Ganzstein closes Semmering gapCompletion of the second 2.1 km-long tube at Ganzstein on the S6 Semmering Expressway will provide the final link on the motorway route between Lower Austria and Styria. A joint venture of Porr, Ostu-Stettin, Strabag and Hinteregger constructed the parallel tube from both ends, using excavators in the east section and drill/blast in the west section to remove 175,000 cu m of rock. During the operation, some 48,000 cu m of shotcrete was placed, together with 570 t of structural steel, 37,000 m of steel arches, 247,000 m of spiles and 178,000 m of anchors. Five connecting crosscuts were excavated, along with two laybys, 17 emergency intercom stations and 19 firefighting niches. A concrete final lining was placed using two formworks. Traffic is currently using the new tube while the old tube is refurbished, and official opening of the tunnel system is on schedule for March, 2009. More at www.strabag.at. For the history of the S6 Semmering motorway project, visit tunnelbuilder archive at/19. 01/09.