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 from the Mules lot, Flavia has excavated and lined approximately 13.3 kilometres of the western railway tunnel, with only 1 kilometre remaining to reach the total 14.3-kilometer mark. Once this milestone is achieved, all excavation work on the tunnels at the Mules construction site will be finalized.
Operating under an immense overburden of over 1,200 meters, TBM Flavia is navigating some of the most challenging geological conditions along its route.
Flavia’s counterpart, Virginia, completed its excavation in the eastern main tunnel on March 30, 2023. Unlike Flavia, Virginia did not install lining segments during its progress.
The segments installed by TBM Flavia were produced at the Hinterrigger plant, which concluded its production of precast concrete elements for the Brenner Base Tunnel on September 19, 2024. Over nearly seven years, the plant manufactured more than 218,000 segments using an eco-friendly process that incorporated around 30% recycled excavated material.
Alongside Flavia, four other TBMs are contributing to the BBT project:
- Ida: Operating in the western main tunnel at the H41 Sill Gorge-Pfons site, moving southward.
- Lilia: Operating in the eastern main tunnel on the same site, also moving southward.
- Wilma and Olga: Operating at the H53 Pfons-Brenner site, moving northward in the western and eastern main tunnels, respectively.
TBM Flavia’s final breakthrough will mark a significant milestone in the progress of the Brenner Base Tunnel, one of Europe’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
For further information on the project click here, at/16 and it/103 for the tunnelbuilder archive. Visit https://www.bbt-se.com/. 50/24.
