CHANNEL: FRENCH MINERS FIGHT CASCADE AS BRITISH MOLE BARES TEETH FOR PILOT

The author gives an account of progress that has been made (up to the end of 1974) with the channel tunnel. Progress that has been made by the French near Calais, where trouble has been encountered in the access tunnel (descenderie) through the ingress of 120 litres of water per second is described. Extensive grouting with bentonite and cement has failed to waterproof the tunnel and neither a small alpine roadheader nor a large Demag roadheader has been able to perform satisfactorily. A Robbins mole is now being tested and in order to bring it into use as soon as possible, an additional tunnel is being planned. Details are given of the progress made by the British near Dover, where both access tunnels (one 400m and the other 287m plus a 100m viaduct) and a 180m long assembly chamber have been driven, the latter 40m beneath the channel. The priestley 50m long tunnelling machine has also been assembled ready to commence work. Brief details are given of the proposed 3 phases of construction of the tunnel and the article includes information on the different conditions and policies in France and Britain. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03077683
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Civil Engineers

  One Great George Street, Westminster
  London,   United Kingdom  SW1P 3AA
• Authors:
  • Hayward, D
• Publication Date: 1975-1-16

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 19-22
• Serial:
  • NEW CIVIL ENGINEER
  • Issue Number: 126
  • Publisher: EMAP CONSTRUCT LIMITED
  • ISSN: 0307-7683

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bentonite; Cement; Cement grouts; Construction; Construction management; Drilling; Equipment; Grouting; Permeability; Shielding (Tunneling); Shields (Tunnels); Tunneling; Tunneling machines; Tunnels; Underwater construction; Water
• Uncontrolled Terms: Injection
• Geographic Terms: France; United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Construction problems; Shields (Tunneling); Submarine tunneling
• ITRD Terms: 4186: Bentonite; 4758: Cement; 3666: Construction method; 3871: Drilling; 3674: Equipment; 8036: France; 3617: Injection (mater); 5921: Permeability; 3394: Shield driving; 3374: Tunnel; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; I54: Construction of Tunnels;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00125074
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 18 1975 12:00AM