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First kilometre for Wilma, the Austrian TBM advancing north

First kilometre for Wilma, the Austrian TBM advancing north

While Flavia is only 300 m from its final destination and Ida has already passed the Werner fault zone, the TBM Wilma reached its first kilometre of excavation at 10:40 on Sunday 2 March after ... More Information

BBT - TBM Flavia is getting closer to its goal

The TBM Flavia, length 200 m and weight 2750 t - launched in April 2019 – which has advanced with a driving power of 4200 kW under a rock cover of over 1200 m. The TBM has now completed the ... More Information

TBM Breakthrough for the parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel

TBM Breakthrough for the parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel

The Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel reached a significant milestone on Monday, January 27, 2025 when the Herrenknecht TBM Chessie - measuring 13.26 m (43.5 ... More Information

BBT - New milestones for TBM Ida

BBT - New milestones for TBM Ida

Since May and June of 2023, the two TBMs Lilia and Ida have been working southwards on the Austrian H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons construction site of the BBT project. The excavation work is being ... More Information

North portal completed for BBT

North portal completed for BBT

As of December 2024, the Sill Gorge construction lot, which houses the north portal of the Brenner Base Tunnel, is officially completed.  There are already numerous infrastructures in the ... More Information

Final Stretch of TBM Flavia’s Journey: Last Kilometre of Excavation in the Western Main Tunnel

TBM Flavia, a colossal tunnel boring machine measuring 200 meters in length, weighing 2,750 tons, and powered by 4,200 kW, is nearing the completion of its excavation journey. Launched in April 2019 ... More Information

BBT - First breakthrough in the main Brenner Base tunnel in Austrian area

The ceremony has been held for the last breakthrough of the first main tunnel in the Austrian territory of the Brenner Base Tunnel. The breakthrough is at the Sill Gorge site, between lots H21 Sill ... More Information

BBT - Launch of the Wilma and Olga TBMs

The launch of the Wilma and Olga TBMs will take place on Wednesday 18th  September 2024 at the BBT H53 Pfons-Brenner construction site.  The first components of the two TBMs - after ... More Information

TBM Ida completes 4 Km of the westbound tube of the Brenner Base Tunnel, H41 Lot

On 22 July, the TBM Ida celebrated the excavation of the first 4 km - out of its total 8.4 km - of the westbound line tunnel to the south at the Austrian H41 Sill-Pfons Gorge construction site. The ... More Information

June updates for BBT

Press Release - H53 Pfons-Brenner construction site: the first segments reach the construction site The two TBMs Wilma and Olga - which from September 2024 will dig and line the twin tube 7.5km ... More Information

Italy/Trentino-South Tyrol – Work has started on the southern entrance to the Trento railway bypass

Work continues on the construction of 13 km (Lot 3A) of the new railway line - almost entirely underground – linking to the future Brenner Base Tunnel. The new infrastructure will begin from ... More Information

Brenner Base Tunnel update

Brenner Base Tunnel update

Every year BBT organises an Open Day for the Brenner Base Tunnel project. They take place at the Austrian construction site H41 Sill-Pfons Gorge, and at the construction site of the Eisack ... More Information

BBT - TBM Ida reaches first 3 km of excavation for Lot H41 Sill-Pfons Gorge

On 14 May 2024  the TBM Ida, launched back in June 2023, reached its first 3 km of excavation towards the south, in the West line tunnel, advancing an average of 13 m/day and extracting ... More Information

TBM Wilma is ready for the Brenner Base Tunnel

TBM Wilma is ready for the Brenner Base Tunnel

On 8 march 2024 BBT SE and H53 Consortium consisting of Porr Bau GmbH, Marti GmbH Austria and Marti Tunnel AG Switzerland completed the factory acceptance of Wilma. This will be the first of the two ... More Information

BBT - New milestone for the TBM Ida on the H41 Sill-Pfons Gorge construction site

The TBM Ida in the H41 Sill-Pfons Gorge lot of the Brenner Base Tunnel is continuing its journey through the westbound line tunnel in a southerly direction.  On Sunday, 25 February 2024, ... More Information

BBT - Take part in choosing the names of the two new TBMs for the Brenner Base Tunnel

Until 12 noon today, 22 February, you can participate in the choice of names for the two 160 m long TBMs that will come into operation in autumn 2024 for the excavation of the Austrian Pfons-Brenner ... More Information

Scaleres tunnel’s TBM assembled

In the ongoing construction of the Scaleres tunnel's the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) on the Fortezza-Verona line in Italy, SELI Overseas, a specialized subcontractor for the Munich-Verona railway ... More Information

BBT - Updates on the Brenner Base Tunnel

Hochstegen: Another construction lot of the Brenner Base Tunnel is now complete  The Swietelsky Tunnelbau company, which in 2021 secured the EUR102 million contract for the construction ... More Information

BBT - Eisack Underpass work completed

All the main works have been completed at the construction site of lot H71 “Eisack River underpass” of the Brenner Base Tunnel, and subsequently the work completion report has now been ... More Information

BBT - TBM Virginia has reached the border with Austria

On 28/03/2023 an important milestone was reached for the Brenner Base Tunnel, on the Italian side, at the Mules (BZ) construction site.  After 14 km of excavation and almost 4 years of ... More Information

TBM Ida will drive the west main Brenner Base Tunnel

On the 14/02/2023 the official inspection of the second TBM for the H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons construction lot of the Brenner Base Tunnel took place at Herrenknecht AG in Schwanau (D). The ... More Information

BBT - Segments production started for lot H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons

The main part of tunnels in lot H41 Gola del Sill-Pfons will be driven by two TBMs. The machines - during their tunnelling - will install the rings, composed of prefabricated concrete ... More Information

TBM Lilia for Brenner Base Tunnel passes acceptance test

TBM Lilia for Brenner Base Tunnel passes acceptance test

The first of the two TBMs for the H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons construction lot of the Brenner Base Tunnel has formally passed its acceptance test at Herrenknecht AG in Schwanau, Germany. The ... More Information

SAIE 2022 - The SIG (Società Italiana Gallerie) tunnelling area

SAIE 2022 - The SIG (Società Italiana Gallerie) tunnelling area

Press release - Among the various special initiatives that uniquely characterize the SAIE 2022, the Construction, Design, Building and Plants’ Fair - in BolognaFiere from 19 to 22 October, ... More Information

BBT - excavations begin for lot H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons

BBT -  excavations begin for lot H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons

Excavation work has begun on the main tunnel for BBT construction lot H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons, in Ahrental near Innsbruck. The Austrian Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler the patroness was ... More Information

BBT – Breakthrough in the Brenner Base Tunnel

BBT – Breakthrough in the Brenner Base Tunnel

On the 19/05/2022 at 13h45 an excavator broke through between lot H71 Eisack undercrossing (built by Webuild) and Lot Mules 2-3 (built by Webuild and Ghella), on the Italian side of the East line ... More Information

BBT – Excavation has started at the H52-Hochstegen construction lot in Austria

On 04/05/2022 a ground breaking ceremony was held for Lot H52 Hochstegen in the presence of Maria Lorenzatto, godmother of the tunnel, along with the various authorities and companies involved. The ... More Information

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

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Tunnelling News

In pics: construction site of Chongming-Taicang tunnel

A smart assembling vehicle works at "Linghang" large diameter shield tunneling machine at the construction site of the Chongming-Taicang tunnel, part of the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu ... More Information

IN PICTURES: Spectacular images of the removal of HS2's huge tunnelling machine

TBM Sushila was used to construct part of the Northolt Tunnel – an 8.4-mile tunnel ... construction/london-tunnels/progress-3/northolt-tunnel/tbm- ... More Information

Historic tunnels uncovered beneath Salisbury station during £5.3M upgrade project

Engineers from Network Rail and South Western Railway have uncovered a network of tunnels and rooms beneath Salisbury station during ongoing £5.3M upgrades to the station’s forecourt... More Information

Massive $450m road project connecting Russia and Georgia with six bridges & five tunnels

Massive $450m road project connecting Russia and Georgia with six bridges & five tunnels. The new road will pass through Georgia along a trade route ... More Information

Buca Metro Tunnel Excavations Reached 50 Percent Level

Important progress is being made in the construction of the line, where four tunnel boring machines (TBMs), each 100 meters long, 7 meters wide and ... More Information

'Very promising' narrow-reef boring technology nearing rollout stage

A novel tunnel boring machine (TBM) will open up Bokoni's narrow tabular dipping PGM orebody to allow narrow-reef boring to take place, so that ... More Information

A vast undersea tunnel is being built

The 7.4 billion-euro ($7.7 billion) project is a huge undertaking, in every sense. Each section of the tunnel is colossal. These concrete structures ... More Information

National Grid gets planning permission for Grain to Tilbury upgrade with new Thames tunnel

National Grid has secured full planning approval for the Grain to Tilbury project, which includes a new power tunnel under the River Thames... More Information

Right track tunnel of Huangjialing Tunnel in NW China's Gansu drilled through

A staff member works on the construction site of the right track tunnel of the Huangjialing Tunnel in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest ... More Information

Shetland Islands tunnels plan takes 'huge step forward' with sonar investigations

This phase will further inform the project's development and feasibility. The tunnel project, seen by locals as pivotal for improving ... More Information

Construction of the Tarande tunnel begins next week

On March 17th, in Vilnius district Construction of a tunnel and other related infrastructure will begin at Taranda and Bukiškis. This project aims ... More Information

Delhi Metro's Golden Line achieves major tunnel breakthrough;

The construction of Delhi Metro's Golden Line achieved a major milestone on Thursday as the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) broke through at the ... More Information

RiverRenew Tunnel Project Nearing Completion

The RiverRenew Tunnel System Project, the largest infrastructure investment in Alexandria's history, is nearing completion. More Information

Sydney Metro West tunnels enter final stretch after big breakthrough

Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) constructing the huge Sydney Metro West tunnels have made a smashing entrance 24 metres below the surface. More Information

Chennai Metro Rail launches first tunnel boring machine for underground tunnelling in Kolathur

Corridor 5 begins at Madhavaram Milk Colony and connects through Koyambedu, Porur, Alandur and other residential/commercial areas of the city to ... More Information

Element Six, Master Drilling Announce Tunnel Development Partnership

Element Six and Master Drilling will deliver a diamond-enabled solution designed to increase tunneling development speed, reducing costs and minimize the environmental impact of tunnel ... More Information

Gateway Project Tunnel Connecting NY and NJ Moves Forward

Five Gateway contracts have been awarded so far, including one on Predergast's first day for construction on the Manhattan side of the tunnel... More Information

HSR Xi'an – Yan'an: Completion of All Tunnels in the Project

The HSR Xi'an – Yan'an has completed the excavation of all tunnels, including the Tongchuan Tunnel. This is a key milestone in the construction ... More Information

Brazil's US$1bn underwater tunnel project making waves among potential bidders

The first underwater road tunnel project in Brazil is attracting interest from multiple potential bidders, an official familiar with the matter ... More Information

Element Six and Master Drilling Announce Strategic Partnership for Advanced Tunnel

Achieving high quality, nonexplosive tunnel construction with various aspects of value generated compared to traditional rock excavation methods is a ... More Information

Tutor Perini Wins a $1.2 Billion NYC Contract

A joint venture of Sylmar-based civil construction firm Tutor Perini Corp. and its subsidiary Frontier-Kemper Constructors has won a $1.18 billion contract to construct a pair of rail ... More Information

Milestone reached for $1.6b Auckland wastewater tunne

Watercare's Central Interceptor project has passed an historic milestone with the southern half of the 16.2 kilometre tunnel – Blockhouse Bay ... More Information

Elon Musk's 'Wormhole' Tunnel Promises To Carry 20,000 People Per Hour In Dubai

It’s been more than eight years since Elon Musk decided he was fed up with traffic and declared he’d start digging tunnels to revolutionize public transport across the United States. So ... More Information

First tender for Dubai’s $22bn tunnels due within days

Dubai Municipality is expected to tender the first two packages of the $22bn Dubai Strategic Sewerage Tunnels (DSST) project imminently... More Information

London's Thames Tideway Tunnel now fully connected

After 10 years of construction work, the last of the 21 connections of the Thames Tideway Tunnel was made to the city's Victorian sewage system. More Information

Silvertown Tunnel

Silvertown Tunnel is the Transport for London project looking to forge a brand-new connection between Silvertown and the Greenwich Peninsula... More Information

Dubai Loop: Elon Musk to Build Huge Underground Road Network

Musk's The Boring Company, which is responsible for building a similar project in Las Vegas, aims to create 17 kilometers of tunnel capable of ... More Information

Wisconsin approves $4.5m tunnel lighting project

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has approved a $4.5m lighting systems upgrade project in various tunnels in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. More Information

$1.18bn Manhattan Tunnel contract awarded as part of $16bn Hudson Tunnel Project

The Hudson Tunnel Project is the key section of the Gateway Programme, which is a comprehensive rail infrastructure investment aimed at boosting ... More Information

North East Link continues to forge ahead towards completion

Tunnelling will soon commence on Victoria's longest twin road tunnels – the North East Link tunnels – as two massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are ... More Information

Africa's huge £8.5m tunnel cuts up to 26 minutes off journeys to major capital city

The tunnel is to be constructed within the next three years. This project will not only create 500 jobs in the construction ... More Information

CMRL's tunnel boring machine from Panagal Park reaches Kodambakkam station after a year

Chennai Metro Rail's Phase II Project faces delays as tunnel boring machines 'Pelican' and 'Peacock' progress towards Kodambakkam... More Information

$800-million twin-tube tunnel, longest in the Philippines, nears 'breakthrough'

A senior agency official stated on Thursday that the tunneling phase of the Davao City Bypass Construction Project will achieve a long-awaited ... More Information

The World’s Largest Immersed Tunnel Is Being Built—And It’s Done Without a Tunnel Boring Machine

When we think about groundbreaking advancements, our minds often jump to cutting-edge technology like smartphones or supercomputers. But some of the most awe-inspiring innovations are ... More Information

Brenner Base TBM enters 'highly fractured' fault zone

A tunnel boring machine (TBM) working on the northernmost active construction lot of the Brenner Base Tunnel project has entered a “highly ... More Information

India building a historic Undersea Tunnel for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

He stated, "All high-quality safety norms have been adopted in the construction of this India's first carefully designed undersea tunnel project." The ... More Information

Norway's Incredible Ship Tunnel Plan Is Back On Track

Despite pandemic-related and planning delays to the project, the Norwegian Coastal Administration is pressing ahead with plans to build the world's ... More Information

PM Modi inaugurates Z-Morh tunnel in J&K

The tunnel works with the under-construction Zojila tunnel to enhance travel efficiency and road connectivity. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra ... More Information

Metro's tunnel construction on track

Meanwhile, the 'Azad' TBM is already working on the 'up-line' tunnel for the same stretch. After arriving at Transport Nagar, both TBMs were 'dragged' ... More Information