Atlanta Celebrates New Year with Commissioning of Nancy Creek TunnelMayor Shirley Franklin spoke at the R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center on 31st December, 2005 to herald the flow of sewage through the new Nancy Creek tunnel, one of the first major projects completed in response to a 1999 federal court order. Franklin officially opened the facility with a fireworks display, but workers began opening seven sluice gates into the tunnel on 30th December. The 13.7 km-long tunnel, driven by two Robbins hard rock TBMs, was built to reduce overflows on Atlanta's north side, where older pipes admitted rain through cracks and often backed up into basements. The 4.88 m-diameter tunnel runs beneath the older pipes, which now can overflow into spill shafts that drop to the tunnel. It cost about USD131 million, and the associated pumping station cost about USD31 million more. The project, started in July 2003, finished on schedule and slightly under budget. Read more here. Click us/60. Visit www.robbinstbm.com and www.cleanwateratlanta.org/NancyCreek 02/06.