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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

Viatec and Brenner Congress 2012

The three-day Viatec fair takes place in Innsbruck starting 15.02.2012. More Information

Page:

Tunnelling News

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

New tunnel, new standard: Silvertown project showcases innovation in surface protection

Originally approved in 2018, construction of the tunnel began in March 2021. In September 2023, following the completion of tunnelling works, ... More Information

Metro Manila Subway Project: DOTr launches third tunnel boring machine

Dubai: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has launched a third tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), ... More Information

Skanska JV wraps up $450M Baltimore tunnel nearly 2 years early

A joint venture has reached substantial completion on the $450 million Howard Street Tunnel Project in Baltimore nearly two years ahead of the original completion date, according to a ... More Information

Work continues on NYC megaprojects, despite $18B federal funding pause

Contractors on two of New York City’s largest infrastructure projects will keep digging, but they might glance over their shoulders toward Washington... More Information

HS2 Chipping Warden tunnel project moves step forward

HS2 Ltd An aerial view of the HS2 tunnel construction at Chipping Warden. A road HS2 Ltd. The 1.55 mile (2.5km) Chipping Warden tunnel will be ... More Information

First of three Tunnel boring machines on way to SA as beams go up for tram overpass

The first of three tunnel boring machines that will be used to complete the northern and southern tunnels project is on its way to SA as part of a ... More Information

Chennai Metro Rail's TBMs to begin tunneling between Thiruvanmiyur and Indira Nagar

Chennai Metro Rail begins tunnelling work in challenging stretch for phase II project, facing obstacles due to hard rock... More Information

Custom lifting gantry aids TBM removal - Construction Briefing

The four TBMs excavated the 8.4 mile (14 km) Northolt Tunnel section. Two went in each way, digging a pair of tunnels from both ends towards each ... More Information

Tunnel construction begins on Barskoon — Bedel road in Issyk-Kul region

According to the project, two tunnels, 5,340 and 3,840 meters long, respectively, will be built at Sook and Ashuu-Suu passes. They will be among the ... More Information

China debuts world's mightiest centrifuge, unleashing ultra-intense gravity

China leads the way in shield tunnelling machine development · Shield machine of south line of Yellow River tunnel starts boring in Jinan · A close ... More Information

Boring Company Launches Global Operations Control Center in Bastrop, Texas

The Boring Company has officially opened its new Global Operations Control Centre in Bastrop, Texas, the tunnelling start-up announced on X... More Information

Port of Longview Lands $35.9MM Federal Loan for Rail Expansion

Active Construction on New Hudson Tunnel Project Supporting Domestic Jobs and Economic Output ... Bridges/Tunnels, Class 1, Freight, Ports, Track ... More Information

TBM Parvati Achieves Breakthrough At Kakadeo Station Of Kanpur Metro Line 2

Brief Scope: Design and Construction of TBM Tunnel, Cut and Cover Tunnel, ramp after Double Pullia, ramps in Agriculture Depot for main line and ... More Information

Howard Street tunnel reopens ahead of schedule, boosting Baltimore's freight capacity

The Howard Street Tunnel has been reopened after being out of service since February 2025.The nearly 130-year-old tunnel extends north from Camden Yards to the Mount Royal Station and is ... More Information

Progress update on the Tunnel Boring Machine for National Grid

Following its launch in May this year, Buddug, the Eryri VIP tunnel boring machine (TBM) is making good progress digging the tunnel which will ... More Information

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Clears Major Hurdle

After months of delay, the tunnel-boring machine stuck in China is being shipped to India, clearing the path for underground construction of the ... More Information

Bright lights: This Las Vegas tunnel is getting a major upgrade

Construction is underway on Desert Inn Road between Paradise Road and Joe W Brown Drive as part of a $9.2 million improvement project on Friday, ... More Information

Panama Canal Tunnel Boring Machine Crosses Under the Canal, Marking a Milestone

Panama Canal Tunnel Boring Machine Crosses Under the Canal, Marking a Milestone on Metro Line 3. Auto-dubbed. 398 views · 6 hours ago ...more ... More Information

Major breakthrough achieved in Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train tunnel construction

Mumbai: A breakthrough was achieved for a 4.88 km-long tunnel between Shilphata and Ghansoli for the... More Information

New Austrian tunnelling method achieves milestone breakthrough in BKC-Shillphata undersea tunnel project

In a significant milestone for the ambitious undersea tunnel project between BKC and Shillphata, g Method (NATM) has ... More Information

World's Longest Railway Connection Makes Construction Breakthrough

The Brenner Base Tunnel, built deep beneath the Alps, is set to reshape freight and passenger transport across Europe... More Information

New game-changing tunnel boring, reef cutting 'meeting and beating' all expectations

UG2 reef at Bokoni is the target of the twin mobile tunnel boring and narrow reef cutter. Tunnelling will be done with the mobile tunnel borer for ... More Information

Mota-Engil CEO confirms winning bid for Santos-Guaruja tunnel

The company's subsidiary, Mota-Engil, has won the tender for the construction and operation of Brazil's first underwater tunnel, connecting the ... More Information

Metro Vancouver Utility Nearing Finish of $288M Annacis Water Tunnel

“Resilience is at the heart of this project,” said Nedim Alca, COWI's North America market director. “What makes this milestone so significant is not ... More Information

Fehmarnbelt: Danish tunnel portal nears completion

The work on the entrance to the Fehmarnbelt tunnel at Rødbyhavn on Lolland is almost complete. photo courtesy of The Fehmarnbelt Project. More Information

Final decision on airport tunnel 'now or never'

Alderman Jim Stevenson and City administrators are making a dramatic last push for the airport tunnel before construction on the new north/south ... More Information

Athens Metro Line 4 works to finish by 2029

The construction of Athens Metro Line 4 is progressing steadily, with the entire project ... Tunnel mistakenly excavated in Athens metro project. More Information

First trains on track to run through Metro Tunnel within three months

Melbourne's $15.5 billion Metro Tunnel could be switched on in as little as three months as construction wraps up at two CBD stations and trains ... More Information

Petersburg crews to begin tunnel project in response to ongoing flooding, damage - WRIC

As ongoing water issues have caused significant damage to infrastructure around Petersburg, the Old Towne neighborhood ... More Information

Intelligent optimization framework for tunnel construction

Tunnel construction forms the foundation of railway development and is essential for ensuring route continuity and operational efficiency. However, ... More Information

São Paulo positions TBM for next phase of Line 2-Green

A major milestone was reached on Monday (1 September) with the lowering of the cutter head of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) Cora Coralina... More Information

The 700-ton machine that'll dig NYC's Second Avenue subway extension

NYC has a new tunnel boring machine in its toolbox for the expansion of the line under 2nd ave. If you've never seen some BIG earth moving machines, ... More Information