Articles By Subject: Other Tunelling Methods
Air your views on concrete sustainability
In the wake of the recent article on concrete sustainability in the September issue, (print and on-line), readers of World Tunnelling now have the opportunity to express their views on concrete sustainability.Atkins to acquire top US builder
Infrastructure designer,enabler and planner W S Atkins has announced it is to acquire PBSJ Corporation, a leading provider of architectural, planning, engineering and construction services in the US.New CFO for Parsons Brinckerhoff
Parsons Brinckerhoff has announced that John Murphy has been appointed chief financial officer, and will be responsible for the firm’s global financial and accounting operations.CALTRANS starts fourth bore of Caldecott tunnel
The California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) has commenced tunnelling works on the fourth bore of the Caldecott road-tunnel project on Highway 24.Tunnel Alerts
Tunnel Alerts is a new feature that aims to bring you breaking news of tunnel contracts globally.Brisbane Airport pour
Swiss-based Ceresola has announced that two of the eight tunnel formwork units it will eventually supply have been used to pour the first sections on Brisbane’s Airport Link in Australia
Workloads looking mostly healthy
George Demetri asks tunnel consultancies about workload, the economic downturn, recruitment and growth
Safer subterranean Singapore
LJ Pakianathan (Mott MacDonald Singapore), S McChesney (Land Transport Authority) and M Mannot-Russell (CH2M) report on recent safety legislation in SingaporeFibre-rich tunnel
Benoit de Rivaz reports on the steel-fibre technology used in a high-stress access tunnel on a major rail lineLaing O'Rourke/Bachy Soletanche JV win
Joint venture Laing O’Rourke/Bachy Soletanche has scooped a US$152 million contract for the construction of approach tunnels at West Kowloon station in Hong KongThe rail revival
The resurgence of the long-tunnel market is bringing new life to the rail-mounted equipment sector. John Hooper of GIA explainsLeighton India wins tunnel
Leighton India has been awarded a contract to build and operate what has been hailed as one of the longest road tunnels in AsiaArrowhead tunnels recognised in awards
California’s Arrowhead Tunnel system has been named the 2009 Pipeline Project of the Year by the Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators AssociationSECBE briefing targets growth in Libya
Doing business in Libya can be challenging, but the country’s huge infrastructural development potential far outweighs any local difficultiesKnights on the move
Martin Knights, immediate past president of the ITA, has been appointed global director of tunnelling at UK-based consulting firm Halcrow, which he joined on June 15.Brisbane breakthrough
A 135t roadheader has achieved breakthrough on the A$4.8 billion (US$4.2 billion) Airport Link project in Brisbane, Australia
New appointment at Normet
Normet International has announced that Dr Roar Myrdal (right) has been appointed “technical director, chemicals, mining and tunnelling”NSW government unveils infrastructure masterplan
The Government of New South Wales in Australia is to invest US$5.9 billion in transport infrastructure from its 2010-11 budget, as part of an overall 10-year, US$42.5 billion Metropolitan Transport PlanBouygues wins HK tunnel contract
Dragages Hong Kong, subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, has signed a US$446 million contract for the construction of two parallel, single-track tunnels, each 3.5km long, in Hong Kong.
Better, not bigger, is better
Randall J Essex is executive vice-president and director of tunnelling at Hatch Mott MacDonald in Maryland, US. He talked to George Demetri about his career, recruitment and the thorny issue of risk
Plenty of work, plenty to come?
Vancouver provided the dramatic venue for the 2010 World Tunnel Congress. George Demetri reports on some of the developments
Work begins on Doha airport station
Mott MacDonald’s design role on the New Doha International Airport Terminal metro station has come to fruition as construction started on the first underground metro station in Qatar
A career rich in variety
Toronto-based Boro Lukajic has contributed extensively to both Canadian and international tunnelling. He was president of the Tunnelling Association of Canada from 1993-98
All booked up
The North American Tunnelling 2010 (NAT) conference and exhibition arrives in Portland, US, on June 20-23. WT looks at some of the exhibitorsRETC 2011 call for papers
A call for papers has been issued by the committee organising RETC 2011 (the Rapid Excavation and Tunnelling Conference), which will be held in San Francisco, US on June 19-22.PB appoints new chairman
Richard A. Schrader has been appointed chairman of engineering consultancy provider Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB).Seattle light rail tunnel boosted by local council
Seattle's Bellevue City Council has committed US$150 million dollars for the construction of a light rail tunnel through the downtown areas of the city.SME searches for online authors
SME has invited practising professionals and others involved in tunnelling and mining to become online technical authors for its courses.
Blast-driving Ceneri tunnels begins while Gothard work continues
Blasting work to drive the main Ceneri Base Tunnel (CBT) began recently with a ceremonial first blast in the installations cavern at Sigirino.
Lunar tech to revolutionise tunnel navigation?
A new positioning and locating system to be launched in the autumn, devised primarily for mining, could revolutionise tunnel navigation, whether operators are using TBM or drill and blast.Charles Machine Works acquires Earth Tool Co
The Charles Machine Works, maker of Ditch Witch underground equipment, has confirmed its 100% acquisition of HammerHead Trenchless Equipment.
Infrastructure Award for Kings Cross
The Northern Ticket Hall at King’s Cross St Pancras Underground Station was awarded the Institution of Civil Engineering’s London Infrastructure Award at a ceremony held in LondonGIA engaged on Hong Kong tunnel
Work has started on Hong Kong’s West Drainage Tunnel to avoid flooding; helping the effort are three GIA Häggloaders and three locomotives.New board appointments at Halcrow
Three new board appointments have been announced by Halcrow non-executive chairman Tony Pryor.Tunnel boom in Toronto
Brian Garrod gives a rundown of the diverse range of tunnels currently planned or under construction in Greater Toronto.
WTC on track again
The annual World Tunnel Congress (WTC) opens its doors this year in Vancouver, Canada, on May 14-20. Here follows a selection of the companies exhibitingNormet buys 40% of chemical maker TAM
Normet Group has announced that it has acquired 40% of chemicals manufacturer and supplier TAM International.It's show time
Major tunnelling conferences are being scheduled far too close to each other. Why is this happening?
New tunnel books published
Publisher CRC Press Balkema (Taylor & Francis Group) has recently added two new books to its tunnelling and underground construction series of titles.
World Tunnelling Online
In its quest to bring readers the latest news in a faster and more direct format, World Tunnelling has started a newsletter called World Tunnelling Online (WTO) that is being emailed directly to all subscribers.
ITA president to step down as WTC and NAT gear up for success
As Martin Knights prepares to step down as ITA president, three contenders vie for the coveted post.
Flatiron scoops project award
Construction and civil engineering contractor, Flatiron has been honoured for its work on the Lenihan Dam Outlet Modifications project in Los Gatos, California.
Tunnelling academy gets funding boost
The UK Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has given approval to £5 million funding for a Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy in Ilford, LondonTunnel technology partnership to help Rio Tinto improve mine construction
Rio Tinto has teamed up with three tunnelling firms to help it develop equipment and systems for deep underground mining.What, where, when, why and who?
It's good to get feedback from readers, so I was heartened to hear from an eminent and well-known tunnelling author (see p10-11), responding to a point from the last roundtable.Bilfinger Cologne disaster investigation
Bilfinger Berger has said that no clear reasons have emerged as yet to explain the fatal collapse in March last year of Cologne’s historic archive.'Challenges for German tunnelling'
Tunnel construction in Germany will face major challenges in 2010, according to STUVA chairman and board member Edgar Schömig.Ideas sought for Severn crossing
A UK ideas competition has been launched for designs for a third crossing across the River Severn in Avon, England.Crossrail expressions of interest invited
Expressions of interest have been invited for the third and final running tunnel contract for Crossrail.
Halcrow wins ‘milestone’ Hong Kong tunnel job
UK-based infrastructure designer Halcrow has announced that it has won the detailed design for a ‘milestone’ tunnel project in Hong Kong.
Where are we with slurries?
Barry L Sorteberg, president of Clean Slurry Technologies, looks at the current state of play in slurry technologies
Your ITA needs you
The recent WT Roundtable raised serious questions about the function of the International Tunnelling Association (ITA). Here is an edited transcript of the debate
From the ground down
Innovative and patented ground-consolidation technologies were used for a series of structural and waterproofing measures on this tunnel project in Austria
The big fair with the best ware
With Bauma just around the corner on April 19-25 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre in Munich, Germany, we take a look at selected exhibitors from the tunnelling sector
Free as a bird
A geologist and civil engineer by training, Boston area-based geoconsultant Dr Peter J Tarkoy is a controversial and self-styled visionary in the tunnelling industry. He talks to George DemetriPositive start for Normet
Normet has announced a promising start to 2010 with a capacity expansion in Finland, a new spare-parts centre in Holland and a big order from Hong Kong
New appointment at Normet
Normet International has appointed Odd-Bjørn Kleven as director of tunnelling and special projects, a position which he has already taken up.UK tunnel/shaft lining spec nears
British Precast, the trade body for the UK concrete products industry, has started preparing a new specification for precast tunnel and shaft linings.New blood needed
WT's roundtable event held in Hamburg in November threw up some interesting questions, one of which was how to attract young new recruits into the industry.
Master of all he surveys
For more than a decade, Manfred Messing has headed-up tunnel guidance and surveying instrumentation company VMT. He talks to George Demetri
Safeguarding workers in the line of fire
Haukur Ingason and Anders Lönnermark (SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden), Håkan Frantzich (Lund University) and Mia Kumm (Mälardalen University) look at fire considerations during tunnel construction and some current research
World Tunnelling Industry Leaders' Round Table
Welcome to the second World Tunnelling roundtable. We invited some of the top minds in international tunnelling from engineering consultancy, contractors and equipment manufacturers to meet last year in Hamburg on November 30 – the eve of STUVA – to discuss some of the most talked about issues in tunnelling. It turned out to be a memorable discussion.China set for summit
The 4th China Tunnel Summit will take place at the Radisson Hotel Shanghai Hong Quan in Shanghai, China, on March 18-19, 2010.New CEO at Parsons Brinckerhoff
Parsons Brinckerhoff has appointed George J Pierson as chief executive officer, effective on January 1, 2010. He is currently president and COO of the firm’s Americas division, and succeeds Keith J Hawksworth, who becomes chairmanA man for all seasons
San Francisco-based Dr Glenn Boyce, senior associate at Jacobs Associates, is one of few engineers to specialise in tunnelling and trenchlesss. By George DemetriDredging under way on second Tyne Tunnel
A recent arrival on the River Tyne in northeast England, the cutter suction dredger ‘Vesalius’, has begun dredging the river in preparation for the placement of the immersed concrete tubes that will constitute the under-river section of the second Tyne TunnelPromat receives M25 tunnel fire protection order
Promat, a UK-based manufacturer of passive fire-protection products, has received an order to supply its spray-applied system for a tunnel upgrade on London’s M25 orbital motorwaySTUVA bangs the drum for safe tunnelling
STUVA organisers have expressed satisfaction at the success of their recent tunnelling event in Hamburg, Germany, on 1-3 DecemberLaserShell paper wins engineer award
A UK-based engineering manager working for infrastructure provider Morgan Est has won a prestigious prize for a paper he wrote on LaserShell, the sprayed-concrete lining methodAnother year, another roundtable
Many of you will recall that in January we ran the proceedings of the first World Tunnelling Industry Leaders’ Roundtable, which was held in Sargans, Switzerland, in September 2008. The publication proved a great success – popular with readers and participants alike. Indeed, given the positive feedback received, we have now established the Roundtable as an annual eventNormet establishes Canadian base
Normet, the Finland-based manufacturer of underground construction and mining equipment, has announced the formation of Normet Canada, the 15th country in which the company has gained a permanent presence
Keeping Kentucky clean
Jack Burke looks at a sewage tunnel project in Kentucky, US, designed to improve local water quality and increase storage capacityChinese infrastructure spend aids growth
Anyone doubting the beneficial effect of good ol’ government stimulus spending à la Keynes should take a look at the Chinese economyMorganEst sacks half its tunnelling division
As delays on infrastructure projects and cutbacks begin to bite further in the UK, it was revealed in London last month that around 45 tunnelling staff from infrastructure provider MorganEst have been laid off
Carry on tunnelling
Scandinavia is one of the world’s busiest tunnelling regions. George Demetri takes a look at some of the work in progressCountdown to immersion
Mikko Inkala (Pöyry Infra Oy) and Ilkka Vähäaho (City of Helsinki – Geotechnics) discuss the preparatory design work for the construction of an immersed-tube tunnel near the heart of the Finnish capital
World's biggest tunnel project ends
Imagine cities without cars, where carcinogenic dust and noise are confined to below ground and city parks form the refreshing, clean oases that they are meant to beSkanska secures Slovak tunnel job
Skanska has announced that it has won a US$78 million contract to construct a tunnel that will form part of a major rail expansion in Slovakia.Conference focuses on tunnel fire safety
The first annual Fire Protection and Safety in Tunnels conference will take place in Paris on November 17-18.Civils 2009 ready to roll
On November 25-26, Earls Court 2 in London, UK, opens its doors for the Civils show, hailed as the UK’s definitive civil engineering showcase comprising manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and consultants from all areas of the industry.Meyco in Sandvik global team-up
Meyco Equipment, a division of BASF Construction Chemicals, has signed an agreement with Sandvik Mining and Construction regarding a global cooperation on sprayed concrete equipment in the tunnelling and mining sectors.More education please - CSM-style
Three days at the Colorado School of Mines have impressed George Demetri.STUVA gears up for Christmas event
STUVA, the bi-annual tunnelling and underground construction conference, will this year be held at the Congress Centre in Hamburg, Germany, on December 1-3 2009.More promotions at Jacobs
US-based Jacobs Associates has announced two promotions to Associate level.Breakthrough at tunnel school
World Tunnelling editor George Demetri blazed a trail to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, US, where he was fortunate to be allowed on to a comprehensive tunnelling short course. Here he reports on the proceedings.Rotary drum cutters eat into the Alps
Rotary drum cutters can offer numerous benefits to tunnel excavation and consequently, have become more popular in recent years. Norman Haltof of Erkat describes their capabilities and use on some recent Alpine projects.A global perspective
New York-based Dr George Munfakh, senior vice president at Parsons Brinckerhoff, began his professional life as a geotechnical engineer in infrastructure consultancy. He discusses his career and the tunnelling scene generally.Detecting hidden tunnels
Boston Area-based geotechnical and tunnelling consultant, Peter J. Tarkoy looks at current methodologies used to detect covert tunnels.Testing times
This paper is based on a presentation entitled Drilling Fluids and Recycling Systems given by Baroid’s Tom Tibor at UCT, January 2009. This presentation was aimed primarily at HDD applications, but has relevance to large bore tunnelling, as well.
Balfour Beatty acquires Parsons Brinckerhoff
London-based contractor Balfour Beatty has agreed to acquire New York-based global engineering infrastructure company Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) for US$626 million.
Tunnel Talkback: How safe is NATM?
Here at World Tunnelling, we aim to get more debate on the pressing issues of the day. To this end, we have set up a Tunnel Talkback page on the WT website, which is designed to allow readers to respond and engage with others on themes that will change from month to month.What's New: Thompson Pump boosts submersible power
Dewatering requirements in large-bore tunnelling can be catered for by Thompson Pump’s hydraulically-driven, submersible pump ends and hydraulic power units with automatic start/stop.Continental to join Joy
Continental Crushing and Conveying, the UK-based manufacturer of belt conveyor systems and belt conveyor components, is being integrated into Joy Mining Machinery (JMM)TPA to proceed with pedestrian tunnel to airport
Toronto Port Authority (TPA) has issued a formal request for proposals to carry out an environmental assessment as part of it efforts to build a US$35million pedestrian tunnel under the lake to the airportTunnel Talkback: Not as mad as it sounds
We have had an interesting mix of responses to our newly launched Tunnel Talkback feature on the WT websiteCavico to build hydro tunnel
Hanoi-based infrastructure company Cavico and its joint venture partners General Construction and Infrastructure Development Company and Song Da Corporation have signed a US$16 million contract with Dakdrinh Hydropower Company for the construction of a water tunnel at a hydro-power plant in central VietnamMaking tracks
Rail mounts can provide a quick and efficient way of transporting loads during tunnelling projects. Carly Lovejoy looks at the equipment on offerAre you ready for 2010?
Starting in January 2010, World Tunnelling will be giving its readers the chance to promote their tunnel projects in our ‘Project 2010’ feature. Projects can be recently completed or near completionAll in a year's work
Jack Burke visited the South Cobb Tunnel Project and was impressed by the site’s productivity and safety recordFull speed below
Tunnelling work on Singapore’s Downtown Line is proceeding at a rapid pace, Alastair Sim of Soletanche Bachy looks at the cut and sections
Federal fraud convictions for four Big Dig aggregates managers
Four former managers of Aggregate Industries Northeast (AIN) have been convicted on charges of conspiracy and fraud by a US federal courtTunnel Talkback: The underground option
Here at World Tunnelling, we aim to get more debate on the pressing issues of the day. To this end, we have set up a Tunnel Talkback page on the WT website, which is designed to allow readers to respond and engage with others on themes that will change from month to month.Contract signed for Cairo metro 3
VINCI Construction Grands Projets has announced that it has recently signed a contract, as consortium leader, with Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) for the civil engineering works package of Cairo’s metro Line 3.Deadline extended for Prague 2010
The deadline for receipt of abstracts for the Underground Constructions Prague 2010 conference has been extended to September 15.Golden short course ready for take-off at CSM
‘Breakthroughs in Tunnelling’ is a three-day short course (September 23-25 2009) to be held at the Colorado School of Mines, US.Jacobs sub wins Chinese rail-link contract
A subsidiary company of Jacobs Engineering Group has won a US$3 million contract to provide engineering services for the design and site investigation phase of the US$5 billion Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL).Jacobs sub wins Chinese rail-link contract
A subsidiary company of Jacobs Engineering Group has won a US$3 million contract to provide engineering services for the design and site investigation phase of the US$5 billion Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL).Skanska wins Frisco rail extension work
Skanska USA Civil has won a contract to build the rail extension for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
More gloom for UK construction
A significant deterioration in the prospects for UK construction has been seen over the past three months, according to the London-based Construction Products Association (CPA).RETC to rendezvous in Vegas
Held bi-annually in North America, the Rapid Excavation and Tunnelling Conference (RETC) will be held in Las Vegas this month, covering every aspect of tunnel design and construction. George Demetri takes a selective look at what will be on offer."Avant-garde" proposal
Chilean architects have proposed the construction of a 150km tunnel from landlocked Bolivia to an artificial island in the Pacific Ocean.Minova expands resin production
Mining and construction consumables producer Minova has expanded its Minetek plant in Hyderabad, India.CzTA calls for papers on transport and city tunnels
The Czech Tunnelling Association (CzTA) has announced a call for papers for the 11th International Conference of Underground Construction, held in Prague, Czech Republic, on June 14-16, 2010.Hindhead A3 tunnels update
Early contractor involvement and leading edge design and construction thinking have delivered flexibility and programme wins, says Tony Rock of consulting engineer Mott MacDonald.Roadheaders lead Olympic line-up
Sochi is building a spate of tunnels as part of new infrastructure that will have to be in place before the flame is lit for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Roadheaders are playing a significant role in this process.Multi-modal magic
David Bernardi, David Crouthamel and Erin S. Hohenshelt discuss a unique tunnel rehabilitation scheme, combining both railway line and pedestrian pathway, which has been hailed as a paradigm of partnering and risk sharingSealing the Dobrovskeho tunnels
Minova's Bohemia Geotech Division and Minova International Tunnelling Division outline the grouting used to stabilise the Dobrovskeho tunnels in the Czech RepublicGerman company to survey Bosnian HEP site
Essen-based technology services provider DMT has been commissioned to carry out a geodetic survey for a feasibility study for a new hydro-electric power plant near Vrelo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.New tunnel for Auckland
Transport minister Steven Joyce announced last month that the construction of a new tunnel in the New Zealand city of Auckland, designed to relieve the congested central motorway system, has been brought forward by nearly a year.Five-week delay for TT2
Work on the second crossing beneath the River Tyne in northeast England has fallen behind schedule by around five weeks due to unforeseen geological conditions.More hydro power tunnel contracts for Cavico
Hanoi-based Infrastructure company Cavico has announced it has won a US$4.9 million contract for the construction of a diversion tunnel and coffer dam at the Hua Na hydro-power plant in Vietnam. The award was made by the state-owned Lilama company.CIRIA guide will protect wildlife habitats near UK tunnels
UK-based CIRIA has announced that it will publish a best practice guide to techniques for conserving and enhancing biological diversity within large civil infrastructure projects.PSD wins Queen's award
UK-based Pigott Shaft Drilling (PSD), which designs, manufactures and hires solid separation equipment, has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its “outstanding achievements in international trade”.Atlas Copco core drill relaunch
TWO hand-held hydraulic core drills have been relaunched by Atlas Copco. The LCD 500 (shown below) and LCD 1500 are designed to allow operators to be in complete control, even when drilling holes of 200mm diameter.Putzmeister's wet spray
Two of Putzmeister’s SPM 500 PC wet-spray concrete machines are being used to apply shotcrete on the B29 Schwäbisch Gmünd by-pass road tunnel in GermanyGPR reveals tunnel teams were slightly out
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been used to analyse a water tunnel buried deep inside a hill in Cumbria, England.
Budapest opens its doors to WTC
Budapest, Hungary, will be hosting the 2009 World Tunnel Congress and 35th ITA-AITES General Assembly between May 23 and 28.Dix optimistic on stimulus packages
Despite the global economy almost going into free fall, opportunities for tunnelling consultants are better than ever, according to Professor Arnold Dix, chairman of the Contractual Practices Group at the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association.'Imitate or Innovate' theme for tunnel symposium
Anyone involved in tunnel ventilation may be interested to know that BHR Group is inviting registrations for its 13th International Symposium on tunnel aerodynamics & ventilation, to be held in New Brunswick, US, on May 13-15.Underground corrosion course
West Virginia University in Morgantown, US, will host the 54th annual Appalachian Underground Corrosion Short Course (AUCSC 2009) on May 19-21.Edison, Einstein, Hawking...and now Robbins
Richard Robbins (pictured), former president and CEO of TBM maker Robbins, has been awarded the 2009 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Engineering by the Philadelphia-based Franklin Institute.Seattle settles for a tunnel
Local government officials in Seattle, US, finally decided last month to opt for a deep-bored tunnel to replace the central section of the ageing Alaskan Way viaduct on the city waterfront beneath downtown Seattle.iSure is clever
SANDVIK claims that its new iSure tunnel planning software takes underground excavation to new levels of professionalism, offering an efficient way for analysing and managing tunnel project information.Site Search
Log inREAD THE LATEST PRINT EDITION: WT September 2010
SEARCH FOR NEWS BY COMPANY
Recently Created or Updated Company News Portals
READ IN-DEPTH REPORTS
SPECIAL FEATURES