A Robbins Double Shield TBM broke through at the Black River Tunnel Project on 29.04.2014 in Lorain, OH. The 1.7 km-long EPA-mandated tunnel will prevent heavy rains from triggering sewage overflows into the Black River, which empties into Lake Erie. The 7.0 m-diameter hard rock machine reached excellent advance rates in the area’s soft shale, averaging 21 m/day.

The project is the first time that Onsite First Time Assembly (OFTA) of a TBM has been used in the United States. Project geology consisting of soft shale made for great advance rates and minimal cutter wear, with only seven cutters changed during excavation. A unique tunnel lining method of ring beams and lagging was used. Read the press release and click here for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit www.robbinstbm.com and click here to download the Robbins latest newsletter 20/14.