Tunnels for Safer Roads in Mountainous South TyrolThe Bolzano province in South Tyrol, Northern Italy has adopted an active policy to guarantee a safer road access to famous valleys like Val d'Ega and Val Badia. The new roads and tunnels under construction underline the significance of new infrastructure for the population but also for the economy and tourism. Major improvements are under way or around the corner on roads SS 12 and SS 241 in Val d'Ega and road SS 244 in Val Badia. Future projects are also planned on road SS 38 and in Merano. Visit www.provincia.bz.it Road SS 12 - Bronzolo-Bolzano bypassIn 1995, Bressanone's engineering consultancy EUT and Innsbruck's ILF were awarded the project for the Bronzolo-Bolzano bypass on road SS 12, subdivided in two lots. For planimetry, click here. The section between Pineta di Laives and Bolzano/Maso della Pieve (lots 2 & 2a), consisting of the San Giacomo tunnel, built by Condotte, started in 2000 and was opened to traffic on 2nd July, 2005 (read E-News Weekly 29/2005). The executive project design updating for lot 1 (between Bronzolo and Pineta di Laives) is currently under way, based on new safety regulation. The executive project design has been appoved by the province of South Tyrol on 8th August, 2006. Tenders for the at-grade section between Pineta di Laives junction and the Laives tunnel portal are expected to be invited by year end while tenders are expected to be invited in 2007 for the Laives and Bronzolo tunnels. Full work completion is expected for 2010.The bypass mainly consists of three single-tube bidirectional tunnels: San Giacomo (2,444 m, of which 218 m in cut-and-cover with rectangular cross section at the north entrance near Maso della Pieve's sports area), Laives (2,882 m, of which 96 m in cut-and-cover with rectangular cross section at the north entrance) and Bronzolo (672 m, all cut-and-cover with rectangular cross section).The cross section of the bored part of the San Giacomo tunnel ranges from 75 to 284 sq m. The cut-and-cover part is 11.90 m wide and 7.52 m high. The Laives tunnel has a bored cross section ranging from 94 to 124 sq m, the ventilation duct cross section above the false ceiling is 13.50 sq m, the cut-and-cover cross section is 11.90 m wide and 7.52 m high. The Bronzolo tunnel features a 11.98 m-wide x 7.13 m-high outer cross section of the cut-and-cover stretch. An escape exit is planned in the San Giacomo tunnel.In the Laives tunnel, the following structures are planned: four emergency stop lay-bys, a three-lane section at the south portal, a ventilation cavern at the second emergency stop lay-by, connected to a 291 m-high ventilation shaft (cross section of about 15 sq m) and a 225 m-long ventilation tunnel (cross section of about 15 sq m). An emergency escape linked to each emergency stop lay-by is planned. The Laives tunnel will be fitted with lighting, ventilation with a smoke removal duct in the space above the roadway created by concrete panels, fire fighting systems, traffic management, radio and GSM, supervision and control, SOS and fire fighting niches.An emergency escape connecting to a staircase above the tunnel crown is planned in the Bronzolo cut-and-cover tunnel. The geology consists mainly of Bolzano's quartziferous porphyries. Fine grain deposits of the Adige valley and turf, mixed conoid deposits, foothill formations (sand, silts, clays and turf) and Isarco's rough alluviums have also been identified.Construction of lot 2 & 2a amounted to EUR27.05 million, while the comprehensive project's cost was EUR47.30 million. The estimated construction cost of lot 1 is EUR65.46 million, whereas the whole project is budgeted at EUR99.80 million. Click it/48. Visit www.eut.bz.it/it and www.condottespa.it Road SS 12 - Bressanone ring roadFurther to the award in April of a EUR42.5 million contract to PAC, Beton Isarco and Edilpassiria, construction was scheduled to commence in May on the first lot of the Bressanone ring road between Ch. 477+390 and Ch. 479+900 on road SS 12 to the Brenner, dubbed "dell'Abetone". This lot comprises a twin bored tunnel (south bore of 1,225 m and north bore of 770 m). The outer cross section is 127 sq m when the tunnel is circular and 92 sq m when it is rectangular. As to the south tunnel, it is planned to construct a 600 m-long 3.8 m-diameter pilot bore for the main tunnel, two 78 m-long and 85.5 m-long adits, a 62 m-high ventilation shaft, and an emergency exit shaft. For the north tunnel, a 15 m-high ventilation shaft and an emergency escape to the open air are also planned. To view a cross section, click here. Click it/72. Visit www.pacspa.it and www.beton-eisack.it Alignment of Bressanone and Varna ring road The geology consists of soft ground all over the path, apart from some short sections in rock. Full-face excavation will be applied at four different drives, using conventional means or drilling and blasting in rock sections. The pilot bore will be driven using a TBM.In the soft soils, the contour and face will be supported by means of jet-grouting columns implemented by drilling steel pipes at the crown, steel arches, fibre-reinforced shotcrete and invert construction. In rock, fibre-reinforced shotcrete and radial bolts will be installed at the crown while the pilot tunnel will be lined by prefabricated concrete segments. Specialist companies will be contracted to buy the excavated material and to supply concrete since the installation of a muck processing facility and concrete plant has not been allowed in the area of the tunnel. The spoil will therefore be trucked to temporary dump sites.Another project, the Varna ring road, is still in the preliminary planning stage. A 360 m-long tunnel is planned on a central junction, as well as the 425 m-long Varna tunnel and another tunnel, 300 m in length, on the north junction. Total cost amounts to EUR107.4 million.SS 12 - Ora ring roadThe Bolzano province gave the green light in August to the first lot of the Ora ring road, by opening the work sites further to the definitive award of a EUR18 million contract to a JV of Conbau, Oberosler and PAC. The project is a connection to highway A22 and Fiemme valley through the Castelfeder tunnel. Construction of the new tunnel is programmed to commence soon. The first lot comprises a 995 m-long single bored tunnel to distribute traffic from Fiemme valley directly to south, therefore to highway A22 to the Brenner. The cross section is 75 sq m and the diameter is 11 m. There is also a 150 m-long 7.5 sq m escape exit.Geology consists of good quality, compact porphyric rock. The drill/blast method will be used from two attacks. For support, injection bolts, self-drilling anchors, steel arches, welded fabric and fibre-reinforced shotcrete will be implemented. The rock will be mucked by dump trucks to then be crushed and processed on the spot and subsequently reused as concrete aggregates for tunnel lining and concreting of the roadway bed. In the environmentally sensitive Castelfeder, a specific environmental area of interest, forepoling will be used. The total cost of lot 1 amounts to EUR33,721,057.The contractors have pledged to use materials of quality and to cut by six months the construction time necessary to achieve the works. The project should be completed in 2008. The second lot, the San Daniele tunnel, is expected to be put out to bid soon. It is a 1,062 m-long tunnel with a tender estimate of EUR19.6 million. Click E-News Weekly 20/2006. Visit www.oberosler.com and www.pacspa.it Road SS 241 in Ega valleyThe second lot on road SS 241 in Ega valley in Bolzano province includes the Campegno tunnel which will make safer the second part of the road. The total length of this lot is approx. 1,600 m. From the portal of the 1,148 m-long Cornedo tunnel, already built and opened since March 2003 (read E-News Weekly 13/2003), the current alignment in the open air will be protected by a 36 m-long rockfall shed, afterwards there is a bridge linking to the north portal of the tunnel to be built. This new 1,427 m-long tunnel will also include a 118 m-long emergency exit, with a 5.3 m x 5.3 m excavated dimension. At the end of the tunnel, it is envisaged to build another bridge, much shorter (about 13 m), and a rockfall shed. The first 13 metres of this shed overlap the bridge so that the total length of the combination bridge + shed is 100 metres from the tunnel portal.The tunnel path crosses ignimbrites of the south Tyrol porphyric formation. Rock is characterised by regular cracks vertically and irregular cracks horizontally. Despite this, rock quality is good. Work is performed by a JV between PAC and Gasser. Visit www.gassertiefbau.comExcavation commenced on 5th April, 2006 with the first blast at the uphill portal. The circular cross section has a maximum width / diameter of approx. 12 m and a crown height of approx. 8 m. NATM is used i.e. sequential tunnelling (top heading and benches). There are three drives, one from the portal and two others from the emergency exit used as access, using jumbo drill rigs. When tunnelling commenced, a drill rig was employed, supplied by Robodrill, represented in Italy by Geotunnel. Later on, a second jumbo was expected to be introduced but no supplier had been chosen then. Explosives are supplied by SEI (Società Esplosivi Industriali). Visit www.robodrill-sa.com, www.geotunnel.it and www.sei-spa.com/contattatecita.htmlFor support, crews will install Swellex type bolts, welded mesh, shotcrete without fibres, and steel ribs consisting of twin IPE 160. The first blasts required 12 m-long 32 cm pipe roofing at the tunnel end. The rock is mucked by loaders and trucks. The overall investment amounts to approx. EUR23.5 million. This is the total amount for civil works, equipment and reserves. The contract for the civil works totals approx. EUR12 million. Tunnelling of the second tunnel, according to predictions, will end in February 2007. Then will start the finishing works, both construction (surfacing, etc.) and E&M equipment. On completion of the portal during the final phase to avoid traffic disruptions, the work schedule plans the construction of a false tunnel at the portal to protect the access section to the tunnel. The deadline for completion of all the works, according to the contract, is Christmas 2007. Click it/70.Road SS 244 in Badia valley between Mantana and LongegaThe project to upgrade and secure the section of road SS 244 in Badia valley between Mantana and Longega is approx. 6,080 m long. It includes the construction of five single-tube tunnels, totalling 3,737 metres: Tunnel 1 (544 m), Tunnel 2 (940 m), Tunnel 3 (615 m), Tunnel 4 (687 m) and Tunnel 5 (951 m). It also includes a viaduct, two rockfall sheds and a bridge in Mantana, in addition to the upgrading of sections in between. To view an alignment map, click here. The excavation area is 80-83 sq m. Each tunnel is fitted with one or two accesses to be used as emergency escape, which will improve natural ventilation. Each tunnel is 7 m high and carries two one-way lanes, each 3.5 m wide and a 0.85 m-wide service pavement. All tunnels are lit to increase safety and comfort while driving. In addition, every tunnel is fitted with many fire fighting niches and at least two SOS niches. Safety measures fully comply with the standards of the legislation in force. Read E-News Weekly 1/2006, 45/2003, 40/2003, 30/2003 & 8/2003.The geology is characterised by the presence of disseminated outcrops of the rock substratum, consisting of a Prepermian subalpine metamorphic complex, predominantly phyllitic, on which a fluvio-glacial, morainic and detrictic hillslope mass, not very much spread out, can be locally identified. The lithotypes identified in the subsoil, from the older to the more recent ones, are quartziferous phyllites, morainic deposits, fluvio-glacial deposits, alluvial deposits, and hillslope detritus.The contractors are Grassetto Lavori and Cossi Costruzioni. There have been two attacks at each tunnel. The drilling and blasting method has been used, with three jumbos and three excavators equipped with hammers for rock scaling. Support consists of bolts and welded mesh. The vault is supported by fibre-reinforced shotcrete sprayed by three pumps. The rock is mucked away using loaders, dump trucks, and 4-axle heavy vehicles. Visit www.grassetto.it and www.cossi.comThe first section of the new SS 244 road, 2.5 km of length, was inaugurated on 7th December, 2005. This section, already operational, includes Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 5. Completion of the works was programmed for July 2006. The overall cost of the scheme amounts to EUR68.8 million, that is EUR11,300 per metre for the 6,080 m-long project.Road SS 244 in Badia valley - Pedraces-Punt de Fer bypassConstruction of a tunnel and a bridge commenced on 19th April, 2006 in Punt de Fer, in the Pedraces municipality, as part of an important project to improve security on road SS 244 in Badia valley. The provincial council had previously approved the project to realign this dangerous section of the SS 244. According to planning, the bypass starts at approx. 2.4 km north of Pedraces and crosses in tunnel a rock hillside, while the existing road follows on that section a narrow bend in the open air. The new 422 m-long tunnel will be blasted in rock using explosives. To maintain a regular traffic while tunnelling and construction of the north portal are under way, enlarging the existing road downstream will be necessary thanks to a supporting wall. Oberosler pocketed the construction contract for EUR5.6 million (read E-News Weekly 47/2005). Work should be completed within approx. 600 days. Read www.sgsgeo.com/ita/home.html Road SS 49 in Pusteria valleyFor the upgrading of the SS 49 in San Lorenzo di Sebato in Pusteria valley, two single-tube tunnels are envisaged, Castel Badia (approx. 600 m) and Floronzo (approx. 1,000 m). The inner diameter will be 10.9 m for each tunnel. Both tunnel projects are in the preliminary design stage. The provincial office for cultural heritage has been involved in the design of the Castel Badia tunnel since the tunnel crown will be only at approx. 38 metres from a XIth century castle.The geology consists of Bressanone quartziferous phyllites for the Castel Badia tunnel and Bressanone quartziferous phyllites and fluvio-glacial deposits for the Floronzo tunnel.Excavation of both tunnels will be carried out using excavators equipped with hammers and/or jumbos and explosives. There will be two drives per tunnel. Support and lining will consist of bolts, steel arches, welded mesh, and shotcrete. After each blast, the muck will be evacuated using dumpers.The full project, including both tunnels, is estimated to cost EUR35 million. Monte Benedetto tunnel in MeranoAll through and HGV traffic in the Bolzano-Passiria valley direction crosses Merano. The Bolzano province plans to build a tunnel through Mount San Benedetto (Kuechelberg) to reduce transit traffic passing through the municipality. Thanks to the tunnel, the current unbearable situation will come to an end. Fine dust emissions, exhaust fumes and noise nuisance will be reduced. In addition to reducing traffic through Merano's city centre by 30%, the project will bring greater safety to pedestrians and cyclists and improve life quality. The Monte Benedetto tunnel will extend from the railway station to the road to Passiria valley. The entire tunnel project is 3,170 m long. The section will be 5 m high and 8 m wide minimum, i.e. two 3.5 m lanes and a 50 cm side strip at each lane.By June 2007, the final design will be prepared and in the second semester of 2007, the project will be put out to tender. The province of Bolzano has approved the preliminary design in July 2006. The project is budgeted at EUR153 million. Construction is scheduled to commence within about two years and will last about four to five years, for completion expected in 2010 at the earliest. Click here. Visit www.verkehr-bewegt.it or www.traffico-smuove.it 41/06.