AMSTERDAM SUBWAY BUILT ON SURFACE, THEN SUNK INTO WATER LADEN SOIL

SUBWAY CONSTRUCTION IN AMSTERDAM IS COMPLICATED BY AN EXTENSIVE SYSTEM OF CANALS, A WATER TABLE OF ONLY 5 FT BELOW GRADE, AND NARROW TRAFFIC FILLED STREETS. THE PNEUMATIC CAISSON METHOD IS BEING USED. WORKMEN CONSTRUCT REINFORCED CONCRETE TUNNEL SECTIONS IN 98 TO 131 FT LENGTHS ON THE GROUND, THEN SINK THEM INTO THE SOGGY SOIL BY TUNNELING UNDER AIR PRESSURE. THIS ELIMINATES DRIVING PILES FOR COFFERDAMS AND LEAVING OPEN ANY DEEP EXCAVATIONS THAT REQUIE DEWATERING. ONCE THE TUNNEL SECTIONS ARE SUNK INTO PLACE, THE CONTRACTOR WILL FREEZE THE GROUND AROUND THE JOINTS WITH LIQUID NITROGEN AND CAST THE CONCRETE JOINTS. A VERSION OF CUT-AND-COVER CONSTRUCTION IS BEING USED FOR THE MAIN STATION SECTION. TO AVOID INTERFERING WITH SHIPPING ALONG THE MAIN CANAL, CONTRACTORS BUILT A DRY DOCK NEARBY AND ARE CONSTRUCTING A TUNNEL SECTION, WHICH WILL THEN BE SUNK INTO PLACE. BECAUSE SEVERAL OTHER CANALS HAD TO BE CLOSED OFF FROM TIME TO TIME DURING CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERS MAKE SPECIAL PROVISIONS TO RENEW THE WATER BY MEANS OF AUXILIARY PUMPING STATIONS.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08919526
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 187, No 8, P 31, 2 FIG, 1 PHOT
• Publication Date: 1971-8

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Engineering News-Record
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0891-9526

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air; Caissons; Canals; Construction; Excavation and tunneling; Joints; Pneumatic equipment; Pressure; Reinforced concrete; Subways; Tunneling; Water table
• Old TRIS Terms: Joint; Pneumatic caisson; Subway construction
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00215442
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 8 1971 12:00AM