ALPTRANSIT EXPLORATION

This article describes the construction of the Piora and Loetschberg exploratory tunnels, which will be vital precursors to the construction of the long Gotthard and Loetschberg base tunnels in Switzerland. The base tunnels will open new routes for North-South traffic across Europe and result in faster, environmentally improved traffic systems in the 21st century. The exploratory tunnels are required to investigate the geologically complex zones, through which the base tunnels will be bored. For the Piora exploration, the hard rocks are granites, gneisses and schists, and the soft rocks include dolomite. The time schedule for its tunnels and shafts will be two to five and a half years, according to what is found. A Wirth tunnel boring machine (TBM) is being used. For the Loetschberg exploration, the hard rocks are granites, granodiorites, schists and gneisses, and the sedimentary rocks are sandstones, marls, slates, limestones and chalky formations. The tunnel is being bored by a Robbins TBM, and an adit, connecting to it, is being drilled and blasted by an Atlas Copco drill rig.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09568700
• Corporate Authors:

  THE MINING JOURNAL LTD

  60 WORSHIP STREET
  LONDON,   United Kingdom  EC2A 2HD
• Authors:
  • HACKEL, K A
• Publication Date: 1995-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 105,109,111,113
• Serial:
  • WORLD TUNNELLING AND SUBSURFACE EXCAVATION
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: THE MINING JOURNAL LTD
  • ISSN: 0956-8700

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chalks; Construction; Dolomite; Drilling; Equipment; Excavation; Excavations; Full face tunneling; Gneiss; Granite; Limestone; Porphyry; Rocks; Sandstones; Shale; Tunneling machines; Tunnels
• Geographic Terms: Switzerland
• ITRD Terms: 4120: Chalk; 3655: Construction; 4191: Dolomite; 3871: Drilling; 3674: Equipment; 5155: Excavation (process); 3383: Full face tunnelling machine; 4100: Gneiss; 4101: Granite; 4131: Limestone; 4110: Porphyry; 4154: Rock; 4104: Sandstone; 4168: Shale; 8110: Switzerland; 3374: Tunnel
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Geotechnology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00682424
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Aug 17 1995 12:00AM