SUCCESSFUL STORIES UNDER PRESSURE

This article reviews some of the major tunnelling work undertaken worldwide during 1998, and work envisaged for 1999. Projects have been chosen mainly according to their length and value. Problems experienced during 1998 include: (1) several structural and ground failures, and project delays and budget overruns, that have affected client and public confidence; (2) a lack of adequate finance in some areas; (3) limits to tunnelling methods, due to new health and safety regulations and their interpretation; (4) some poor project management; (5) a continuing trend towards mergers and cooperative marketing between major suppliers; and (6) the persisting perception that underground infrastructure construction is more a luxury than a necessity. Global tunnelling markets are reviewed; the North American market is only now emerging from the lowest level of tunnelling activity for years, and the Asian financial crisis has reduced tunnelling activity in parts of Asia though not in China and Singapore. A table outlines some of the most significant tunnelling projects under construction during 1998. The Madrid Metro extension and the Heathrow Express link near London have been major successes in Europe. Site investigations, including extensive pilot excavations, are in progress for several base tunnels under the Alps.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0041414X
• Corporate Authors:

  Miller Freeman

  Calderwood Street
  London,   United Kingdom  SE18 6QH
• Authors:
  • Jones, M
• Publication Date: 1998-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 16-7,19-22
• Serial:
  • Tunnels & Tunnelling International
  • Volume: 30
  • Issue Number: 12
  • Publisher: Progressive Media Markets, Ltd
  • ISSN: 0041-414X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Charts; Construction; Demand; Failure; Financing; International; Marketing; Methodology; Mountains; Subways; Tunnels; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Site investigation
• ITRD Terms: 6486: Chart; 3655: Construction; 285: Demand (econ); 5520: Failure; 244: Financing; 9034: International; 277: Marketing; 9102: Method; 4048: Mountain; 5722: Site investigation; 3374: Tunnel; 1191: Underground railway; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00761433
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Apr 6 1999 12:00AM