New breakthrough in Gotthard base tunnel in SwitzerlandThe TBM Gabi I started driving southwards from Erstfeld on December 4, 2007 and eighteen months later, and half a year earlier than planned, it reached its destination at Amsteg after 7,2 km. Breakthrough of the tunnel was achieved on June 16, 2009 with great accuracy: the deviation of 4 mm horizontally and 8 mm vertically was minimal. The machine will then be dismantled and transported away. With the breakthrough between Erstfeld und Amsteg, the second-to-last of the total of five sections celebrated its breakthrough. Of the 153.5 km of the tunnel system under the Gotthard, 133 km or 87 percent have now been excavated. According to the construction programme, the final breakthrough between Sedrun and Faido will take place at the beginning of 2 011. On the 1st June 2009 the west TBM Gabi II has cut 5,742 m or 80 %. Click ch/52 and visit www.alptransith.ch and www.agn-amsteg.ch 25/09