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BBT - Breakthrough under Isarco river

BBT - Breakthrough under Isarco river

On 07/04/2022 about a month after the start of the excavation work, the last main tunnel below the Eisack riverbed for the future railway Brenner Base Tunnel has broken through.   A total ... More Information

Progress report for the Brenner Base Tunnel

As of January 2022, 4 main construction lots are under construction: Mules 2-3, Isarco River Underpass (Italian project area); Sill gorge, Sill gorge - Pfons (Austrian project area).  In ... More Information

BBT - Exploratory tunnel excavation completed

On the 24/11/2021 TBM Serena with a diameter of 6.85m, a length of approximately 300m and weight 1,500 t has reached the Brenner Pass. The TBM has excavated over 14 km of tunnel in 3.5 years. The ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel - Update of Total Project Costs

On the 07/09/2021, after the approval of the updated construction programme, approval was also obtained for the total costs of the BBT project, which had been updated to take the following issues ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel: Breakthrough of first main tunnel below the Isarco river

Brenner Base Tunnel: Breakthrough of first main tunnel below the Isarco river

On 19/04/2021 - about one month after construction works started, they broke through. The works were below the riverbed of the Isarco river for the future Brenner Base Tunnel railway. Excavation ... More Information

Ground freezing begins for the first main tunnel for the BBT Isarco River Underpass

In the town of Fortezza works on the Isarco River Underpass construction site, which is the southernmost construction lot of the Brenner Base Tunnel, are proceeding at full speed. Two 25 m deep ... More Information

BBT - First breakthrough under the Isarco river

 BBT - First breakthrough under the Isarco river

On  the 6th of November 2020 an excavator with hydraulic hammer  broke through  the first 59 m tunnel under the Isarco river. The ground in the most southern construction lot of the ... More Information

BBT - Isarco river underpass tunnelling begins

BBT - Isarco river underpass tunnelling begins

After months of preparation on the Isarco River Underpass construction site, the excavation of the first few metres of the tunnel has begun.   The excavation works in this southernmost ... More Information

Verona-Fortezza access line part of the BBT

The new Brenner Base Tunnel, which is the responsibility of BBT, is being built to boost the capacity of the Verona-Fortezza access line from the south, which is being built by RFI. The line is ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel project - Breakthrough

Brenner Base Tunnel project - Breakthrough

On 06/07/20 the TBM Gunther, tunnelling from Ahrental (Innsbruck) in the north completed its 16.7 km long exploratory tunnel. The TBM averaged 11 m of tunnelling per day. The breakthrough, ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel 50% complete

Brenner Base Tunnel 50% complete

On the 29th of November 2019 the Brenner Base tunnel reached a milestone and is now 50 % complete. So far they have tunnelled 150km of the 230km needed to finish the project. The Brenner Base Tunnel ... More Information

The Brenner Base Tunnel company has new leadership

The Brenner Base Tunnel company has new leadership

Starting on September 18th, 2019 Martin Gradnitzer and Gilberto Cardola will take the helm of the Brenner Base Tunnel cross-border project company  in Austria and Italy, replacing  the ... More Information

Press release for BBT

Press release for BBT

Breakthrough in the Tulfes–Pfons section - On February 12th, 2019, the last breakthrough by blasting took place in the Tulfes-Pfons section. On that occasion, a small ceremony was held for ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel - European support for the project

Brenner Base Tunnel - European support for the project

Following the recent breakthrough of the southern portal of the Brenner Base Tunnel, European Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, visited the BBT construction sites near Fortezza. The ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel Breakthrough

Brenner Base Tunnel Breakthrough

On St Barbaras day the 4th of December 2018 the southern portal of the Brenner Base tunnel near Fortezza Station broke through. 93 km of the total 230 km that will make up the Brenner Base tunnel ... More Information

Open Tunnel Day: Ahrental - Aldrans - Ampass, September 16th, 2018

This year, you have the unique chance to visit the entire underground area between the Ahrental access tunnel, Aldrans and Ampass and to see the different steps required to build a tunnel lining ... More Information

Thimble Shoal Tunnel

The TBM Chessie, that was custom-made by Herrenknecht for Dragados USA Inc and Schiavone Construction Co. LLC, is now ready to begin construction of the New Tunnel under the Thimble Shoal Canal in ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel update

FLAVIA” joins “VIRGINIA” The last large component of the TBM “Flavia” has arrived at the Mules construction site. A short video shows the long journey that began ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel Update

Brenner Base Tunnel  Update

The first 100 m of Exploratory tunnel had started being excavated for the Brenner base tunnel overnight the 24th  and 25th  May. The TBM Serena started at the beginning of May, has now ... More Information

Revised proposals for the construction of Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel submitted

Revised proposals for the construction of Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel submitted

On the 15.07.2016 the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission announced that the revised technical proposals were submitted from all three teams in the competitive procurement to construct a new ... More Information

Isarco River construction update

Isarco River construction update

On the 12.07.2016 the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the main works for the Isarco River Underpass construction lot. This is at the southernmost part of the Brenner Base Tunnel just before the ... More Information

Six offers for Lot Mules 2-3 of the Brenner Base Tunnel

BBT received tenders from the following 6 groups for the construction of Brenner Base Tunnel, Lot Mules 2-3: Astaldi SpA, Ghella SpA, Oberosler Cav Pietro SpA, Cogeis SpA, PAC SpA; ... More Information

Fortezza-Ponte Gardena access plans filed

RFI and Italferr have completed the final design for the Fortezza-Ponte Gardena access, which is part of the Brenner Base Tunnel project and filed it at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel - TBM begins its work

Brenner Base Tunnel - TBM begins its work

On the 26/09/2015 the ceremony was held for the launch of a TBM in at the Brenner Base Tunnel in Innsbruck, Austria. The cavern at the Ahrental end was used for assembly and launch. There were ... More Information

Brenner lot 3 approved

CIPE has approved the construction of Brenner Basis Tunnel, Lot 3 Mules-Brenner. Some EUR920 million are now available for the Brenner project to be added to EU funds. The lot involves completion of ... More Information

Parallel Thimble Shoal tunnel

The Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project in Virginia, US currently includes the following elements of design and construction: approximately 1,740 m of two-lane tunnel connecting previously ... More Information

BBT tunnels approved

On 24.03.2015 the Province of Bolzano approved the project for the construction of the main tunnels of the Brenner Basis Tunnel (Lot Mules) and confirmed the requirements for environmental ... More Information

Joint statement on cross alpine corridors

Joint statement on cross alpine corridors

On 20.03.2015, at Innsbruck, the joint statement on cross alpine corridors was signed. The Austria, Germany, France, Slovenia, Switzerland and Liechtenstein ministers of transport signed an European ... More Information

Full bore at North West Rail Link

On 14.01.2015 the fourth TBM, named Maria after 19th century Aboriginal rights advocate Maria Lock, started boring for North West Rail Link in Sydney, Australia. The 900 t TBM was delivered to the ... More Information

Isarco River Underpass

Consortium Salini Impregilo/Strabag has agreed with client BBT SE to start construction of the EUR300 million Isarco River Underpass, part of the southern lot of the Brenner Base Tunnel located in ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel

Brenner Base Tunnel

Excavations on the Tulfes-Pfons construction lot began on 18.09.2014 with a solemn ceremony. The BBT project along the 9,000 km north-south corridor from Helsinki to La Valletta is very important ... More Information

iBBT Project

On 12.09.2014 was held the final conference of the three-year Interreg Italy-Austria IBBT project on flooring, lining and innovative lighting for tunnels. The project, co-funded Interreg IV ... More Information

First blast in Wolf access

Excavation work by Swietelsky construction company has started on the access tunnel in Wolf, near Steinach, Austria with the first blast on December 4th, St. Barbara's Day. More Information

Viatec and Brenner Congress

Viatec, the road construction and infrastructure maintenance international show, will be held in Bolzano February 21-23, 2013. More Information

Brenner Congress 2013

The international symposium on the Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT) will take place 21-22nd February during Viatec 2013 in Bolzano. More Information

Ahrental access completed

Ahrental access completed

On 11.10.2012, excavation of the 2.4 km-long Ahrental access tunnel was completed as part of the Brenner Base Tunnel. More Information

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Tunnelling News

10 longest tunnels in the world that reshaped global transportation

Modern tunnel construction involves sophisticated techniques, including tunnel boring machines and advanced geological surveying. The project ... More Information

Čučković: Construction of the tunnel boring machine for the Belgrade Metro in final phase

It is a good thing that we, for example, acquired these tunnel boring machines at a lower price than other countries... More Information

Serbia plans to borrow 2.5 billion EUR in 2026 for the construction of the Belgrade metro

It is also stated that two TBMs (tunnel boring machines), the so-called moles, have already been ordered and are expected to be delivered to ... More Information

VSM starts operation at Tilbury

The pioneering Vertical Shaft Sinking Machine (VSM) from Herrenknecht, named “Verena”, after Verena Holmes, a pioneering British mechanical ... More Information

Metrolinx reveals names of Ontario Line tunnel boring machines

Following a contest, Metrolinx has officially named its two massive tunnel boring machines Libby and Corkie... More Information

Montreal blue line metro tunnel boring machine has arrived, time to dig

It's basically building the backbone of the blue line extension,” said project chief Maha Clour, pointing out that crews have reached the bottom of ... More Information

Norway Unveils The World's Longest Road Tunnel In A Majestic Engineering Marvel

The construction cost broke down to about 38,000 NOK (roughly £3,500) per meter, an impressive figure considering the complexity and scale of the ... More Information

Sydney Metro West construction captured on video ahead of 2032 opening

Two giant tunnel boring machines have made their way through the deepest section of Darling Harbour as part of works on the new Metro West. More Information

Bengaluru's ₹18,000-crore tunnel road project inches closer as four major firms submit bids

Four firms bid for Bengaluru's ₹18000 crore tunnel project linking Hebbal to Silk Board, expected to ease city traffic by 2029 under a 34-year ... More Information

Webuild advances Rocchetta Tunnel excavation

Upcoming construction milestones. Webuild is preparing for the next major phase on the Apice–Hirpinia section: the launch of the reinforced concrete ... More Information

MMRDA plans 70-km underground tunnel road network across Mumbai

The project, being prepared in phases, will enhance multi-level connectivity and ease commuting. By KAILASH BABAR · Google preferences in ET Follow us ... More Information

Kathmandu-Tarai Expressway achieves 43.3% progress

The total length of the seven tunnels under the project is 10.979 km. ... Construction progress for the Chandram Bhir tunnel. (2,250 metres) has ... More Information

MMRDA plans 70-km underground tunnel road network across Mumbai

The project, being prepared in phases, will enhance multi-level connectivity and ease commuting. By KAILASH BABAR · Google preferences in ET Follow us ... More Information

Hong Kong: Robotics And AI Enhance Tunnel Construction

It is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and automation to advance the Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel project. These ... More Information

Single-Bore Tunnel Method Chosen for BART Silicon Valley Phase II

This decision allows VTA to advance project design towards 60%, stay on a critical path to tunnel construction and meet the projected revenue service ... More Information

Boring Co. begins 'controlled blasting' for Nashville tunnel at TN capitol

The Boring Co. has started excavation work at a state-owned parking lot on Rose Parks Boulevard for the Music City Loop project Wednesday, Aug. 13, ... More Information

TBM arrives in Montreal for delayed metro extension project

A custom-built tunnel boring machine (TBM) has arrived in Canada for use on a 6km extension of the Montreal Metro... More Information

Spain Confirms Feasibility of €8.5 Billion Morocco-Europe Tunnel

The study was conducted by German company Herrenknecht, the world leader in tunnel boring machines, at the request of the Spanish government's ... More Information

TxDOT spends $748M to burrow bus-size tunnels under Central Austin

The first tunnel boring machine will be deployed near ... Industry experts say tunnel boring machines typically advance about 50 feet per day. More Information

6 TBMs on Duty on the 27-Kilometer Line in Körfezray

Two of the six Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) that will serve in the first 27-kilometer phase are actively excavating tunnels, while the ... More Information

Construction on HS2's Euston tunnel will start 'fairly soon', says rail minister

Construction on the HS2 tunnel from Old Oak Common station to Euston station will start “fairly soon”, the rail minister has said... More Information

Blue Line Extension TBM Arrives at Port of Montreal

Railway Track and Structures Construction site of the future Vertières station (Pie-IX) in June 2025. Caption and photo courtesy of STM. MONTREAL - The tunnel boring machine (TBM) ... More Information

Tunnel break through milestone for Mt Messenger Bypass project

A 110 tonne excavating machine, called Hinetūparimaunga, has broken through at the northern end of the project's 235 metre-long tunnel ... More Information

$3.9 billion tunnel and bridge link for VA

Costing around $3.9 billion, the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) upgrade Expansion project for Virginia will improve traffic flow for a key ... More Information

Extended North Tunnel Flood Mitigation Project Receives $18.2 Million in State Funding

The funding advanced by the board includes a $17.2 million loan and $1 million grant for the construction of the mile-long tunnel, which will divert ... More Information

Gateway Project faces new uncertainty amid government shutdown

Federal funding for the $16B Hudson Tunnel Project, aka Gateway, has been paused during the government shutdown, sparking political backlash. More Information

Tunnel Boring Machine Emily Passes Key Factory Test for DC Water Potomac River Tunnel Project

Tunnel boring machine (TBM), Emily. This test confirms that Emily is ready to begin excavating the southern leg of the Potomac River Tunnel — a ... More Information

Sydney Metro West achieves world-first in tunnelling technology

Sydney Metro West has achieved a world-first in tunnel construction with a Lining Erector Machine (LEM) successfully being used to line the mined ... More Information

Gateway construction continues despite Trump's claim of termination

Tutor Perini, the general contractor on the Manhattan Tunnel Project, confirmed construction activity is currently continuing as planned... More Information

Tunnelling complete for Annacis water supply project

Metro Vancouver has completed the tunnelling phase of the $450 million Annacis Water Supply Tunnel, which will complete in 2028... More Information

Santa Clara VTA confirms single tunnel plan for BART extension

With VTA now owning the tunnel boring machine, the agency assumes full responsibility for its performance, agency officials said. To manage the risk, ... More Information

Chennai: Tunnel Boring Machine Vaigai achieves breakthrough at Mandaveli Metro Station

CHENNAI: The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) on Saturday achieved a major milestone in Phase II tunnelling works, as Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) ... More Information

Trump 'terminates' $16 billion Hudson River tunnel project linking N.J. and N.Y.C.

President Trump said funding for the $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project is "terminated" at a press conference. New Jersey officials said they will ... More Information

$676 million underwater tunnel for India

The project is expected to cost around $676 million, with a Detailed Project Report (DPR) having now been completed. India's road transport network is ... More Information

€1.4 billion Belgian tunnel project approved

The first phase of the €1.4 billion project for Belgium’s new Limburg Noord-Zuid link has been approved. Construction should commence in 2027 on the project, which will form a section of ... More Information

Tunnel boring machine S-639B achieves breakthrough under Kanpur Metro Phase I Project

The package KNPCC-06 involves design and construction of a tunnel through TBM, cut and cover tunnel, underground ramp from Kanpur Central end of ... More Information

Lawmakers propose construction of undersea tunnel to link Luzon and Visayas

Several lawmakers from the Visayas region are proposing the construction of an underground tunnel that will serve as a permanent land connection ... More Information

Oman-UAE rail project hits major milestone with start of tunnel excavation

Tunnel excavation has begun in Oman's Al Hajar Mountains, marking a major milestone for the cross-border Oman-UAE Railway... More Information

Engineering the depths: innovative tunnelling for hydropower projects

Major schemes in Austria, China, and Germany are applying advanced underground construction techniques for hydropower projects. More Information