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Canada, Toronto - ca/39

Subway (Eglinton Crosstown West Extension)

Closing Date: 15.04.2020 (Tender Closed)

Request for Qualifications, deadline 15/04/2020, for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension tunnel. The Advance Tunnel  contract involves:

•        Tunnelling works for approximately 6 km of the 9.2-km light rail transit extension

•        Design and construction of launch and extraction shafts, tunnels, as well as headwalls for emergency exit buildings and stations

•        Supply tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and install segmental precast concrete tunnel liners

•        Activities necessary to build the tunnel (e.g. utility relocations, supports for shaft and headwalls, temporary power supply, lighting, ventilation, and drainage).

Question acceptance deadline: 01/04/2020. Contact Infrastructure Ontario, attn Zuhal Darawal, tel  416-805-3946, email zuhal.darawal@infrastructureontario.ca. For tender information please click here

https://www.merx4.merx.com/public/solicitations/1286100371/abstract.

Ref.n. 0000172311.  11/20.



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Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have identified West End Connectors as the First Negotiations Proponent (FNP) to design, build and finance the tunnels for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension projects - Advance Tunnel Contract.  

The West End Connectors team includes: 

Applicant Lead: Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc., Dragados Canada Inc., Ghella Canada Ltd. 

Construction Team: Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc.,Dragados Canada Inc., Ghella Canada Ltd. 

Design Team: TYPSA Inc., EXP Services Inc., Dr. G. Sauer & Partners Corporation, Pedelta Canada Inc. 

Financial Advisor: ACS Infrastructure Canada, Aecon Concessions, Scotiabank Capital, Ghella Investments & Partnerships 

 

Of the shortlisted teams invited to submit bids, the FNPs were the highest ranked after the proposals were evaluated. The teams were evaluated based on criteria identified in the Request for Proposals process that began in August 2020. Criteria included design and construction methodology, approach to managing the project and the collaborative behaviours of key individuals of the Proponent teams.  

The identification of West End Connectors as FNP  is the result of an open, fair and competitive procurement process overseen by third-party fairness monitors. For more click ca/39 and visit https://infrastructureontario.ca and http://www.metrolinx.com/. 09/21. 

 




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Canada, Toronto - ca/36

Scarborough Subway (Scarborough Subway Extension (SSE)

Closing Date: 15.04.2020 (Tender Closed)

Request for Qualifications, deadline 15/04/2020, for the Scarborough Subway Extension Tunnel. The Advance Tunnel  contract involves:

•        Tunnelling works for the approximate 8-km subway extension, from Kennedy Station to McCowan Road/Sheppard Avenue

•        Design and construction of launch and extraction shafts, tunnels, as well as headwalls for emergency exit buildings stations

•        Supply tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and install segmental precast concrete tunnel liners

•        Activities necessary to build the tunnel (e.g. utility relocations, supports for shaft and headwalls, temporary power supply, lighting, ventilation, and drainage).

Question acceptance deadline: 01/04/2020. Contact Infrastructure Ontario, attn Solomon Wedderburn, tel  416-427-0726, email solomon.wedderburn@infrastructureontario.ca. For further tender information please click here. Ref.n. 0000172328. 11/20.



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Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have identified Strabag as the First Negotiations Proponent (FNP) to design, build and finance the tunnels for the Scarborough Subway Extension project -  Advance Tunnel Contract.  

The Strabag team includes:   

Applicant Lead: Strabag AG  

Construction Team: Strabag Inc. 

Design Team: Arup Canada Inc., Brian Isherwood & Associates Ltd. 

Financial Advisor: Strabag Inc.  

Of the shortlisted teams invited to submit bids, the FNPs were the highest ranked after the proposals were evaluated. The teams were evaluated based on criteria identified in the Request for Proposals process that began in August 2020. Criteria included design and construction methodology, approach to managing the project and the collaborative behaviours of key individuals of the Proponent teams. The identification of Strabag as FNP is the result of an open, fair and competitive procurement process overseen by third-party fairness monitors. For more click ca/36 and  visit https://infrastructureontario.ca and http://www.metrolinx.com/. 09/21. 

 




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Canada, Ottawa - ca/31

Light Rail

Three firms have been selected to compete for the construction, finance and operation of the EUR1.5 billion (C$2·1bn) Ottawa Light Rail project: Ottawa Transit Partners (OTP) led by Vinci Concessions, Rideau Transit Group (RTG) led by ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc and Rideau Transit Partners (RTP) led by Bouygues Travaux Publics SA. The winner will design, build, finance and maintain a 12·5 km light rail line with 13 stops and a 3·2 km tunnel under the city centre. The Request-for-Proposals (RFP) process is scheduled to commence later this month and close in July, 2012. Working with Infrastructure Ontario, the City of Ottawa will select a winning proposal in late 2012 for approval by City Council with construction to commence in Q1/2013. Revenue service is scheduled for 2018. For more click here and here. Visit www.ottawalightrail.ca. 44/11.



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Canada, Ontario - ca/30

Metro

Spadina Link Project Managers, a joint venture of Hatch Mott MacDonald, Delcan Corporation and MMM Group, has been awarded a CAD100 million project management services contract for the Spadina subway extension by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) for a period of seven years. With an estimated final cost of CAD2.63 billion, the Spadina subway extension is the largest transit expansion project to be undertaken by the TTC in 40 years. The project is unique in that the TTC subway network will go beyond the city of Toronto limits for the first time and link neighbouring communities in York Region. The 8.6 km extension to the existing Spadina subway line will be underground, running from the existing Downsview station to Vaughan Corporate Centre, and will add six more stations including a new station at York University. The project is expected to commence in April 2008 with an anticipated completion in 2015. Read E-News Weekly 15/2006. Visit www.toronto.ca/ttc/spadina_extension/index.htm, www.hatchmott.com and www.delcan.com 15/08.



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Canada, Vancouver - ca/29

Light Rail

Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM) has been selected to design twin tunnels for the Evergreen LRT line in Vancouver. The two 1.9 km-long tunnels will have a diameter of approximately 5.7 metres, will be constructed by pressurized face tunnel boring machines, and will be lined with precast concrete segments. Key elements of the project include the configuration of the portals within the urban environment and dealing with spatial constraints for construction. HMM is responsible for management of the geotechnical investigation, design, and preparation of procurement documents for construction, which is expected to proceed in 2007. Read E-News Weekly 51/2004. Visit www.hatchmott.com 30/06.



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Canada, Ontario - ca/26

Sewage

  After the Regional Municipality of York secured all the required permits, a joint venture of McNally (70%) and Aecon (30%) is set to begin construction of the 16th Avenue trunk sewer, Phase 2. The CAD60 million project involves the construction of a 3.5 m-diameter tunnel to be built along 16th Avenue from Stone Mason Boulevard to east of Woodbine Avenue in the town of Markham. Totalling 7.2 km in length, the new trunk sewer will provide a connection to existing trunk sewers in the area and will allow for further development in the region. Construction is expected to begin this November and be completed by spring 2007. Visit www.region.york.on.ca, www.mcnallycorp.com and www.aecon.com 48/04.A joint venture of McNally International (70%) and Aecon Constructors (30%) has been awarded a CAD77.1 million tunnel contract by the Regional Municipality of York. The project involves the design and construction of two sanitary trunk sewers, each having a minimum internal diameter of 1.8 metres. The Bathurst collector sewer will run approximately 5.1 km along Bathurst Street north of Steeles Avenue, and the Langstaff trunk sewer will run approximately 3.7 km, primarily along Langstaff Road west of Bathurst Street. Construction of the sewers will involve Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) tunnelling technology. Construction will begin immediately and is scheduled to be concluded in the fall of 2008. Visit www.region.york.on.ca, www.mcnallyintl.com and www.aecon.com 22/06.Lovat has been contracted to design and manufacture twin 3.3 m-diameter EPB TBMs for the joint venture of McNally Construction and Aecon Group for the latest expansion of the sewer systems in the Regional Municipality of York, north of Toronto. Both TBMs will be operating below the local water table. The first TBM will bore 5.1 km northwards under Bathurst Street at a depth ranging from 9 to 30 m. The second TBM will bore westerly from an intermediate shaft of the Bathurst collector for 3.7 km at a depth ranging from 22 to 34 m, mostly under Langstaff Road. Geological conditions along the drives are characterised mostly by tills, slity clays and buried sands. Large quantities of cobbles and boulders are expected in both tunnel drives. The TBMs will feature a three-spoke design cutting head with a dressing of 20 back-loading ripper teeth which will be interchangeable with disc cutters. These mixed-face EPB TBMs will erect a tunnel liner comprised of prefabricated reinforced concrete segments with an outer diameter of 3.1 m, an internal diameter of 2.7 m and a length of 1.2 m. Grouting will occur through the segments. The first TBM is expected to be delivered on 26th December, 2006 and the second will follow on 27th January, 2007. Click ca/26. Visit www.lovat.com 31-32/06.Lovat has been contracted to design and manufacture a third 3.3 m-diametre EPB TBM for the JV of McNally Construction and Aecon Group. This newly designed and manufactured TBM will be identical to two recently ordered machines in June. Click ca/26. This TBM is also to be used by the contractors for the latest expansion of the sewer systems in York Region, north of Toronto. The machine will be building a tunnel lined with prefabricated reinforced concrete segments for a length of 4.2 km through medium sands and glacial tills (including many cobbles and boulders). The tunnel is completely under the water table to a depth of 18 metres above the crown. This will be the sixth Lovat TBM used by McNally/Aecon. It will be delivered in March 2007. Visit www.lovat.com 35/06.A joint venture of McNally International (70%) and Aecon (30%) has been awarded contract T-06-29, worth CAD69.2 million, by the Regional Municipality of York to construct an interceptor sewer of the York Durham sewage system (YDSS). The project involves the construction and commissioning of a total of approximately 4,307 metres of new concrete sanitary sewer. The first section consists of a 1,650 mm-diameter C301 concrete sanitary sewer on 19th Avenue, approximately 207 m long, to be constructed by open trench method. The second section consists of a 2.1 m-diameter concrete sanitary sewer on 19th Avenue and Leslie Street, approximately 4,100 m long, to be constructed by tunnelling. Construction of the tunnelled sewer will involve EPB tunnelling technology, which is designed to limit dewatering during construction through a section in the Oak Ridges aquifer complex. Two Lovat EPB TBMs will be required to complete this project within the allowed schedule. Construction will begin immediately and is scheduled to be concluded in January of 2008. The project will bring work to nearly 30 km of tunnel construction since Aecon and McNally began building tunnels for the Region in 2001, including the Bathurst Langstaff, 16th Avenue and 9th Line tunnel projects. Click ca/26. Visit www.region.york.on.ca, http://ydss.cenet.ca, www.mcnallycorp.com, www.aecon.com and www.lovat.com 39/06.



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Strabag has been awarded a EUR200 million contract to construct a 15 km-long, 3.6 m-diameter wastewater tunnel in York, Toronto. The contract includes 16 shafts and various bio-filters to clean the air and remove odours, as well as the upgrade of a nearby 3 km stretch of road. Read the press release. Visit www.strabag.com. 36/11.



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Canada, British Columbia - ca/25

Water Supply and Hydropower

A C$600 million filtration system will pump Capilano water to the Seymour reservoir plant through twin 7.6 km-long 3.5 m-diameter tunnels beneath Grouse Mountain and Mount Fromme. The project represents the largest such system in Canada and is set for approval by the Greater Vancouver Regional District. The project would include a 15-hectare water filtration plant near Rice Lake in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. It would be equipped to handle 1.8 billion litres of water a day flowing from the Seymour and Capilano reservoirs. Capilano water would be pumped to the Seymour plant through the tunnel. On its gravity return through a second tunnel to Capilano, the water would create up to 1.8 megawatts of electricity. Project construction would begin this summer and continue into mid-2007. The tunnels will be dug by a TBM in bedrock 50-200 metres below the surface. A rail or conveyor system will transport the excavated rock to the surface. Cost of the project is estimated at up to C$600 million, including C$254 million for the filtration plant, C$149 million for the tunnels, C$72 million for the pumping station and infrastructure, C$85 million in indirect costs and C$40 million for inflation. Read E-News Weekly 19/2002, 22/2002 & 23/2002. Visit www.gvrd.bc.ca 18/03.The Greater Vancouver Regional District has prequalified eight companies or JVs for building the Capilano-Seymour water scheme. They are: Bilfinger Berger; Frontier Kemper / Aecon; Guy F. Atkinson; Insituform Technologies; J. F. Shea Construction; Kenny Construction; McNally / Obayashi; and Kiewit / Traylor. The tender package will be issued by the end of April. Contract award targeted at end of July. The project includes the 185 m-deep 12 m-diameter Seymour shaft, the two 270 m-deep 4 m-diameter Capilano shafts and two 7.2 km parallel tunnels in deep rock 160 to 640 m below the surface, approximately 3.7 m in diameter. Two simultaneous drives with a TBM in each tunnel. Support with bolts, shotcrete, mesh and steel arches depending on ground conditions. Mucking-out method is the contractor's choice. Tunnelling cost estimated at CAD100 million. Read E-News Weekly 9/2004, 23/2002, 22/2002 & 19/2002. Visit www.gvrd.bc.ca 18/04.The three bidders for the Capilano-Seymour project are Kiewit with CAD237.5 million, Frontier Kemper / Aecon / J.F. Shea with CAD186.2 million and Bilfinger Berger / Fru-Con with CAD99.6 million. Tenders are currently under review. The project includes the 185 m-deep 12 m-diameter Seymour shaft, the two 270 m-deep 4 m-diameter Capilano shafts and two 7.2 km parallel tunnels in deep rock 160 to 640 m below the surface, approximately 3.7 m in diameter, to be driven by two TBMs. Subscribe to E-News Weekly 31/2004, 9/2004, 23/2002, 22/2002 & 19/2002. Visit www.gvrd.bc.ca 35/04.The Capilano-Seymour project has been awarded on 31st August to Bilfinger Berger and its American subsidiary Fru-Con for CAD99.6 million. It includes the 185 m-deep 12 m-diameter Seymour shaft, the two 270 m-deep 4 m-diameter Capilano shafts and two 7.2 km parallel tunnels in deep rock 160 to 640 m below the surface, approximately 3.7 m in diameter, to be driven by two TBMs. Visit www.gvrd.bc.ca/gvrdtenders/TenderDetails.aspx?tenderId=228&tender, www.bilfinger.de and www.frucon.com 37/04.The twin 7.1 km-long, 3.8 m-diameter Capilano-Seymour tunnels were originally awarded to Bilfinger Berger Canada Inc in August, 2004. The contract was terminated in May, 2008 and is currently the subject of legal dispute over differing ground conditions which caused safety concerns. Metro Vancouver recently asked three prequalified joint ventures to resubmit proposals by 23.01.2009. They are: McNally/Obayashi/Procon; Frontier Kemper/J F Shea/Aecon; and Dragados/SELI/Schiavoni. For more history and background visit tunnelbuilder archive ca/25 and www.metrovancouver.org/services/constructionprojects/water/pages/seymourcapilano.aspx. 08/09.



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Seymour Capilano Partnership, a jv of Frontier Kemper, Aecon and J F Shea that took on the 7.2 km-long Seymour Capilano tunnels following a differing ground conditions dispute in 2008/2009, has holed out three months ahead of the revised schedule. The second of two Robbins 3.8 m-diameter main beam TBMs broke through on 04.11.2010 after a two-year hard drive through granitic metavolcanic rock with up to 600 m cover. For project history visit tunnelbuilder archive ca/25, and for the breakthrough story read the Robbins press release or visit www.robbinstbm.com. 46/10.



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Canada, Ontario - ca/23

Railway

C$450-million private sector financing sought by the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership (DRTP) as part of an estimated C$600 million (US$400 million) plan to convert the current twin-tube rail tunnel under the Detroit river across the border between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan into a truck route and to build a new single-tube rail tunnel to accommodate all rail cars. Preliminary designs and preparatory work almost completed. DRTP is a partnership between Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and Borealis Transportation Infrastructure Trust (BTIT). The tunnel could be completed in early 2007. More info in E-News Weekly # 33. 36/02.



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Canada, Montreal - ca/17

Metro - Line 2

Line 2 extension to Laval with 3 stations at Cartier, La Concorde and Montmorency on schedule with preliminary drilling to determine the final layout of the tunnels. Preliminary plans and estimates will be ready in December, 2001 and tunnelling expected to begin in March, 2002 for completion in January, 2006. Double-track 3,179 m-long Henri Bourassa-Cartier tunnel to link Montmorency station to run between Maison des Arts and CEGEP Montmorency plus 729 m tunnel to cross Rivière des Prairies under the Marigot sewer to reach Cartier station. Engineering by a jv of SNC-Lavalin, Tecsult and GMAT assisted by consulting engineers Municonsult, Bisson & Associés, Giasson and Farregut. $378.8 million project fully financed by the Quebec Ministry of Transport. Visit www.amt.qc.ca 44/01. Award of a C$24 million contract to Neilson Excavation Inc. for construction of the Cartier section (lot C04), a 1.2 km double-track tunnel, using a roadheader with support with anchoring bolts, shotcrete, and steel arches. Work to start September 2002 for completion in June 2004. Visit www.neilsonex.com. Award of the La Concorde section (lot C05) to EBC Inc. Drill/blast method. Support with 3 m anchoring bolts. Visit www.ebcinc.qc.ca. Section Henri-Bourassa (lot C01) and the Montmorency back station and depot (lot C13) will be tendered this fall.The Laval extension consists of a 4.3 km-long 8 m-wide 6 m-high double-track single tunnel plus nearly 800 m of a 5 m-wide 6 m-high one-track tunnel. Ground composed of limestone sometimes with laminates of shale. Steel arches will be installed at the connection between the cut-and-cover stations and the bored tunnel. Shotcrete recommended in shale areas to stabilise the ground expected to deteriorate under the drying effect. Visit www.amt.qc.ca/grandsprojets/metrolaval/index.asp 36/02.Tenders invited for construction of the Montmorency station and the double-track tunnel at the back of the station (lot C13) as part of the extention to Laval of the Orange Line. Deadline 14th November, 2002. Visit www.amt.qc.ca/corpo/Appro/appels_fiche.asp?fiche=AMT-I2-CO-557 or contact Agence Métropolitaine de Transport, 500 Place d'Armes, 25e étage, Montréal (Québec) H2Y 2W2. E-mail Jean-Franí§ois Demers, jfdemers@amt.qc.ca, tél. +1 5142877716, fax +1 514287708. 45/02.In La Concorde, drill/blast excavation is progressing well, some 30 m below ground. There are two blasts every day prior to increasing to three then four. The advance gained after each blast is 3 to 3.5 m. To date, 100 m have been bored in three weeks. Construction is programmed to be completed in January 2006. To view a video clip of the works in La Concorde, click here (RealPlayer required). 45/02.



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Canada, - ca/13

Ontario - Hydro

Ontario - ca/13HydroOntario Power reports that the 10 km-long, 14 m-diameter Sir Adam Beck power station tunnel project to divert water from the Niagara river, shelved following award to Obayashi/Kenaidan jv in 1998, will now go ahead in 2002. The alignment through limestone and shale will require a double gripper hardrock TBM to drive from the power station upgrade to a cofferdam in the centre of the river. The $320 million design/build project bid was prepared by Acres/Bechtel. Harza Engineering is consultant to the contractor, with sub-consultancy services provided by Parsons Brinckerhoff. April 2000. Request for proposals for a feasibility study of the Beck 3 generating project to be issued before the end of March 2003. The study is expected to be completed by fall. The Ontario Power Generation (OPG) will proceed with a 10.5 km-long 12.5 m-diameter tunnel project, an expansion of the existing Sir Adam Beck generating station at Niagara Falls. The Beck 3 project would have a maximum generating capacity of just under 1000 MW. Visit www.energy.gov.on.ca and www.ontariohydroenergy.com. Read E-News Weekly # 47. 07/03.Further to the Ontario government's endorsement of the project, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is about to seek requests for proposal (RFP) in an open, competitive and international bidding to select who will construct the third Niagara Falls tunnel. The successful bidder will be required to construct the tunnel as a turnkey project. The tunnel project will expand the capacity at Sir Adam Beck 1 and 2 hydro generating stations by about 15% by boring a new 10.5 km-long 12.5 m-diameter tunnel under the city of Niagara Falls to divert more water from the Niagara River to the station complex. During construction, approximately 8 million tonnes of material will be moved and 1 million tonnes of concrete will be poured. Construction could begin as early as next year, with completion of the project expected in 2009. When completed, the new tunnel will deliver about 1.6 TWh of electricity every year.To run the Niagara Falls generating stations, water is diverted from the river above the falls and channelled through two tunnels to power stations at Queenston. A treaty with the United States sets a limit on the amount of water each country can divert to its power stations. The two existing tunnels cannot carry all the water Canada is allowed to use. The new third tunnel will allow Canada to use all the water the country is permitted. However, a study undertaken in the wake of August 2003's blackout by Klohn Crippen and Stone & Webster concluded that there is not enough water on the Canadian side of the Niagara river to justify building a third Beck plant. The Niagara third tunnel project is expected to cost an estimated CD600 million. Subscribe to E-News Weekly 47/2002. Visit www.opg.com and read the study at www.energy.gov.on.ca/english/pdf/electricity/040616_Beck3%20Report.pdf 28/04.Call for expressions of interest, deadline 26th August, 2004 for design and construction of the third Niagara Falls tunnel. The objective of the project is to provide at least 500 cu m of water per second to the generating stations. The contractor will be responsible for finalizing a design to meet this objective. It is expected that a single tunnel 10.5 km will be constructed. The internal diameter of the finished tunnel will be at least 12.5 m. Intake and discharge structures will be included in the contract. Geology is sedimentary rock with the bulk of the excavation in shale. A single TBM is most likely. Support system will be designed by the contractor. A conveyor belt system is most likely for the mucking-out. A single design/build contract will be released for bid by year end 2004, to those parties who have been prequalified. Contract award in mid 2005. Construction work to begin in mid 2005. Cost estimates are under review. This information is based on early conceptual work and are subject to change during the design process. Documents available on 21st July, 2004. For further info on the prequalification process, contact Harry Charalambu, tel. +1 9054034210, fax +1 9058552607, e-mail hcharalambu@hatch.ca. Visit www.opg.com/info/ads/OPG_NiagaraAd_Globe.pdf 30/04.The four prequalified companies invited to submit their detailed proposals for the design and construction of a new 10.5 km tunnel to carry water from the Niagara River above the falls to the Adam Beck generating plant located at Queenston Heights are Niagara Tunnel Constructors (Aecon Constructors, Hochtief Construction AG, J.F. Shea Construction Inc., Traylor Bros. Inc.); Niagara Tunnelers (Obayashi Corporation / Kenaidan Contracting); Peter Kiewit Sons Co.; and Strabag. The successful bidder will be required to construct the tunnel as a turn-key project. Construction activities are expected to start in the summer of 2005, with completion of the tunnel expected in 2009. Visit www.opg.com 03/05.Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has awarded a CAD600 million contract to Strabag to design and build a new 10.4 km-long 12.7 m ID tunnel to supply additional water from above Niagara Falls to the Sir Adam Beck 2 generating plant at Queenston Heights. Strabag will be supported by ILF of Austria, Morrison Hershfield of Toronto, Dufferin Construction of Oakville and several other local subcontractors. A 14.4 m-diameter TBM will be used to excavate the tunnel about 140 m below ground level. The TBM will cost between CAD75 million and CAD80 million and will take up to a year to build. Preparation work will start in September. The site construction work force is expected to average about 230 workers, with peaks of up to 350 workers. The tunnel will supply 500 cu m/sec of additional water to the power plant and will enable energy output to increase by an average of about 1.6 Terawatt hours/year. It is expected to be producing new clean electricity for the Ontario market by late 2009. Visit www.opg.com and www.strabag.at 35/05.The largest hard rock TBM in the world (14.4 m in diameter) will be designed and manufactured by Robbins for the Niagara Falls tunnel project. The project is to bore a third tunnel at the famous waterway that flows between the USA and Canada, providing water flow of approximately 500 cu m/sec and ultimately increasing power production by 14% - enough to meet the annual needs of a city of 700,000 people. The 10.4 km tunnel will have a finished diameter of approximately 12.5 m.The Robbins TBM will be an open, hard rock, main beam TBM that utilises the proven Robbins floating gripper design. The TBM will be manufactured with a state-of-the-art ground support system. The cutterhead will be powered with a 4,725 kW variable frequency drive system that can be increased to 5,040 kW. For optimum tunnelling performance, Strabag elected to utilise Robbins 20-inch cutters mounted in a back-loading cutterhead. Alternately, Robbins 19-inch cutters can be used without modification of the cutterhead. The geology is varied consisting of limestone, dolostone, sandstone, shale, and mudstone. The rock strength ranges from 15 to 180 MPa, with most of the rock in the 100 to 180 MPa range. With the exception of the sandstone, the geology is largely non-abrasive. The Robbins TBM will be delivered in 12 months and is scheduled to begin boring in the autumn of 2006. The TBM excavation is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2008. Click here for more. Visit www.robbinstbm.com 43/05.



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