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 Gorge and H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons, two of the three active construction lots in Austria

The miners have excavated by traditional method approximately 2.4 km of the main tunnel east – north, lot H41 Sill Gorge - Pfons, towards Innsbruck. This section of the tunnel is now connected to construction lot H21 Sill Gorge. 

The ceremony took place in the Viller Berg mountain, inside the 130-m-long eastern main tunnel. This area includes the northern portal of the Brenner Base Tunnel. Passenger trains will travel through this tunnel from Innsbruck Central Station towards Italy. 

Conventional excavation of the eastern tunnel began on 31/03/2023 in the Ahrental valley towards Innsbruck, towards the neighbouring lot H21 Sill Gorge. 350,000 kg of explosives were used, approximately 250 kg per blast. Up to four blasts were carried out each day. 156,000 m³ of rock were extracted, 825 t of steel were used and 14,100 m3 of shotcrete were applied. 

Breakthrough of the main western tunnel - 3.4 km long and excavation of which began in November 2022 - is scheduled for spring 2025. 

For further information on the project click here, at/16 and it/103 for the tunnelbuilder archive. Visit https://www.bbt-se.com/. 38/24.