. January 2000.

Contractor reports two sections of tunnel required, lengths 3.1 km and 1 km. Geology is sandstone up to 25,000 psi, shales and siltstones to be supported by rockbolts, wire mesh, and shotcrete. TBM upgraded by Robbins with new main bearing and cutterhead. Tunnel designed by Lachel & Associates of Denver, CO for GEI Consultants of Englewood, CO. More information from www.robbinstbm.com May 2000.

Robbins reports major upgrade of Affholder TBM to cope with harder 25,000 psi ground. Modifications include new water-cooled motors to increase power from 500 hp to 800 hp, larger diameter gripper rams, and new main bearing and cutterhead. Tunnel designer is Lachel & Associates led by GEI Consultants of Englewood, CA. Visit www.lachel.com and www.robbinstbm.com June 2000.

Second Plateau Creek tunnel 3.05 km-long in sandstone will be holed through by Affholder using modified 3 m-diameter Robbins Model 91-155 TBM on March 16th, 2001. See Recordbreakers (Hall of Fame) for details of first drive. Visit www.robbinstbm.com 11/01.

Holethrough of 3.18 m-diameter Robbins TBM reported by Affholder 16th March, 2001 at $58 million, 3.15 km-long Plateau Creek Lower Canyon tunnel in sandstone and shale east of Grand Junction, CO. Maximum advance 69.7 m in a single 12 h shift claimed as a world record for this diameter tunnel in hard rock. Visit www.geiconsultants.com and www.robbinstbm.com 16/01.

United States
Illinois - us/59
Water Intake
Mobilisation underway by Kenny Construction on $37.2 million contract for 5.2 km-long, 3 m lined diameter Borman Park intake tunnel using 3.8 m-diameter Robbins TBM in dolomite of UCS to 24,000 psi. Project includes 58.5 m-deep x 2.6 m-diameter submerged intake shaft and 72.6 m-deep pump shaft with upper 41 m at 9.8 m-diameter caisson and lower 31.5 m as 7.9 m-diameter concrete lined shaft. Completion February, 2003. Visit www.harza.com and www.robbinstbm.com 17/01