Chairs: Jaidev Sankar, Amtrak, Julio Martinez, Skanska, West Caldwell, NJ

Sponsored by:

Introductions

 

8:30 AM
Designing and Constructing the Advance Tunnel for the Scarborough Subway Extension

Michael Dutton and Andreas Raedle; Arup Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Uhland Konrad; STRABAG Inc, Toronto,Ontario, Canada, Jorge Ferrero; STRABAG Inc, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Keivan Pak Iman; GHD, Markham, Ontario, Canada, Walter Trisi, Metrolinx, Hannon, Ontario, Canada

Strabag, in partnership with ARUP, is constructing the Advance Tunnel for the Scarborough Subway Extension (ATSSE). The 10.7m internal diameter single bore tunnel represents a significant departure from the traditional arrangement of twin subway tunnels in North America. ATSSE is the first-time steel fibers are used to solely reinforce a tunnel of this size in Eastern Canada. This paper discusses the challenges with design and acceptance of SFRC segments and the state-of-the-art numerical models employed to check the joint performance. The TBM’s and PCTL’s rapid procurement schedule is also presented.

 

9:00 AM
Qualifications and Design of Waterproofing Systems for Underground Structures

Stefan Lemke and Tim Kearney; Renesco Inc, Chantilly, Virginia, United States, Enrico Pavese; Renesco Holding AG, Moosseedorf, BE, Switzerland

Modern underground structures are built with a design-life-expectancy of over 120 years, which means that standards for tunnel construction must be high, in particular those involving sealing and waterproofing systems. Starting with manufacture's application guidelines, the today's corresponding standards are available on the international market since the 1980s years and being constantly adapted to current issues in various committees. However, it can be observed that, especially when interpreting the application limits between SEM constructions, cut & cover structures, and buildings, these are interpreted differently, not always to the advantage of a permanent seal. The paper is giving an overview about the current available standards for waterproofing in the tunnel industry and highlights the different philosophies to allow a better technical interpretation.

 

9:30 AM
Design and Construction of NBAQ4 Project - First Urban Tunnel in Metro Manila

Andrew Raine; Arup HK Ltd, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Greater China), Abegail Endraca; ARUP, Manila, San Antonio, Philippines, Allan Patdu; Manila Water Company Inc., Quezon City,NCR, Philippines, Allan Sebastian; ARUP, Manila, San Antonio, Philippines

The project involves the construction of a new aqueduct tunnel by an Earth Pressure Balance TBM tunnel for the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct No 4 (NBAQ4) project in Metro Manila. It comprises a 7.3km long and 3.1m internal diameter tunnel that can deliver up to 1000MLD of raw water and the tunnel passes under urban residential and urban populated areas adjacent to and along Commonwealth Avenue. A new reservoir intake structure was constructed in the La Mesa reservoir by a cofferdam and the TBM breakthrough connected the reservoir to the outlet surge shaft structure and the downstream pipe network system connecting to the Balara Water Treatment Plant. The TBM incorporated a double articulated head configuration to allow tight 80m radius curves to navigate some of the difficult alignment considerations. The alignment passed very close to some existing foundations for MRT7 and needed to clear several tight curves to remain within government land ownership. The project excavated through the local Guadalupe weak rock formations and there was minimal ground movements observed as a result of the work.

 

10:00 AM
A Case Study in Successful Progressive Design Build Tunneling

Leo Weiman-Benitez; Barnard Bessac Joint Venture, Bozeman, Montana, United States, Nik Sokol; Arup, Oakland, California, United States, Mike Jaeger; Tanner Pacific, Inc., San Carlos, California, United States

Silicon Valley Clean Water signed a progressive-design-build (PDB) contract with Barnard Bessac Joint Venture (BBJV) to design and construct the Gravity Pipeline Tunnel in Redwood City, CA. Owner and Design-Builder teamed with designer Arup to provide a final product: 3.3 miles of 182 in. O.D. precast concrete segmentally lined tunnel with 10 ft. & 11 ft. I.D. Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer Mortar (FRPM) carrier pipe, complete with two FRPM Drop Structures. BBJV and Arup collaborated with SVCW to evaluate alternative design concepts, negotiate an agreeable price and reduce contingencies through a transparent estimating process, and deliver the project ahead of schedule.

 

10:30 AM
Successful Completion of LA Metro Regional Connector Transit Project

Tung Vu; VN Tunnel and Underground, Inc., Azusa, California, United States, Mike Harrington; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, California, United States

The Regional Connector Transit Project is a 1.9-mile long underground light rail system that will connect LA Metro’s Blue, Expo and Gold Lines in downtown Los Angeles. This $1.75-billion design- build project is scheduled for revenue service in fall 2022. The project consists of 21-foot diameter twin- bored tunnels, a 300-foot long crossover SEM cavern, three new underground stations (at 1st Street/Central Avenue, 2nd Street/ Broadway Avenue, and 2nd/Hope Streets), and cut-and-cover tunnels along South Flower, Alameda, and 1st Streets. This paper, which is the continuation of our previous paper presented in RETC 2019 - LA Metro Regional Connector Transit Project: Successful Halfway-Through Completion, will provide insight into construction of major components, and system integration and testing of this complex transit project.

 

Chairs: Dave Dorfman, Walsh Group, Warwick, NY, Chris Lynagh, McNally, Westlake, OH

Sponsored by:

Introductions

 

8:30 AM
Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel–50 Years Later

Adam Bedell; Stantec, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, Neal Retzer; Colorado Department of Transportation, Golden, Colorado, United States, Nick Ciofreddi and Mike Salamon; Stantec, Denver, Colorado, United States

The first wagon trail across Loveland Pass was built in 1869 thus starting the struggle between the Colorado Rockies and interstate travel. The 1st Pioneer Bore underneath Loveland Pass at the Continental Divide in Colorado was attempted between 1941 and 1943 and was abandoned due to ground conditions at the Loveland Fault. Construction on the Eisenhower Tunnel began in 1967 and was completed in 1973.
Numerous challenges associated with tunneling at 11,000 ft were overcome. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the history of investigation and construction challenges associated with the Eisenhower Tunnel to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

 

9:00 AM
Los Angeles, California JWPCP Effluent Outfall Tunnel Project – Tunneling Under Extremely Challenging Conditions

Roberto Schuerch, Paolo Perazzelli, Miriam Piemontese and Philippa Halton; Pini Group Ltd., Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, Claudio Cimiotti and Nick Karlin; DRAGADOS USA, Wilmington, California, United States

The new Los Angeles, California JWPCP effluent outfall tunnel will transport secondary-treated effluent from the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant in Carson to White Point Manifold. The tunnel will be approximately 7 miles (11 km) long with a finished internal diameter of 18 ft (5.5 m). The TBM is designed to cope with high water pressure up to 10 bar. The geotechnical challenges are due to the heterogeneous subsurface conditions: in the first half of the alignment, the tunnel runs through soils with a low overburden under urban areas, and, in the second half, the tunnel runs through extremely weak, intensely faulted rock masses with high overburden. Following an overview of the project, this paper focuses on the northern portion of the alignment and presents a decision-making procedure developed during pre-excavation phase in order to cope with the expected heterogeneous conditions during mining. The risk assessment and the TBM operational design of the southern portion will be dealt with in a future paper.

 

9:30 AM
Gas Extraction and In-Situ Oxidation for TBM Tunneling of the Purple Line Extension, Section 1, Los Angeles

Richard McLane; Traylor Bros., Inc., Long Beach, California, United States, Matt Neuner; Golder Associates, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Hugh Davies; Golder Associates, Englewood, Colorado, United States, James Corcoran; Traylor Bros., Inc., Long Beach, California, United States, Joseph DeMello; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, California, United States

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) Purple Line Extension Section 1 (PLE1) is a $3.12 billion USD design-build, underground heavy rail project, connecting an existing station at Wilshire Blvd and Western Ave and extending 3.92 miles under Wilshire Blvd, terminating approximately 550 feet west of Wilshire and La Cienega Blvds. The project alignment runs immediately adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits, world renowned for Pleistocene fossils and continuous seepage of asphaltum (locally known as tar) and gas in an urban setting. This paper presents a successful case history of the planning, design, and construction efforts to safely construct the bored tunnels through Reach 3 of the alignment (between Wilshire / Fairfax Station, and Wilshire / La Cienega Station), in a designated Methane Zone in the City of Los Angeles. Historical context on decades of challenges and studies is summarized. Further, this paper outlines the pro-active partnership between the Owner: LA Metro, the Design Builder: Skanska-Traylor-Shea Joint Venture, and geotechnical design services provided by Golder Associates to safely manage pressurized face tunneling through a confined gas zone near the La Brea Tar Pits. Specifically, a program of in-situ oxidation and soil gas extraction was designed to test and analyze risks associated with pressurized face TBM tunneling through the complex subsurface geological conditions, then implemented during construction. In advance of tunneling, a network of wells was used to draw air into the gas zone to oxidize the 6,500 ppm hydrogen sulfide gas, as well as determine methane recharge rate. During TBM tunneling, the wells were converted to a gas extraction system to evacuate, filter (H2S) and burn (CH4) the gas as the Tunnel Boring Machine passed, providing a preferential pathway for the gas to migrate toward extraction wells, and preventing the migration to adjacent buildings. The team extracted and treated 3,857,000 cubic feet of mostly methane gas over 40 days as the TBMs passed through the zone. Gas behavior, pressures, and concentrations were monitored not only from the extraction system, but also in basements and utility vaults along this section of the alignment.

 

10:00 AM
Second Narrows Water Supply Tunnel – Conventional Deep Shaft Excavation in Variable Weak Rock

Andrew McGlenn; Delve Underground, Mercer Island, Washington, United States, Bruce Downing; WSP Golder, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, Murray Gant; Greater Vancouver Water District, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, Brian McInnes; Traylor AECON General Partnership, North Vancouver, British Columbia, United States

The Second Narrows Water Supply Tunnel crossing beneath Burrard Inlet is an important component of the Greater Vancouver Water District’s plans to increase seismic resilience and meet increasing water demands. The project included the 110 m (350 ft) deep South TBM Receival Shaft, the deepest shaft to date in the sedimentary rock unit underlying much of metro Vancouver. The shaft encountered varied sedimentary rock types including fractured rock associated with a fault underlying Burrard Inlet. This paper discusses the design and construction challenges associated with this shaft and the means necessary to complete the shaft in time for TBM arrival.

 

Chairs: Da Ha, STV Inc., Dan McMahon, Taylor Bros Inc, Long Beach, CA

Introductions

 

8:30 AM
Design-Build Project Delivery Method Selection and Implementation of a GBR-B and GBR-C for the Pawtucket Tunnel

Kathryn Kelly; Narragansett Bay Commission, Providence, Rhode Island, United States, Julian Prada; Stantec, South Burlington, United States , Todd Moline; MWH Constructors, Providence, Rhode Island, United States, Robin Dill; AECOM, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, United States, Brian Hann; CB3A, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States

Narragansett Bay Commission’s (NBC) Pawtucket Tunnel Project includes construction of the 11,600-ft long, 30-ft ID, deep rock tunnel. This paper presents insight into the features and benefits of lump-sum, design-build that led NBC to select it as the project delivery method. The use of a design-build contracting process that included proprietary meetings to discuss and obtain feedback on Alternative Technical Concepts as well as to facilitate reaching consensus on modifications to the GBR-B is also described. The discussion includes features and benefits of design-build process that not only addressed NBC’s desired outcomes, but also allowed the Design-Builder to propose several innovative changes to the Base Technical Concepts included in the bid documents, and to develop a GBR-C that was compatible with their proposed means and methods of construction and addressed what they believed to be the more significant subsurface risks on the project.

 

9:00 AM
Adapting to Project Needs: Frozen Cross Passages and Adits

Aaron McCain, Kyle Amoroso, and Larry Applegate; SoilFreeze, Woodinville, Washington, United States

The use of frozen soil as ground improvement and temporary ground support for the excavation and construction of cross passages and adits has gained in popularity over the last decade. Frozen soil provides a number of advantages for this application such as being waterproof, structurally stable, and working well with any soil type. One of the greatest advantages is the ability for the system to be adaptable to the project geometry and site limitations. Multiple case histories illustrate that freezing can occur from the ground surface, from within the tunnel, or as a combination.

 

9:30 AM
Submerged Penetrations through a Frozen Soil Shoring System

Kyle Amoroso and Aaron McCain; SoilFreeze, Woodinville, Washington, United States

Frozen soil shoring has been used for decades in the tunneling industry to provide temporary support of excavation. However, horizontal penetrations through the frozen soil can prove to be challenging. The key to creating a stable portal through frozen ground is managing and mitigating the flow of groundwater into the excavation through the annular space surrounding the drill stem or casing. This paper will review two different approaches that have been used to successfully penetrate frozen soil shoring on multiple projects.

 

10:00 AM
Ground Improvement in Glacial Soils for the Lower Olentangy Tunnel – Columbus, OH

Jeremy Cawley; City of Columbus, Columbus, Ohio, United States,
Horry Parker Jr.; Black & Veatch, Columbus, Ohio, United States,
Jeff Murphy; DLZ, Columbus, Ohio, United States,
Jake Keegan; Delve Underground, Columbus, Ohio, United States,
Brock Gaspar; Schnabel Geostructural Design and Construction, Bethesda, Maryland, United States,
Bob Rautenberg; Granite Construction, Columbus, Ohio, United States

The Lower Olentangy Tunnel project includes 47000 cubic yards of planned ground improvement for EPBM tunneling (3 miles) and micro-tunneling (1100 feet) in glacial soils. Jet grouting initiated in late 2021 will continue through 2023 to complete operations at 5 shafts, 14 safe havens, 5 watermain ground improvement zones, and a river crossing. Typical jet grout columns are installed at depths between 50-80 feet and discrete soil-cement blocks range from 267-8900 cubic yards in volume. This paper discusses the methodology, testing program, sequencing, and technical considerations associated with jet grouting operations in glacial overburden across an urban environment.

 

10:30 AM
Using the Digital Geologist to Count Cobbles at the RSC7 Tunnel

Shane Yanagisawa , Osprey Engineers LLC; Dan Preston , ClaroVia Holdings LLC; Don Deere, Deere & Ault Consulting Engineers; and Robert Marshall Frontier-Kemper Constructors Inc.

Geotechnical Baseline Reports often estimate the number of cobbles that will be encountered in terms of volume or weight. These estimates are practically impossible to verify in the field. ClaroVia Holdings in conjunction with Frontier Kemper Constructors Inc. developed Digital Geologist 2.0 to classify and count cobbles discharged from an EPB TBM at the RSC7 project in Burbank, CA. The system worked by using two stereoscopic laser sensors with a global shutter to scan and count cobbles at 12 frames per second. Results of the effort are revealed along with lessons learned and paths for improvement.

Chairs: Ben McQueen, Frontier-Kemper Constructors Inc, North Vancouver, BC, Canada David Lacher, Traylor Bros Inc, Los Angeles, CA

Sponsored by:

Introductions

 

8:30 AM
New Diversion Hydropower Plant – Nedre Fiskumfoss

Mads Aniksdal; Skanska Norge AS, Oslo, Kongshavn, Norway

New Nedre Fiskumfoss is a construction project in North Trøndelag, Namsen River. The purpose of the contract is construction of a new hydropower plant, that will phase out the existing power plant in the same waterfall. The contract consists of a tunnel system with cross sections from 16m2 to150m2, powerhouse and transformer in rock caverns, 6 shafts and major works with inlet and outlet below river level. Technical challenges consist of demanding design on rock extraction, cofferdams, solid constructions with challenging design and demanding rebar work, as well as restrictions and unpredictable waterflow in a national salmon river.

 

9:00 AM
New Water Supply – Oslo

Ingunn Opland and Silje Marie Tinderholt; Skanska Norway AS, Oslo, Norway

Drill and blast project in Norway’s capital. The contract consists of 7 rock caverns (350-950 m2), 9.2 km tunnels, and four shafts.
With 110 blue-collar and 31 white-collar, the project produces an average of 16-21 000 m3 hard rock per week, with a total of 19 tunnel faces. Weekly, nine grouting rounds for water control, 800 m3 shotcrete, and 1200 bolts are required, and 60 trucks leave the site pr. Day. Challenges include blasting in densely populated areas, planning and coordination to maintain high production, obtaining a CEEQUAL certification of very good, and transporting rock on Oslo's main highway.

 

9:30 AM
Enhanced Probe Drilling and Pre–Grouting Design and Recommendations on Hard Rock TBMs

Stryker Magnuson; Robbins, Kent, Washington, United States

While probe drills are not strictly necessary for all projects, the incorporation and use of probe drills and pre-grouting adds capability and insurance to boring operations. Water ingress and unstable ground can be resolved before becoming a problem and resulting in costly delays through the use of enhanced, 360-degree probe drilling setups. To do this, proper design of the array of drill ports in the shield, matched to the possible ground conditions, is critical. For ground with exceptional water and instabilities expected, additional probing locations are low-cost additions that can lower risk and increase efficiency. In this paper we will look at recent and ongoing projects including the Lower Meramec Tunnel and Jefferson Barracks Phase 2. We will detail the design of those probe drill arrangements, and our overall recommendations for probing/grouting systems that best suit challenging ground conditions and keep projects running smoothly.

 

10:00 AM
Hard Rock TBMs - The Experience of Brenner Basis Tunnel, Construction lot Mules 2-3 for the Evaluation of Risk Prediction Tools

Federico Amadini and Alberto Flor; Systra Sws, Mattarello (TN), Trento, Italy, Massimo Secondulfo; Ghella, Rome, Italy, Davide Balliani, Webuild, Rome, Italy, F. Cernera, Massimo La Morgia, A. Mei and Francesco Sassi; Department of Computer Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

The risk of TBM jamming because of squeezing rock mass or excessive caving (instability of the cavity) conditions is always a focal point while boring long and deep tunnels with shielded TBMs. Mechanized excavation provides a large amount of real-time data, for each machine’s parameters. Several analyses have been executed to assess the correlations between different sets of TBM parameters for the exploratory tunnel. Instead of analysing the full dataset, a different approach is proposed, with data processed sequentially to simulate the real excavation situation. The probability distributions are recalculated together with their statistical parameters while advancing. This approach is extended also to the training of a Machine Learning model able to foresee the behavior at future rings based on past rings (using a Recurrent Neural Network). The predictions show a promising first step toward creating practical tools that can assist contractors and designers to correlate and predict TBM excavation data. These tools will assist to predict and quantify high risk situations that could arise during excavation.

 

10:30 AM
Record-Setting Tunnel Boring Below Lake Ontario at the Ashbridges Bay Outfall Tunnel

Doug Harding; Robbins, Solon, Ohio, United States, Joe Savage; Southland Contracting, Grapevine, Texas, United States

The 3.5 km long Ashbridges Bay Outfall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is a challenging drive set below Lake Ontario. After a remote machine acceptance due to the global pandemic, an 8 m diameter Single Shield machine launched in March 2021 from an 85 m deep shaft and began its bore in shale with limestone, siltstone and sandstone. During excavation, the TBM and its crew bored a city-wide record of 30 rings in one day, or 47 m of advance. This paper will cover the unique project, from TBM acceptance through to launch, tunneling in difficult conditions, and completion in 2022.

 

11:00 AM
Construction of TBM-Mined Segments of the Sister Grove Outfall Pipeline

R Gregory Rogoff; Delve Underground, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, United States, Patrick Niemuth; Triad Engineering, Inc., Brooklyn, Ohio, United States, Roshan Thapa, North Texas Municipal Water District, Wylie, Texas, United States, Richard Yovichin; Delve Underground, Dallas, Texas, United States, Ricky Chipka; Triad Engineering, Inc., Brooklyn, Ohio, United States

A 4.5-mile-long, 96-inch-diameter outfall pipeline was constructed between North Texas Municipal Water District’s proposed Sister Grove Regional Water Resource Recovery Facility and the Stiff Creek Discharge Structure. Two TBM-mined tunnel segments were excavated for the outfall pipeline through rock and mixed-face conditions within the Austin Chalk Formation. The TBM mining performance was tracked in detail and evaluated during mining. This paper discusses the TBM configuration, TBM utilization, advance rates, and challenges of both tunnel segments.

 

11:30 AM
Construction of Coxwell Bypass Tunnel Project in Toronto, ON

Ehsan Alavi; Jay Dee Contractors, Livonia, Michigan, United States, Eren Kusdogan; JayDee Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The City of Toronto’s Coxwell Bypass Tunnel is currently being constructed by North Tunnel Constructors ULC, a joint venture of Jay Dee Canada, C&M McNally Tunnel Constructors and Michels Canada. This project includes construction of approximately 10.5 km of 6.3 metre finished diameter rock tunnel, five 20 metre diameter storage shafts and eleven tunnel connection drop shafts, along with associated deaeration and adit tunnels. This paper describes progress on the project to date and reviews the risk mitigation measures utilized on the project to move the project forward through tough geological conditions during shaft excavation and tunneling phase of the project.

 

Chairs: Manan Garg, Austin Transit Partnership, Austin, TX John Yen, Skanska, Riverside, CA

Sponsored by:

Introductions

 

1:30 PM
Gateway Program - Cut and Cover Tunnel in Manhattan

David Smith; WSP, New York, New York, United States, Drew Bazil and Matteo Ferrucci; WSP, New York, New York, United States, David Pittman; Amtrak, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

The Gateway program will provide additional rail capacity between New Jersey and Manhattan. This paper describes the how a 90-foot-deep section of cut-and-cover tunnel was designed to directly support future high-rise towers. The tunnel will link a previously completed tunnel sections under Hudson Yards to future tunnels under the Hudson River. The design aims to minimize constraints on future overbuild and future tunnels, while maximizing constructability within a small worksite. Design optimizations between Preliminary and Final Design are described. The tunnel will pass under the High Line walkway, next to an active rail yard, and close to a subway tunnel. The design was developed by a tri-venture of WSP, STV and AECOM. WSP led the design of major underground works; STV designed utility relocations and the underpinning concept for the High Line; and AECOM designed temporary in-tunnel systems. Construction is expected to start in 2023.

 

2:00 PM
Design Aspects of the Minneapolis Central City Parallel Tunnel

Bruce Wagener; CNA Consulting Engineers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, Randall Divito; HATCH, Buffalo, New York, United States, Craig Eckdahl; CNA Consulting Engineers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, Joseph Klejwa; City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

The existing Central City Tunnel was built in the 1930’s for stormwater drainage in downtown Minneapolis. It is a 4,400-ft long tunnel located 80 feet underground. The Central City Tunnel has experienced surcharging and surface overflows during heavy rainfall events. This paper presents the details of tunnel and shaft design for the new Central City Parallel Tunnel to mitigate the overflows. The design considered hydraulics and geotechnical engineering for the structural geologic conditions including the weak Saint Peter Sandstone and overlying strong Platteville Limestone. Ground conditions resulted in tunnel designs including large flat-back box tunnels and unique cathedral-shaped tunnel sections.

 

2:30 PM
Milestone Reservoir Quarry Project: Collaborative Design Development using CMAR

Stephen Miller; Schnabel Engineering, Sterling, Virginia, United States, , James O’Shaughnessy; Arcadis, Arlington, Virginia, United States, Mike Hanna; Black & Veach, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States, Nathan Scalla; Clark Construction, Sterling, Virginia, United States, Savita Schlesinger; Loudoun Water, Ashburn, Virginia, United States

Loudoun Water’s Quarry A (Milestone Reservoir) project involves conversion of a rock quarry to a billion-gallon raw water reservoir. The project includes a new 40 MGD pump station, deep intake shaft, and three drill and blast intake tunnels for accessing the reservoir. Due to concerns regarding constructability and construction risks, the project design was paused while a Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR) contractor was procured. The CMAR contractor was engaged collaboratively with the design team to provide risk and constructability input for refining the design. Aspects of the original design, design modifications, and benefits of the CMAR collaboration will be presented.

 

3:00 PM
Gravity Sewer Tunnel Liner Corrosion Protection - Part Two

Jon Kaneshiro; Parsons, San Diego, California, United States, Pooyan Asadollahi; Parsons Corporation, Centerville, Virginia, United States, Eric Dawson; Parsons Corporation, Austin, Texas, United States, Steven Hunt; Black and Veatch, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

This paper provides updates to the 2011 RETC paper in San Francisco with a summary of developments in technologies, products, and approaches to corrosion analyses of gravity sewer tunnels and microtunnels. This paper provides an approach in evaluating degradation of fiber reinforce concrete liners using the EPA’s approach using the Pomeroy equation. Also, the carbon footprint of conventional concrete liners and alternative “green” liners are compared and their life cycle costs are considered. A few illuminating case histories since 2011 are provided indicating the latest and emerging trends in liner protection.

 

3:30 PM
Tunneling for High Energy Physics in Menlo Park, CA

Justin Lianides and Derek Penrice; Mott MacDonald, San Ramon, California, United States, Irene Bendanillo; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, United States, Canon Cheung; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, United States

The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory’s 2-mile-long particle accelerator generates the world’s brightest X-rays from its Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) that have driven ground-breaking discoveries in medicine and industry. The LCLS-II-HE project provides a significant increase in laser energy, allowing cutting-edge research in fields including biology and environmental sciences. A key project component is the Low Emittance Injector Tunnel (LEIT), a 240-ft-long tunnel to be built alongside the accelerator and connected via a 30-ft-long transfer tunnel. This paper discusses site and scientific constraints that led to the selection of the LEIT configuration— sequential excavation method driven tunnels to be constructed in mixed face conditions comprising native rock and placed backfill, and critical design considerations including protection of overlying and adjacent historic structures and structural accommodation of near fault seismic loading.

 

Chairs: Nick Duncan, Traylor Bros Inc, Alexandria, VA, Luis Piek, Arup, San Francisco, CA

Introductions

 

1:30 PM
Evaluation and Construction Effects of a 22-Story Tower on Adjacent Metro Tunnels in Los Angeles

S. Amir Reza Beyabanaki; Delve Underground, Walnut Creek, California, United States, Yiming Sun; Delve Underground, Walnut Creek, California, United States, Stan Tang; Geotechnologies, Inc., Glendale, California, United States, Garrett Lee; Jamison Properties, LP, Los Angeles, California, United States, N. Sathi Sathialingam; LA Metro, Los Angeles, California, United States

The Kurve mixed-use development project including a 22-story tower at 2801 Sunset Place was constructed on a site consisting of a roughly rectangular-shaped lot at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Hoover Street in Los Angeles. Two Metro Red Line tunnels, with depths of approximately 30 feet and 58 feet, respectively, cross below the building at distances of approximately 1 foot to over 63 feet from the site. This paper presents numerical modeling performed to evaluate the ground and tunnel behavior in response to building construction. Results of geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring undertaken during the building construction are also discussed.

 

2:00 PM
SVCW Gravity Pipeline - Ground Movements During Construction

Jon Hurt, Eric Sekulski, Nik Sokol, Shrinidhi Vijayakumar; Arup, New York, New York, United States, Phaidra Campbell; JCK Underground, Hawaii, United States, Leo Weiman-Benitez; Barnard Bessac Joint Venture

The Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) Gravity Pipeline (GP) is the first Progressive Design Build (PDB) tunnel completed in North America. As part of the Regional Environmental Sewer Conveyance Upgrade (RESCU) Program, the tunnel is a key component to replacing and rehabilitating components of the existing conveyance system in San Mateo County, California. The GP consists of a large diameter Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer Mortar (FRPM) pipe installed inside a 4.1m (13.5ft) inside diameter, 5.3km (3.3 mile) long precast concrete segmentally lined tunnel. The tunnel was constructed using a 4.6m (15.2ft) diameter Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) through heterogenous silts, clays and sands. Construction included two separate TBM launches from a centrally located access shaft, and a tunnel alignment below but in close proximity to very soft Young Bay Mud. Settlement criteria and mitigation strategies focused on protection of an existing 1.42m (56 inch) diameter force main and adjoining structures along the alignment. This paper discusses the results of the theoretical settlement analysis versus the actual observed ground movements, while also presenting mitigation measures and adjustments made during tunneling to reduce the risks of adverse settlement.

 

2:30 PM
Bay Park Conveyance Project, New York – Construction Update

David Smith; WSP, New York, New York, United States, Brian Lakin; Delve Underground, New York, New York, United States, Brian Aweh, John P. Picone, Lawrence, New York, United States, Vincent Falkowski and Kenneth Arnold; Nassau County Department of Public Works, Wantagh, New York, United States, Andrew Fera; New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, New York, United States

Nassau County, New York, is undertaking several projects to improve the water quality in the Western Bays of Long Island. A major step forward will be the completion of the Bay Park Conveyance Project, which will divert most treated effluent away from the Western Bays to an existing ocean outfall at the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant. The ongoing works include 3.6 miles of microtunneling, 7 miles of sliplining, 14 shafts, and a 75 MGD pump station. This paper provides an overview of the design and an update on construction progress through December 2022. The project is a collaborative effort between Nassau County, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the design-builder, and various consultants.

 

Chairs: Mrutyunjay Vajirkar, STV Inc., Leah McGovern, STV Inc, Floral Park, NY

Sponsored by:

Introductions

 

1:30 PM
The Versatility of Tunneling and Trenchless Methods for Sustainable Grid Construction

Peter Schmaeh and Dr. Marc Peters; Herrenknecht AG, Schwanau-Allmannsweier, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

The development of renewable energies and a sustainable power grid are the challenges for future energy supply. Underground cables will replace the vulnerable overhead lines, because of their safety benefits. Due to the public environmental awareness, smart tunnelling and trenchless solutions are required for inner- city and cross-country installations of underground cables, as well as for crossings and the landfall sections to connect offshore windfarms to the transmission grid. Methods from the tunnelling and pipeline industry provide a high flexibility in the planning of alignments, including versatile tunnel concepts and the installation of protective pipes with E-Power Pipe and Direct Pipe.

 

2:00 PM
Curved Microtunneling to Reduce Disruption in City Environment

Daniel Cressman, Allan Rocas, Peter Clarkson and Aswathy Sivaram; Black & Veatch, Markham, Ontario, Canada;, Tatiana Chiesa, Metro Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The City of Toronto plans to construct a 1,350 mm consolidation sewer along the East Don Roadway (EDR). The project includes installation of approximately 260 meter of 1,350 mm diameter concrete pressure pipe through microtunneling methods. The sewer alignment crosses underneath a busy 5-lane arterial road and then follows the very narrow East Don Roadway road allowance. This paper discusses the significant challenges overcome to design and construct the Don Roadway sewer using slurry microtunneling methods through mixed face conditions below the groundwater table in a congested road allowance. A curved microtunnel was ultimately required to avoid conflicts with existing utilities, condominium tiebacks and a bridge structure.

 

2:30 PM
Missouri River Intake Screen Structure and Tunnel: Overcoming Underground Challenges to Build Vital Infrastructure

Ryan Ward, Michels Trenchless, Inc., Brownsville, Wisconsin, United States

The Missouri River Intake Screen Structure and Tunnel (MRISST) is one phase of Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP), a vital piece of infrastructure in the state of North Dakota to transport water to drought-laden communities in the eastern half of the state. The scope of work consists of constructing a cofferdam in the Missouri River, mining a 1,600-foot by 74-inch tunnel from a secant pile shaft near the riverbank into the cofferdam, and erecting a 40-foot Y-shaped vertical pipe structure in the cofferdam to support the intake screens. Construction personnel worked in the river through the North Dakota winter to construct the cofferdam and contended with high hydrostatic pressures and raveling sands, gravels, cobbles and boulders while mining the tunnel. Microtunneling was selected as the technique with the highest probability of success on this important project. Diligent planning and meticulous execution were essential to overcoming the challenges encountered below the Missouri River.

 

3:00 PM
Northeast Boundary Tunnel Project: First Street Connector Tunnel and Mount Olivet Road Diversion Sewer Design and Construction

Jeremiah M. Jezerski; Brierley Associates Corporation, East Syracuse, New York, United States,
Basilio Giurgola and Filippo Azzara; The Lane Construction Corporation, Washington, D.C., United States
Russell H. Lutch; Brierley Associates Corporation; Brighton, Michigan, United States,
Federico Bonaiuti; The Lane Construction Corporation, Washington, D.C., United States

The Northeast Boundary Tunnel Project consists of a 23 ft diameter, 27,000 ft long, CSO tunnel, multiple underground connections, and significant surface works within an urban corridor. The NEBT alignment depths range from 60 to 140 ft and includes seven shafts ranging in depth from 77 to 155 ft with diameters varying from about 19.5 to 56 ft, some as in-line connections and others required adits for connection to the main tunnel. This paper focuses on the design and construction of two major underground connections which are the First Street Connector Tunnel and the Mount Olivet Road Diversion Sewer.

 

1:30 PM
Owners Forum Panel

Moderator: Moussa Wone, Vice President, DC Clean Rivers Project, Washington, DC

The purpose of this Panel is to share with the audience an Owner’s perspective on issues of interest to both the Consulting and Contracting communities. The Forum will be moderated by Dr. Wone, Vice President of DC Water’s Clean Rivers’ program, and will be comprised of four Owner panelists who are subject matter experts in their fields. The Panelists will focus on four topics to be selected; potential topics include Covid Claims, Owner Controlled Insurance Program (OCIP), Escalation, Partnering, Project Delivery Methods, Dispute Resolution Boards, Risk Management, and others. The list of the panel composition is being developed and will be soon made available to the Conference participants.

 

Chairs: Steve Price, Walsh Group, Little Falls, NJ, Ehsan Alavi, JayDee Contractors Inc, Livonia, MI

Sponsored by:

 

Introductions

 

1:30 PM
Project Clean Lake’s First Large Diameter EPB TBM in Cleveland, Ohio

Brian Negrea, Lance Jackson, and Erica McGlynn; McNally Tunneling Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, United States

There was no need for the people of Cleveland to ask “Where does the raw sewage go? We want to know!” because it was clear. The raw sewage was being discharged into Lake Erie during heavy rainfall events due to the outdated design of the combined sewer system. In efforts to resolve this ongoing issue for the City of Cleveland, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District developed Project Clean Lake in collaboration with the US EPA. Project Clean Lake is a 25-year, $3 billion program consisting of seven large-diameter CSO storage tunnels to be constructed beneath the city’s existing infrastructure. The first four tunnels have been completed using traditional hard rock TBM excavation methods. The fifth tunnel, the Shoreline Storage Tunnel Project, presents unique challenges and complexities as it will be the first large-diameter EPB TBM to dig under the City of Cleveland. The project itself consists of one tunnel drive 14,100’ (2.7 miles) in length, two pipe jacking tunnels, three large slurry wall shafts, two diversion structures, and three regulator reconstructions. Upon completion of the project, 12 permitted CSO locations along Lake Erie will be taken offline, reducing overflow volumes by approximately 350 million gallons per year. This paper will discuss the current status of construction and the chosen means and methods, including the myriad of nuanced differences between hard rock and EPB TBM tunneling methods. Particular attention will be given to the site preparation, setup, and organization; TBM assembly; and TBM launching practices.

 

2:00 PM
Ground Freezing Deep Shaft Excavation Shaft 17B-1 New York City Water Tunnel No. 3 New York, New York

Andrew Chedwiggen; Keller, Hanover, Maryland, United States, and Tara Wilk; Walsh Construction, Hanover, Maryland, United States

Construction of Shaft 17B-1, a part of The New York City water supply system, required an excavation of approximately 38m (123ft) through water-bearing overburden soil and more than 152m (500ft) of gneiss bedrock to make a connection to Water Tunnel No. 3. Ground freezing was the specified method to provide temporary earth support and ground water control for the overburden material. The ground freezing process relied on a supplemental geotechnical investigation and comprehensive laboratory testing of the frozen soil to evaluate the potential long-term creep behavior of the soil and the elimination of a temporary lining system. This paper describes that process as well as the drilling and installation methods of the ground freezing system. Additionally, the methodical system of excavation and insulation is discussed that permitted a safe and timely excavation followed by the installation of the permanent concrete liner.

 

2:30 PM
Large Diameter Shaft Excavation Support Design and Blasting Methods in a Dense Urban Environment for the Pawtucket Tunnel Project

Andrew R. Klaetsch, Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers PLLC, New York, New York, United States,
Frederic Souche, Civil & Building North America (CBNA), Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States,
Brian Hann; Barletta Co., Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States,
Nick Goodenow; Stantec Consulting, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

This paper describes support of excavation (SOE) design and construction for three large diameter shafts excavated through glacial soil and controlled blasting in complex sedimentary rock formations. SOE in soil consists of unreinforced secant pile rings designed to resist lateral pressure in circumferential compression, eliminating costly steel core beam reinforcing. Controlled blasting at the shafts, adits, and tunnels in densely populated neighborhoods requires managing risks to the public, buildings, and utilities. Controlled blasting approaches limited adverse impacts to receptors nearby while achieving adequate production and fragmentation. A site-specific observational approach was used to adjust blasting parameters, limiting the impact on local stakeholders while maintaining daily progress and managing overbreak.

 

3:00 PM
Development and Performance of Large Span Caverns at Depth for the LBNF Far Site

Seth Pollak; Arup, New York, New York, and James Rickard; Fermi Research Alliance, LLC, Lead, South Dakota, United States

The Long Baseline Neutrino Facility Far Site in Lead, South Dakota is currently under construction and involves drill and blast excavation of some of the largest and deepest caverns in North America. This presentation will review how the geotechnical risks are being managed through careful consideration of excavation sequence, completion of exploratory pilot tunnels, implementation of a robust instrumentation and monitoring program, and validation against the design. Aside from having a cross section of 5,900 square feet and being situated at a depth of one mile, the caverns also employ a unique permanent rock bolt solution which underwent a significant pre-production pull testing program involving varying installation methods and being subject to blast vibrations. The behavior of the schistose rock mass and performance of the ground support are being continually monitored throughout the construction phase.

 

Chairs: Jean-Luc des Rivieres, JFShea, William Hodder, North Tunnel Constructors ULC, Toronto, ON, Canada

Sponsored by:

Introductions

 

8:30 AM
Evaluation of Long Term Loads on Freight Tunnels in Chicago

Alireza Ayoubian; Parsons, New York, New York, United States, Richard Finno; Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States

The network of freight tunnels in Chicago consists of about 62 miles of horseshoe-shaped tunnels constructed typically less than 50 feet below ground surface. These tunnels serve as repositories of much infrastructure and should remain serviceable. The tunnels are often impacted by adjacent excavations and the question arises as to the existing state of stress in the final liner. This paper discusses construction of these tunnels and presents the results of finite element analyses which were used to obtain ranges for axial forces and bending moments that have developed in the final liner of the freight tunnels since their construction.

 

9:00 AM
Direct Tensile Testing and CT-Scanning of Fibre Reinforced Shotcrete

Mark Trim; Delve Underground, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia, Denis Tepavac; Delve Underground, Docklands, Victoria, Australia

Structural performance of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) depends on its ability to carry tensile forces after cracking. Australian Standards AS5100-2017 and AS3600-2018 are the only available design standards that establish a test procedure to determine strength and toughness of an FRC in direct tension. Direct tensile testing of fiber reinforced shotcrete samples was performed to determine if the model and guidelines in AS5100/3600 were applicable to shotcrete; all previous testing was from cast samples. In addition to direct testing, micro CT-scanning was also performed. The paper presents tests performed, results, and how the tests could be used on future projects. In addition, a brief summary is provided of the guiding structural mechanics used for estimating residual tensile strength and test methods utilized to verify those estimates.

 

9:30 AM
Various Rock Tunneling Methods Utilized on the Doan Valley Storage Tunnel Project

Collin Schroeder and Chris Lynagh; McNally Tunneling Corporation, Westlake, Ohio, United States

Determining the best excavation method is a critical step in successful tunnel construction. In rock tunneling, several factors can dictate the excavation method, such as: 1) rock characteristics, 2) tunnel size and length, 3) nearby utilities/infrastructure, and 4) contractor’s preferred means and methods. This paper discusses the various rock tunnel excavation methods utilized on the Doan Valley Storage Tunnel Project (DVT), a project constructed as part of the broader Project Clean Lake in Cleveland, Ohio. The differences between each method’s initial and final lining, geology, and cycle sequence will be analyzed and compared.

 

10:00 AM
Bypass Tunnel Shafts - Steel Access Pipe Shotcrete Lining

Paul Madsen; Kiewit-Shea Constructors, AJV, Newburgh, New York, United States, Bade Sozer; Delve Underground, New York, New York, United States, Tom Hennings; Delve Underground, Burlington, Massachusetts, United States, Eileen Test; Delve Underground, New York, New York, United States

The Rondout Bypass Tunnel in New York has two access shafts. The upper sections of the shafts are lined with 18-foot internal diameter steel pipe to resist the 1,200 ft of internal water head. The shafts are capped with a transition piece (diameter varies from 18 ft to 9 ft) and a dome shaft cap above the access pipe. Initial design included a ¾” thick cement mortar lining (CML) for all three components. Due to concerns with CML application on large diameter pipes, the lining was redesigned to shotcrete. This paper discusses the details of design, mock-ups and shotcrete application.

 

10:30 AM
Acclimatization: Adapting Classical Lining Techniques to the Over Pressure Condition

Jean-Luc des Rivieres; J.F. Shea Construction Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, United States and Ross Goodman; J.F. Shea Construction Inc., Louisville, Kentucky, United States

The Ohio River Tunnel Project encountered multiple unexpected geotechnical challenges which, continuing to develop over time, hampered excavation completion and impacted the cast-in-place final lining technique and work execution sequence for the entire project. The continued degradation of the excavated hard rock tunnel conditions lead to a unique, dynamic, geologic setting that forced the project to innovate new and adaptable measures that allowed for a classic cast-in-place liner to be completed in a safe and timely manner and minimize delay.

 

Chairs: Steve Kramer, Cowi North America, Kensington, MD Boris Veleusic, Michels

Introductions

 

8:30 AM
TBM Tunnel Off-shore Connection

Gary Peach; Mott MacDonald, Wheatley, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, H. Virgil Fernandez; PORR Qatar Construction, Doha, Qatar

The musaimeer pump station and outfall project located in Doha Qatar, was designed to collect and manage ground and stormwater and then discharge the treated waters offshore. The project constructed a long outfall tunnel using an EPB TBM with segmental lining. The diffuser structure was a 6-arm structure, measuring 280 m by 70 m connected to a central manifold in turn connected to the TBM constructed tunnel via a riser shaft constructed from an off-shore barge. This technical paper will discuss the planning, methodology and construction practices employed to connect the TBM tunnel to the diffuser structure 10.2 km offshore.

 

9:00 AM
Formwork Solutions for the Final Lining of the Kramertunnel, Germany

Rainer Antretter; BeMo Tunnelling, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria

The city of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in southern Germany is located at a main transit road to Tyrol in Austria and suffers of a very heavy traffic load. Therefore, the Kramertunnel as a by-pass tunnel is built to release/mitigate the traffic through the city centre. The 3,600 m long single tube road tunnel is designed with a parallel but smaller emergency tunnel and with cross passages, fitted with single- and double-sided emergency bays, a vent shaft, and an intermediate ceiling to separate fresh air supply from the road traffic. The tunnel, concrete lined along its entire length provided the challenge to find smart formwork solutions for quick set-up, repositioning, setup and pouring. Three particularly specific sections are discussed in this paper.

 

9:30 AM
Design and Construction of REM Tunnels and Underground Structures

Verya Nasri; AECOM, New York, New York, United States, Agustin Rey, SNC Lavalin, Montreal, PQ, Canada

Once completed, the Montreal Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) will be the fourth largest automated transportation system in the world. The REM represents construction costs of approximately 7.0 billion Canadian dollars. The project consists of 67 km of twin tracks over four branches connected to downtown Montreal. The project includes 26 stations with 3 underground stations in downtown Montreal. One of the underground stations was built using the NATM method with thin permanent shotcrete initial and final liners separated by a sprayed on waterproofing membrane. The 2 other underground stations were built with the cut and cover approach including one using permanent secant pile wall with permanent walers and struts as the support of excavation and the final perimeter wall of the station. The project also includes the rehabilitation and enlargement of the Mont Royal Tunnel. This 100-year-old double track tunnel is about 5 km long. The REM also consists of 3.6 km new TBM tunnel connecting downtown to the Montreal International Airport through saturated soft ground and karstic rock. By the time of RETC, the construction of REM underground structures will be completed. This paper presents the design and construction aspects of the underground structures of this mega project.

 

10:00 AM
Nice – Tramway T2: A Success Story in Unusual Ground Conditions

Guillaume ROUX, Bessac, Saint-Jory, France; Raoul FERNANDEZ, CBNA/Bouygues, Miami, Fl; and Bernard CATALANO Bessac Canada / Bessac Inc, Vancouver, Canada / Canonsburg PA

The Thaumasia Joint-Venture, composed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Soletanche-Bachy and Bessac, completed the construction of the underground section of line 2 of the Nice tramway, which comprised a 3.2 km twin track tunnel and four underground stations, in a particularly complex urban and geotechnical context.The density of the surface structures, as well as the presence of many historic buildings on its route made the construction of the tunnel even more sensitive, with a settlement threshold of Half an Inch. The joint venture faced a complex subsoil, varying from one extreme to another from highly plastic clay layers to fibrous peat and to cobbles with very high permeability, with artesian ground water, and with unforeseen anthropogenic obstacles in the tunnel section Due to the diversity of the problems encountered and their variability over short distances, the construction of the underground section of the Nice tramway, in its very sensitive urban context, undeniably constituted an unprecedented challenge.

 

10:30 AM
Bad Bergzabern Bypass Tunnel – NATM Tunneling through Vineyards

Richard Gradnik and Pafos Busch; BeMo Tunnelling GmbH, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria and Ralf Plinninger, Plinninger Geotnik

This paper presents the details of the Bad Bergzabern tunnel project. This tunnel is the main part of the B427 federal road bypass, intended to improve the regional traffic infrastructure and to reduce the traffic load in the historic city centre of the health resort Bad Bergzabern. Located in the south-western part of Germany, the project area is situated at the eastern margin of the so-called Palatinate Forest, a low mountain region of mainly triassic sediments with a complex and variable geological history. The German federal government, represented by the office of mobility of Rhineland-Palatinate, awarded the contract to BeMo Tunnelling, a specialized Tunnelling company with a long history of innovation and success in NATM tunnelling. The contract includes the construction of two separate tubes with a length of approximately 1,44 km (0.9 mi) – the road (main) tunnel with a cross section of 101 m² (1,090 sq ft) and a parallel rescue tunnel with a cross section of ca. 23 m² (250 sq ft.) Both are connected by six cross passages. Tunnels and cross passages are excavated according to the principles of the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). Due to BeMo Tunnelling’s technical expertise and capabilities, the project team was able to engineer a speed-up concept that saves money and time for the construction team and client. This paper presents the innovative approach BeMo Tunnelling made to optimize the execution of the tunnelling works and the challenges the project team is facing with regard to a complicated geological situation, countermeasures against an increasing effect of climate change and volatile prices for construction materials.

 

Chairs: Alston Noronha, Black and Veatch, Louisville, KY Youyou Cao, STV Inc.

Sponsored by:

 

Introductions

 

8:30 AM
Major Rehabilitation of the Montreal 55 years old Lafontaine Immersed Tube Highway Tunnel - Design Consideration

Jean Habimana and Bakar Amara, Hatch, Montreal, Quebec, Canada and Laurent Rus; Singular Structures

The La Fontaine Tunnel in Montreal, Quebec is currently undergoing major structural rehabilitation work and systems upgrade work to comply with current codes, standards and best practices in fire life safety and to extend its lifespan of this 55-year-old immersed tube tunnel for at least another 40 years. The paper discusses design consideration of ongoing works that include structural analyses to evaluate repair strategies for the post-tensioned reinforced caissons, the scheme to repair two leaky joints between caissons, the design of passive fire protection that involved in situ and real scale laboratory tests, and other tunnel systems upgrades.

 

9:00 AM
Corrosion and Leakage Remediation for WMATA Yellow Line Steel Tunnels

James Parkes; Schnabel Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, Matthew Goff; Schnabel Engineering, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, United States, Alan Kolodne and Steven Kolarz; RK&K, Baltimore, United States; and Tatiana Kotrikova; Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, District of Columbia, United States

The WMATA Yellow Line includes a unique section of steel segmentally lined tunnels that have experienced leakage and significant corrosion in isolated areas. A three part rehabilitation design has been developed for curtain grouting, structural repairs, and corrosion protection to provide continued performance. As WMATA’s first Construction-Manager-at-Risk (CMAR) project, the design development benefitted from collaboration with the Contractor through the final design development process. Rehabilitation work is scheduled to start Fall 2022 and be completed by Summer 2023. Details of the project, the remediation design, and the process and benefits of the CMAR approach in the design development are presented.

 

9:30 AM
Tunnel Condition Assessment: State of the Practice

Saleh Behbahani and Tom Iseley; Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States and Aidin Golrokh, Ali Hafiz, and Kaz Tabrizi, Advanced Design, Inc.,Hamilton, New Jersey, United States

In the USA many tunnels were built during the 1930s and 1940s and the 1950s and 1960s. This indicates that these tunnels have exceeded their intended design service life. Based on the initial tunnel inventory conducted jointly by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), more than 526 highway tunnels have been identified in the USA. For understanding the condition of the tunnels and risks associated with deteriorating conditions, comprehensive condition assessments are necessary to mitigate risk and remediate works as required. Monitoring the condition and rate of deterioration of tunnels is vital for timely tunnel maintenance and rehabilitation to avoid sudden tunnel collapse. This session will explain the necessary steps for tunnel inspection and review some of the state of the practice information on tunnel inspection techniques.

 

10:00 AM
A Novel Holistic Approach to Rehabilitation of Underground Structures

Vojtech. Gall, Thomas Martin, and Lane Boyd, Gall Zeidler Consultants, Ashburn, Virginia, United States
Water infiltration into subgrade infrastructure can cause major impacts on their performance. In addition to damaging the structure, water intrusion leads to deterioration of installations including electrical and mechanical components and in patron discomfort. To remedy these impacts, leak remediation is often carried out to halt water infiltration. Remediation methods include coatings, drainage, injection / stitch grouting, curtain (backside) grouting, and/or internal umbrella systems. Selection of the rehabilitation method depends on the structure’s use, owners’ priorities, its installations, structural conditions, surrounding ground, and hy-drogeologic conditions. Since many factors influence the rehabilitation method chosen, a novel holistic ap-proach is undertaken to understand leakage causes and consequences to develop the most appropriate, efficient, and reliable solution to extend the structure’s life. A reconnaissance phase combines geologic, hydrogeologic, and as-built information with detailed digital scans and visual observations to develop a database of existing conditions. This database, called a tunnelband, is used to develop the rehabilitation solution and made part of the contract documents, allowing for an informed bid by specialty contractors. Tunnelband and the preferred rehabilitation system are portrayed in contract documents, which are procured in various contract types de-pending on the owner’s preference and project characteristics. The pool of contractors are required to submit their understanding of this holistic approach by developing and supplying the owner with a detailed workplan. The completed rehabilitation is portrayed in detailed as-built drawings which also provide the owner with an operation and maintenance manual outlining for periodic observation of the structure and checking of its per-formance. Ultimately, this information is implemented into a “BIM Digital Twin” that is used by the operations and maintenance staff for long-term observations. This proposed novel framework for leak rehabilitation is currently being used successfully in a number of projects throughout the United States.

 

Chairs: Kevin Smyth, Frontier-Kemper Constructors Inc, Evansville, IN Bade Sozer, Delve Underground, Roseland, NJ

Sponsored by:

Introductions

 

8:30 AM
Risk Based Design Study and Innovative Ventilation Strategy for a High Gradient Short Tunnel

Juan Pablo Muñoz, Maximilian Weithaler, Juan-Carlos Rueda, Harald Kammerer, and Reinhard Gertl, ILF Consulting Engineers Austria, GmbH, Austria

The Guillermo Gaviria Echeverri tunnel and its access roads project in Antioquia, Colombia is a mega infrastructure project that includes a road network with the longest tunnel in Latin America and several short tunnels, the latter being the focus of this study. The design of the project required careful consideration of several special factors, such as the tunnels' steep slopes of up to 5%, high fire load of 100 MW, bidirectional operation, and short lengths that make it difficult to place ventilation equipment. The combination of all these parameters cause a challenging design problem for the ventilation systems and smoke control of the short tunnels. To address this challenge, a risk assessment study was conducted to support the design of a new and innovative ventilation strategy that deviates from relevant guidelines and standards, like the Austrian RVS [1][5][6] or the German EABT [8] in order to provide a customized solution for this particular project. This strategy resulted a cost-effective solution, that allowed a reduction in the number of required jet fans and at the same time reaches or reduces the risk level compared to traditional ventilation strategies.

 

9:00 AM
TBM Trailing Sandwich Belt High Angle Conveyor

Joseph Dos Santos; Dos Santos International LLC, Marietta, Georgia, United States

The largest TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) tunnels are typically along modest slopes but not always. Occasionally high slope angles are required beyond the capabilities of conventional open trough trailing conveyors. A 2019 project required a large TBM to ascended to an incline angle of 25°. A Sandwich belt high angle conveyor could easily solve the high angle conveying problem but such a system must include all of the features of the conventional trailing conveyor, particularly the ability to extend with the TBM advance. The writer responded to the challenge and developed a TBM trailing Sandwich Belt high angle conveyor with all of the needed features. The invention (U.S. patent awarded October, 2021) however goes beyond the 2019 project requirements and extends to any high angle incline. This writing presents the new TBM Trailing Sandwich Belt high angle conveyor with all of its features and implications.

 

9:30 AM
Virtual Master Rings – Replacing a Tradition

Dieter Loh, VMT GmbH, Bruchsal, Germany , Florian Werres, VMT GmbH, Bruchsal, Germany; and Mathias Knoll, Sumner, WA, USA

When a new tunnelling project starts, it has been a vital tradition for decades to cast and erect master rings horizontally on a flat surface to demonstrate the compliance with dimensional tolerances. Some tenders ask for the erection of two or even three rings upon each other or repeated master ring erections at intervals throughout the project. Especially for large diameters, this is a challenging and risky task for the workforce in the segment factory. A truck-mounted crane is often necessary, and in some cases it can take up to a week to complete a master ring. The concept of virtual rings has the potential to replace this tradition by assembling master rings digitally instead of physically. This is based on a best-fit approach, considering the 3D coordinates from laser tracker measurements of segments or segment moulds. Building a virtual ring, a sub-millimetre accuracy can be achieved, the alignment of neighbouring circumferential and ring joints observed, and the fit of bolt holes checked. The traditional method, on the other hand, is discussed controversially despite the significant amount of work and risks – particularly as the horizontal position of the ring and absence of gaskets do not simulate the reality in the excavated tunnel. This paper will highlight the technical aspects of virtual rings, as well as their pros and cons, illustrated by a case study from London Thames Tideway where a total of 30 physical master rings could be replaced by virtual rings.

 

10:00 AM
A Case Study from India on TBM Driving Under Low Overburden

Debasis Barman; Amberg India PVT LTD, Jammu and Kashmir, India

TBM (TBM) mining in urban areas particularly under low overburden is a big challenge to design and excavate. During excavation of the Lucknow Metro project, in Uttar Pradesh, India the metro authorities encountered a design stretch where the TBM had to cross a sewer canal crossing of 15m length under overburden of less than 1m. Not only the stability of TBM due to uplift was of concern but also the stability of both banks. Most structures on the canal banks were non-engineered structures whose stability due to vibration of TBM was also of concern. Due to these risks, a method was proposed that met stability requirements for both ground and superstructures. The design was practical and cost effective to construct, and a collaborative exercise between the client, contractor and designer that took approximately 18 months to implement.

 

10:30 AM
Mobile Solid State Lidar for Construction Quality Assurance

Stephen Miller; Schnabel Engineering, Sterling, Virginia, United States, Travis Shoemaker and Adam Saylor; Schnabel Engineering, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, United States

Lidar scanning has become an increasingly popular tool documenting underground excavations; however, high costs of traditional mechanical electrical lidar hardware, software, and training have limited the frequently and speed at which lidar scans can be performed. With Apple’s incorporation of low-cost mobile solid state lidar on select smartphones and tablets, lidar is becoming more tractable for everyday construction documentation, like construction photo collection with smartphones. Here, we describe benefits of mobile solid state lidar and describe several practical applications for use in underground construction, such as documenting the working face, over-blast, and geologic features of tunnels.

 

11:00 AM
Remote De-tensioning of Tieback Anchors After Structural Completion

Sean Peterfreund; Delve Underground, Auckland, New Zealand, Grant Finn; Delve Underground, Seattle, Washington, United States, Ty Jahn; Condon-Johnson & Associates, Bozeman, Montana, United States

For urban underground development involving tieback anchors for excavation support, authorities having jurisdiction typically require tiebacks to be de-tensioned before project completion. This paper updates “A Proactive Approach to Tieback Anchor De-tensioning” (by Peterfreund and Finn, published in the 2017 RETC Proceedings), which discussed a new method employed in a cut-and-cover transit station project. Since publication of that paper, 237 tiebacks were successfully and rapidly de-tensioned from using a small-diameter drill to cut strands from the surface. To the authors’ knowledge, this was the first intentional large-scale use of a drilling method for this purpose.

 

11:30 AM
Using GIS Application for Inlet/Outlet Tunnel Geologic Mapping for Ground Support (CH Reservoir Case Study)

Nadav Bar-Yaakov; Stantec, Louisville, Colorado, United States, Greg Raines; Stantec, San Diego, California, United States and Eric Zimmerman and Bolen Cory ; Stantec, Boise, Idaho, United States

The Chimney Hollow reservoir project broke ground in August 2021, constructing the tallest Asphalt Core Dam in North America, intending to improve reliability of drinking water supply to Northern Colorado communities. In order to expedite and streamline the geological mapping process in the tunnel, Stantec’s teams has developed a GIS application for mapping input and rock mass evaluation, allowing real time decision making for assigning tunnel support class and resulting in a faster more efficient process. The presentation will present and demonstrate the GIS application based process, the mapping results and review additional uses of the data base created.

 

 

Chairs: Rebecca Reeve, Traylor Bros Inc, North Vancouver, BC, Canada, Mo Magheri, Kiewit

Sponsored by:

 

Introductions

 

1:30 PM
Understanding the Subsurface Conditions for the Cemetery Brook Drain Tunnel Project

Mahmood Khwaja; CDM Smith, Waban, Massachusetts, United States, David Polcari; CDM Smith, Manchester, New Hampshire, United States , and Michael Schultz; CDM Smith, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Frederick McNeill and Timothy Clougherty, and Benjamin Lundsted City of Manchester, Manchester, New Hampshire, United States

The City of Manchester, New Hampshire is embarking on one of its largest public works projects, to construct a 12,000 foot long, large-diameter conveyance tunnel through downtown Manchester. This area has challenging geology with an undulating bedrock (granite, schist, and gneiss) profile overlain by fluvial deposits. Understanding the subsurface conditions is key to mitigating project risks, establishing a plan and
profile for the tunnel, and selecting the most cost-sensitive and technically appropriate tunneling method. This paper will share the project team’s approach for conducting the ground investigation, developing the preliminary subsurface profile, and their considerations for selecting the tunneling method.

 

2:00 PM
Evaluating the Trade Offs Between Microtunnelling and Tunnel Boring Machines for Small Diameter Tunnels – A Case Study of the Ferry Road and Riverbend Combined Sewer Relief Project

Dani Delaoye; Mott MacDonald, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Kas Zurek; City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Evaluating and selecting the appropriate excavation method is a key to the success of any tunnelling project. The benefits and risks of different methods should be well understood by the designer and communicated to the project owner to enable selection of a preferred method from a technical, social and environmental impact, cost and constructability perspective. For tunnels that have an internal diameter around 3 m, depending on the tunnel purpose and ground conditions, both microtunnelling with pipe jacking and tunnel boring machine excavation with a one- or two-pass lining may be feasible construction methods. Using the Ferry Road and Riverbend Combined Sewer Relief Project located in Winnipeg, MB as a case study, this paper will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each method, including technical design, social, environmental, cost, schedule, and risk considerations.

 

2:30 PM
Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program in Massachusetts

Rafael C. Castro; JCK Underground, Winchester, Massachusetts, United States, Kathhleen V Murtagh and Paul V. Savard; Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Chelsea, Massachusetts, United States

Preliminary design is underway for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s (MWRA) next mega tunnel program, the Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program (MWTP). The MWTP is the last part of the MWRA’s ongoing efforts to achieve redundancy for its metropolitan water transmission system including its historic deep rock City Tunnel, City Tunnel Extension and Dorchester Tunnels. The MWTP comprises several approximately 10-foot finished diameter deep rock tunnels totaling just over fourteen miles and ten connections to existing large diameter surface piping. This paper will present an update on current engineering and permitting efforts, packaging schemes, and the schedule to complete the MWTP.

 

3:00 PM
Design of the Akron Northside Interceptor CSO Tunnel

David Mast; AECOM, Akron, Ohio, United States, Heather Ullinger; City of Akron, Akron, Ohio, United States, Amanda Foote; AECOM, Newburgh, Indiana, United States, Juan Granja; GPD Group, Cleveland, Ohio, United States Dominick Mandalari; AECOM, Akron, Ohio, United States

The City of Akron will construct the Northside Interceptor Tunnel project, a U.S. EPA / DOJ CSO Long Term Control Plan Project. The system will provide at least 10.3 million gallons of storage in a 16-foot finished ID and 6,800 foot-long rock tunnel. The system will reduce both overflow volume and number of overflow structures on the Cuyahoga River. The project includes deep drop shafts and more than 2,000 linear feet of 24 to 96-inch I.D. sewers installed by trenchless construction methods. This paper will discuss the project background, ground conditions, and other challenges overcome during the design phases.

 

3:30 PM
San Francisco Downtown Rail Extension Project: Evolution of Mined Tunnel Construction Approach and Design

Kush Chohan; Delve Underground, San Francisco, California, United States, Yiming Sun; Delve Underground, Walnut Creek,California, United States, Meghan Murphy; AECOM, San Francisco, California, United States; and Alfonso Rodriguez, Transbay Joint Powers Authority, San Francisco, California, United States

DTX is a 1.3-mile-long rail extension being constructed by Transbay Joint Powers Authority to extend Caltrain rail service and future California High Speed Rail service to downtown San Francisco. It includes a 3,352-foot-long mined tunnel with cross section varying from 50 to 60 feet wide and 43 feet high to accommodate two- and three-rail tracks. DTX will be excavated in mixed-face and Franciscan Formation with ground cover ranging from 40 to 85 feet. This paper discusses how mined tunnel design has evolved since the preliminary design phase over 10 years ago. Current design concept for tunnel construction is also discussed.

 

4:00 PM
Allegheny County Sanitary Authority – Ohio River Tunnel Project Update

Michael Lichte and Shawn McWilliams ALCOSAN, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States and Greg Colzani and Aini Sun, Jacobs, Berkeley Springs, Pennsylvania

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) adopted its Clean Water Plan (CWP) in May 2020, as part of a federal consent decree to comply with the USEPA’s Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Policy. Planned improvements include constructing a new regional storage/conveyance tunnel system, promoting green infrastructure/source control, and expanding the treatment plant. Preliminary planning for the tunnel system was completed in October 2020. The Ohio River Tunnel (ORT) project is the first of three tunnel projects that make up the regional tunnel system. The ORT project began final design in 2021. This paper discusses the advancements made to the ORT preliminary planning concepts considering property availability, alignment optimization, tunnel boring machine evaluation, contract packaging and delivery schedules.

 

Chairs: Sergio Moya, Frontier-Kemper Constructors Inc, Los Angeles, CA, Glenn Larose, Jacobs, Boston, MA

 

Introductions

 

1:30 PM
Applying Automation and Machine Learning for Tunnel Inspections

LiLing Chen, Michael Devriendt, Fabio Panella, and Tristan Joubert, Arup, London, UK and Nasir Qureshi and Ahmad Ali, Metrolinx, Mississauga, ON, Canada

Tunnel inspections have traditionally been carried out manually by inspectors writing up observations and taking photos of defects. The results from the inspection and the defects observed are dependent upon the rigor of the inspectors and may be subject to repeatability and consistency issues and is often time consuming with elevated health and safety risks. This presentation will discuss work that is being carried out in developing and implementing an innovative hardware and software solution integrating machine learning to automate the process of capturing objective tunnel condition information, offering cost and programme savings as well as health and safety improvements.

 

2:00 PM
Wireless Optical Displacement Sensor for Convergence and Divergence Monitoring

Raphael Victor; Senceive, Port Angeles, Washington, United States

The construction and modification of tunnels brings a requirement for precise measurement of convergence and divergence to safeguard the structure, maintain safety and provide the assurance needed to maintain efficient progress. Established methods include manual measurement using tape extensometers and automated methods using photogrammetry and automated total stations. Drawbacks include the need for frequent access, power supply, cabling, and cost. The paper describes how the development of reliable optical displacement sensors (ODS) has changed the landscape. ODS sensors are connected to a long-range wireless mesh communications network via a solar- powered gateway outside the tunnel, with data instantly transmitted to the internet. A sensor and its reflector target can be installed in 20 minutes and is maintenance free for a decade. Tunnel movement is measured to sub-millimeter precision with repeatability of ± 0.15mm. Integration of a triaxial tilt sensor allows slope distance to be converted to horizontal and vertical changes and allows rotational movement to be determined. Applications include new-build and long-term structural health monitoring. Case studies will be given, including the refurbishment of rail tunnels in Spain where the ODS measured movement during track lowering in a situation where no other automated system was considered viable.

 

2:30 PM
Structural Underpinning an Airport Terminal to Mitigate Tunneling Risk – Atlanta Plane Train West Extension Project

Thomas Hennings; Delve Underground, Burlington, Massachusetts, United States, Daniel Ebin; Delve Underground, Chicago, Illinois, United States, John Murray; Delve Underground, New York, New York, United States, Robert Gould; Clark Atkinson Technique, Joint Venture / Guy F. Atkinson Construction, Austin, Texas, United States, Ryan Smith; Keller North America, Alpharetta, Georgia, United States

The Atlanta Plane Train Tunnel West Extension was excavated at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport using Sequential Excavation Methods (SEM). At its shallowest point, tunnel cover to bottom of Domestic Terminal footings was limited to 7 feet in soft ground. To mitigate risk of excessive building movement due to tunneling-related activities, the columns near the alignment were directly underpinned. Underpinning was accomplished using a combination of grouted mini-piles, installed under low headroom conditions that supported steel framing spanning over the tunnel excavations. This paper focuses on design and construction of the underpinning system used to mitigate risk from tunneling.

 

3:00 PM
Mechanized Tunneling – New Trends in TBM Development

Werner Burger and Marcus Lübbers; Herrenknecht AG, Schwanau, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

TBM development in recent decades has been dominated by increased face pressures, larger diameters and multi-mode functionality paving the way to realize projects deemed impossible before. In addition, the trend towards digitalization does not stop at the tunnel portal. A shortage of skilled personnel and the ever-present wish to increase workplace safety, quality and system performance automation, operator assist or even autonomous systems have become key development targets. The paper will present the current state of the art in light of these special conditions.

 

3:30 PM
Lessons Learned: Implementing BIM for the Chiltern Tunnels for High Speed 2 in the UK

Kurt Zeidler, Yuan Le, and Tomaz Kecerski; Gall Zeidler Consultants, Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom; and Vojtech Ernst Gall and Dominic Reda; Gall Zeidler Consultants, New York, New York, United States

High Speed 2 (HS2) mandated that Building Information Modelling (BIM) processes be implemented during design and construction. Gall Zeidler Consultants (GZ) was responsible for developing the BIM Models for the portals, tunnels, and crosspassages of the of the 16km-long Chiltern twin-bore Tunnel. In addition, GZ developed the GBR for the Chiltern Tunnels and incorporated the relevant information into the Project’s BIM framework. This paper presents the implemented BIM framework, describes the modelling approach, and discusses the advantages and challenges of implementing BIM, particularly how BIM improved interface coordination and how BIM was used in feasibility assessments of different construction options.

 

4:00 PM
The Woodsmith Project: Construction of the Access Shaft at Lockwood Beck Using Innovative Blind Boring Technique

Andrew Raine; ARUP, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Honk, Peter Stakne; Strabag UK, Cleveland, United Kingdom, Carmen Hu; ARUP, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Callum Fryer; Strabag UK, Cleveland, United Kingdom; Craig Sewell, Strabag, Cleveland, UK

The Woodsmith Project is located in north-eastern England within the North York Moors National Park. The strata contains the world’s largest known high-grade Polyhalite resource of around 2.66 billion tonnes. The Project was initiated by York Potash Limited (YPL), a subsidiary of Sirius Minerals plc., but in March 2020, a takeover was completed by Anglo American, one of the largest mining companies in the world. Polyhalite is an evaporite mineral and contains essential nutrients required for plant growth. The Polyhalite will be extracted via two deep mine shafts and transported underground from the mine site to a Materials Handling Facility on a Mineral Transport System (MTS), which comprises a high-capacity conveyor belt system located within a 4.9m ID tunnel. In 2018, STRABAG were awarded with the design and construction of the MTS tunnel and associated infrastructure, including the high-capacity conveyor system. The scope of work consists of 300m of open cut, 100 m SCL tunnel, 36.5 km TBM drive (originally anticipated as three separate TBM drives) along with a network of underground caverns at the Woodsmith Mine. The construction of two 380m deep intermediate access shafts was later awarded as Amendments to the Contract. The tunnel is constructed using a Herrenknecht Single Shield TBM. As a result of how the various elements of the project have devel-oped over time, the first TBM drive has been extended to ~29km making it the worlds longest single heading TBM Tunnel when complete. The option of completing the entire tunnel length with a single heading TBM drive is currently being assessed by Anglo American and STRABAG. This unprecedented tunnel length requires two intermediate shafts to provide essential access and services, the first intermediate shaft is at Lockwood beck (LWB) and the second is at Ladycross (LDX). The LWB shaft has been constructed utilising the innovative Blind Boring technique never used before in the UK. This paper will explain the methodology and technical risk management associated with this technique. The authors believe that the collaborative approach between all contract partners is and continues to be the important contributor for the success of this project.

 

Chairs: Veronica Monaco, Jacobs, Florham Park, NJ, Dan Dreyfus, Delve Underground, Seattle, WA

Sponsored by:

 

Introductions

 

1:30 PM
Innovative TBM Launching in Urban Areas

Fabrizio Fara; Lane Construction Corporation, Seattle, Washington, United States

The Ship Canal Water Quality Project (SCWQP) includes a 2.7-mile long, 18’-10” ID tunnel located in West Seattle. Tunneling in urban areas and soft ground conditions (Till and Till-like soils in Seattle) is associated with the risk of settlements, especially in presence of groundwater above the alignment.
The Designer foresaw the use of soil improvement (jet grouting) outside of the launch shaft to mitigate the risk of flowing ground and to provide a redundant sealing. The Contractor proposed and ultimately successfully executed a different approach by using a “Steel Bell System” or Pressurized Can as described in this paper.

 

2:00 PM
Unique Umbilical Launch of a Slurry TBM in LA

Nick Karlin; Dragados USA, Wilmington, California, United States

Dragados USA is constructing the LA Effluent Outfall Tunnel, a 7-mile, 18ft internal diameter effluent discharge tunnel, utilizing a 21.6ft (6.585m) Herrenknecht Mixshield TBM. This paper highlights the means and methods used for TBM launch from a 55ft diameter shaft excavated in wet with diaphragm wall support of excavation. This included SEM excavation of jet grout blocks for starter and tail tunnels, temporary concrete structures and steel installations, TBM sealing system, umbilical management for TBM hydraulic, electric and bentonite circuits as well as complex segment delivery logistics. The many launching challenges were overcome thanks to the innovative approaches from the project team.

 

2:30 PM
Cohesive Soil Conditioning Practice for Earth Pressure Balance Tunneling

Mike Mooney, Rakshith Shetty, and Diana Diaz and Vitaly Proschenko; Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States.

Cohesive clay soil poses a significant risk to earth pressure balance tunnel boring machines (EPBM) due to unstable face pressure, clogging potential, high cutterhead torque, poor muck flow, low advance rate, etc. This paper details the performance measures desired when EPBM tunneling in clay soil, and the scientifically-supported conditioning methods to transform in-situ clay to a muck with such characteristics, giving particular attention to ground conditions. The paper then examines TBM data from multiple clay soil projects in the context of these performance measures to demonstrate the influence of cohesive soil conditioning on EPBM performance.

 

3:00 PM
Design and Construction Considerations for the Pawtucket CSO Tunnel

Kathryn Kelly and Greg Waugh (Narragansett Bay Commission); Victor Despointes and Stephane Polycarpe (CBNA); Vojtech Ernst Gall (Gall Zeidler Consultants); Chris Feeney (Stantec); Brian Hann (Barletta Engineering)

The Pawtucket Tunnel is a 2.2-mi, 30.2-ft diameter CSO storage tunnel in Rhode Island. The primary tunnel is built using a dual-mode open-EPB TBM capable of sealing the face within 120 seconds to manage poor ground and water ingress which is launched from within a SEM starter tunnel. The main tunnel connects to four adits along its alignment, three of which are SEM tunnels and one being a MTBM tunnel. This contribution describes the selection process, potential risks, and requirements for the TBM, as well as the design of the main tunnel, the adits, and the adit-bored tunnel connections

 

3:30 PM
Launch of an Earth Pressure Balance Tunnel Boring Machine in Short-Mode on a Congested Site from Narrow Deep Shafts for the Alexrenew Project in Alexandria, Virginia: A Case Study

J Luis Fernandez-Deza, James Hawn, Dustin Mount, and Jean-Marc Wehrli Traylor Bros., Inc., Akexandria, Virginia, United States

The RiverRenew Tunnel System project in Alexandria, VA forms part of a CSO scheme aimed at reducing overflows of combined stormwater and sewage into the Potomac River during storm events. The major piece of the project is a 12-foot internal diameter tunnel of approximately 12,000 feet length lined with a single- pass precast concrete segmental liner and excavated by Earth-Pressure Balanced Shield TBM. The tunnel lies between 120 to 140 feet below grade in the clays of the Upper Potomac Formation with occasional dips of more granular, saturated soils of the Terrace Formation and the Alluvium. The TBM is launched from a figure-8 configuration Pumping/Screening Shaft located within Alex Renew’s operational Water Resource Recovery Facility. This paper discusses the challenges encountered during the launch of the TBM in short- mode within a highly congested site and from narrow deep shafts.

 

 

Chairs: Lisa Smiley, JayDee Obayashi JV, Cleveland, OH, Zeph Varley, WSP USA, Los Angeles, CA

Sponsored by:

 

Introductions

 

1:30 PM
Pipe Canopy Pre-Support with SEM Tunneling Under Active Roadway and Rail Tracks

Ryan O'Connell and Todd Kilduff; Kilduff Underground Engineering, Denver, Colorado, United States

Pipe canopies continue to gain momentum as a reliable methodology for construction of excavations below critical facilities with minimal surface settlement tolerances, such as railroads or roadways. Two tunnel projects designed by Kilduff Underground Engineering in the Salt Lake City, UT area, each at varying stages of completion, had project design criteria for selection of a tunneling methodology to minimize surface settlement. Both projects consist of a pedestrian tunnel, one crossing beneath a major roadway in downtown Salt Lake City and the second beneath UPRR tracks. Both projects were in difficult, coarse alluvium/fan ground conditions with project criteria that resulted in minimal cover above the tunnel. For each project, a pre-support pipe canopy was designed, requiring the placement of steel, canopy pipes driven the extent of the tunnel length. The pipe canopy is installed using a trenchless technology and then excavated with SEM tunneling and shoring provided by traditional support of excavation methods. The pipe canopy pre-support method offers a low-impact method to install an underpass beneath critical structures by adding significant stiffness to the subgrade to mitigate surface settlement during the main tunnel excavation sequence. These case studies seek to communicate the challenges associated with pipe canopy installation in site-specific ground conditions and explains how these challenges were overcome. This paper aims to define the project risks and describes the pipe canopy methodology as a viable solution to mitigate surface settlement in low cover tunneling scenarios.

 

2:00 PM
Construction of the Bypass Tunnel for the Upper Llagas Creek Protection Project

Clayton Williams; Mott MacDonald, San Ramon, California, United States, Dale Hata, ; Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring, Antioch, California, United States; and Glenn Boyce, ; Delve Underground, Walnut Creek, California, United States

The Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project in Northern California encompasses portions of the communities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy, and unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. The project provides for flood protection improvements along Llagas Creek and two of its tributaries, West Little Llagas Creek and East Little Llagas Creek. Llagas Creek is one of the tributaries of the Pajaro River and drains a watershed of approximately 104 square miles. The river system has a history of flooding the watershed communities, and the project’s goal is to provide 100-year flood protection by creating a bypass infrastructure, including channels, cut-and-cover culverts, and a tunnel. The project has been divided into several phases. This paper describes Phase 2A, which consists of approximately 2,150 linear feet of lined horseshoe-shaped bypass tunnel measuring 14 feet wide by 12 feet high. The bypass tunnel was sequentially excavated using a combination of roadheader and controlled blasting through colluvium and weathered to fresh greenstone. The tunnel was mined near residences, requiring strict noise and vibration controls. Phase 2A also includes the construction of twin bypass concrete culverts, portal shoring, and dewatering systems. It features the use of a Design Review Board and partnering for project delivery. This case study discusses the bypass tunnel design, progress of tunnel construction, plans to complete the work, construction risks, and the software and procedural tools being used to manage the project, including ProjectWise construction management software.

 

2:30 PM
Excavation and Support of Cross Passages on Westside I

Jeff Brandt; Traylor Bros., Inc, Los Angeles, California, United States, Kerwin Hirro; Traylor Bros., Inc, Los Angeles, California, United States, Peter Rolf Dietrich and Norbert Fuegenschuh; BeMo USA, Inc., Vienna, Virginia, United States, Michael Cole; Metro/Santec, Highland, California, United States; and Joseph De Mello, LA Metro, Los Angeles, California, United States

This paper presents a successful case history of the ground improvement efforts and excavation of twenty-three cross passages between twin bore tunnels driven by EPB tunneling machines in Los Angeles, California on Section 1 of the Westside Subway Extension. Unique and complicated ground conditions local to the tunnel alignment include San Pedro sands, siltstone/claystone Fernando Formation, and zones of “asphalt impacted soils”. To provide water cut-off and soil stabilization, jet grouting was performed prior to TBM excavation at the location of many of the cross passages. However, upon investigating the cross passages prior to excavation, the subsurface conditions required additional measures and SEM tools to ensure successful completion of the project.

 

3:00 PM
Design and Planning of New Passageway Tunnel for Circulation Improvements at Grand Central – 42nd Street Station, New York City

Dominic Reda; Gall Zeidler Consultants, LLC, New York, New York, United States, Alfredo Valdivia; Gall Zeidler Consultants, New York, New York, United States, Vojtech Gall; Gall Zeidler Consultants, Ashburn, Virginia, United States

The design and planning for the construction of a new passageway to improve access and circulation to better accommodate anticipated increased passenger flow within Grand Central Station. The passageway includes the break-in of an over 100-year-old station cavern with an innovative design implementing a protective structure above the existing track to allow for safe train operations and passenger circulation during construction. Construction of the new passageway follows the Sequential Excavation Method. This paper will present the innovative solutions that went into design and planning considering construction access, site logistics, risk management, structural retrofitting, detailed instrumentation and monitoring, and impact assessments.

 

Chairs: David Smith, WSP, New York, NY, Seth Pollak, Arup, Cranbury, NJ

Sponsored by:

 

Introductions

 

8:30 AM
Packaging and Contract Delivery Methods for the Horizon Lateral

Adriana Ventimiglia; Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, Ray Brainard; Black & Veatch, Kansas City, Missouri, United States, Amanda Kerr; Black & Veatch, Denver, Colorado, United States

The $2 billion Horizon Lateral includes over 30 miles of trenched and tunneled pipeline with diameters up to 120 inches. Related infrastructure includes pumping stations, booster pumping stations, reservoirs, and rate of flow control facilities. This paper will discuss the strategy and processes used to determine contract packaging and contracting delivery methods for the various project elements with an emphasis on the tunnels and trenchless crossings. Prior Southern Nevada Water Authority experience and the rigorous risk-based approach to develop the preferred alignments played a large role in determining the outcomes along with schedule concerns and permitting and easement acquisition.

 

9:00 AM
Progressive Design-Build in the Tunneling/Underground Construction Industry. Perspective from the Private Sector

Carlos Tarazaga; AZTEC-TYPSA, Irvine, California, United States

Progressive Design-Build (PDB) is an emerging variation of alternative delivery programs in the underground construction industry. PDB refers to the way a construction project design is developed by the Owner and the Design-Builder in a step-by-step process. According to the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), Progressive Design-Build allows the design and construction team to collaborate during the earliest stages of project development. This enables engagement between the three key players in a construction contract: the owner, the designer, and the contractor. Is the PDB the best alternative program delivery for large contracts? What is the perspective of the private sector? This paper will provide an overview of the different alternative delivery programs used in the underground industry, pros and cons of each of programs, and the perspective of the designers and contractors. The paper will focus on how the PDB works, reasons why owners should consider PDB for their projects, best collaboration strategies among owners, designers, and contractors to deliver a successful project, and how to manage the project risks using a PDB method.

 

9:30 AM
CMGC Delivery of the I35W SSF Project – Fostering Collaboration to Meet Stormwater System Resiliency Challenges

Michael Haggerty; Barr Engineering Co., St Louis Park, Minnesota, United States, Joe Welna; Barr Engineering Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is constructing a stormwater storage facility along I35W south of Minneapolis, MN. The project will provide storm surge capacity reducing the frequency with which major precipitation events result in flooding of I35W. The design consists of six, 90-foot deep, adjacent underground shafts providing 14-acre feet of storage. The construction is in high groundwater with variable glacial outwash deposits. Constructability and ground variability were managed using construction manager general contractor (CMGC) project delivery. CMGC provides an environment for collaboration and innovation. This paper provides an overview of key efficiencies and collaboration examples aided by CMGC delivery.

 

10:00 AM
Atlanta--Plane Train Tunnel West Extension Project: Progressive Design Build Risk Management Approach

Walter Klary, Dominic Reda, Vojtech Gall, and Elmira Riahi Gall Zeidler Consultants, Ashburn, Virginia, United States and Jake Coibion, Guy F. Atkinson Construction, Austin, Texas, United States

Progressive Design Build has become a common delivery method in the tunneling industry. This approach allows the Owner to select a design-builder primarily based on qualification instead of lowest price. The delivery method promotes flexibility and collaboration at all levels from the initial design stage through construction. Using the example of the Atlanta Airport Plane Train Tunnel West Extension, value-added risk management was added during the initial design phase with an independent reviewer. This paper presents the independent reviewer transitioning from constructibility review in the very early stages of design to independent design verification to on-site supervision during construction.

Chairs: Tony Cicinelli, Kiewit, Omaha, NE, Colin Sessions, Jacobs, Atlanta, GA

Sponsored by:

 

Introductions

 

8:30 AM
Flood Resilience for San Francisco

Eva Ferndandez; Delve underground, San Francisco, California, United States; Renee Fippin; Delve Underground, Walnut Creek, California, United States, , Paul Louie; San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco, California, United States

The Alameda Wet Weather Folsom Area Stormwater Improvement Project is part of SFPUC’s flood resilience efforts under the Sewer System Improvement Program. This 4,000-foot-long, 12-foot-inside-diameter tunnel will help reduce the risk of flooding in San Francisco’s low-lying Inner Mission neighborhood. The project is in a high seismic hazard zone and extends through a complex geologic corridor that includes full-face soft, compressible Bay Mud, Colma Sands, and full-face rock with several stretches of mixed-face conditions. Additional challenges include removal of 99 piles beneath an existing box sewer, tunneling under commuter rail tracks, and an underground tie-in. This paper examines these challenges and how they are being addressed.

 

9:00 AM
Planning for State-of-Good Repair, Hazard Mitigation, and Resiliency for San Diego County Water Authority’s 2nd Aqueduct Water Supply Infrastructure

Mahmood Khwaja; CDM Smith, Waban, Massachusetts, United States, William Brick; CDM Smith, Concord, California, United States, Paul Taurasi; CDM Smith, Phoenix, Arizona, United States; and Anjuli Corcovelos; San Diego County Water Authority, San Diego, California, United States

California’s San Diego County Water Authority provides safe and reliable water supply to more than 3.3 million residents through twenty-four member agencies. The 2nd Aqueduct pipelines, a critical infrastructure consisting of three large-diameter pipelines, are susceptible to natural threats including streambed erosion, channel migration, and seismic hazards within the 3,840-ft long Moosa Canyon segment of the alignment. A state-of-good repair, hazard mitigation, and resiliency project is progressing to ensure uninterrupted water supply. For each pipeline, a segment will be replaced by tunneling. A high-level project development approach is presented, focusing on alternative selection, environmental/geotechnical considerations, and operations and maintenance constraints.

 

9:30 AM
Developing Project Cost Estimates in Volatile Markets

Connor Langford; Mott MacDonald, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Murray Gant and Ken Masse, Metro Vancouver, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

For public organizations, preparing accurate project cost estimates is a critical component in capital project planning. Project delivery methods provide a structured approach to moving projects through the design and construction lifecycle, and typically use cost estimates as key inputs at each stage to determine if the project will advance. As design stages can occur years or even decades before construction contracts are awarded, estimates need to make reasonable assumptions about how the work may be executed (means and methods) as well as potential future market trends so that appropriate values for material pricing, labour costs, escalation, and owner’s costs can be included. This process is challenging enough during stable markets, as historic trends can often be misleading and require a suitable understanding of economic factors to use appropriately. When you mix in the market volatility that has been observed since 2020, developing accurate project cost estimates becomes even more challenging. In cases such as this, having a structured approach to cost estimating that includes an adequate risk-based reserves cannot be overstated as it provides the basis for ongoing project decisions. This paper explores some of the historic and more recent market trends that have impacted key aspects of project cost estimates for capital project planning. It also provides recommendations on how to develop cost estimates for infrastructure projects, with examples from Metro Vancouver, which plans for and delivers regional-scale services to 2.6 million residents. A brief commentary on the use of escalation clauses in contracts is also presented.

 

10:00 AM
Planning the Black Creek Tunnel Project

Daniel Cressman, Carey Himer and Jeff WallaceBlack & Veatch, Markham, Ontario, Canada and Malcolm Sheehan, Tony Cicchetti and Prapan Dave, city of Toronto, Toronto, ON , Canada

The City of Toronto is currently undertaking the design of the Black Creek Project (BCP). The BCP Project involves the design and construction of approximately 20 kilometres of tunnel through shale rock of the Georgian Bay Formation and soft ground soil consisting of glacial till, glaciolacustrine and glaciofluvial sand, silt and clay deposits. The BCP consists of three sections of tunnel 1) the approximately 11.6 km, 3.0 metre diameter Keele Relief Trunk Sewer, 2) the 4.2 km mictrotunnel Keele Relief Trunk Sewer and 3) the 3.4 km microtunnel Jane-Wilson Relief Trunk Sewer. Additionally one 40,000 m3 wet weather flow (WWF) storage tank and numerous WWF connection shafts are to be constructed and connected to the BCP tunnel to pick up WWF from existing outfalls currently discharging to Black Creek. The anticipated cost of the project is $600 million with construction of the first project stage, the Keele TRS, scheduled to commence in 2025. This paper provides an overview of the project in terms of the expected geotechnical conditions, the scheme developed for design and construction of the tunnel system and the associated schedule and procurement strategy. The consideration for planning of the tunnel system, the risk-based analysis and decision-making process are presented and form the basis for selection of a precast tunnel lining support method in the rock and soft ground.

 

10:30 AM
Planning for Sound Transit’s Proposed LINK Light Rail Expansion in Seattle Washington

Raghu Bhargava; HNTB Corporation, Bellevue, Washington, United States, Matthew Preedy, Dirk Bakke, and Anthony Pooley; Sound Transit, Seattle, Washington, United States, Mike Wongkaew; HNTB Corporation, BELLEVUE, Washington, United States

Sound Transit’s ST3 program will add 62 miles of light rail to the Puget Sound area, including connections to the neighborhoods of West Seattle and Ballard. These connections include considerations for both elevated and tunnel alternatives in West Seattle and Ballard, as well as a new tunnel and six underground stations in the densely developed parts of downtown Seattle. This paper describes the conditions and constraints along the corridor, and the latest developments in the ongoing process to plan the underground guideways and stations.