Blasting began on the Mules access tunnel on May 5th, 2008. This tunnel is being excavated through Brixner granite.

At the end of June, 1.645 meters had been excavated.

Blasting takes place twice a day, in so-called “volleys”. Every volley excavates three to four meters, depending on the class of rock. About 130 holes are drilled in the rock face, three to four meters deep, which are filled with explosives.

The cavity is stabilized with super-swellex anchor bolts and fiber reinforced concrete. If the overburden is above 800 meters, further armored sheathing is built in to improve the load bearing capacity of the cavity.

The spoil is taken by truckloads from the tunnel directly to the crushing plant where it is deposited to be sorted. Parts of the spoil will be recycled in cementing the floor slab. The remainder of the material with be brought to the nearby cement-producing plants.

As of July 2009, a conveyor belt should begin operations and carry the spoil from the access tunnel in Mules and other excavations to the temporary deposit in Genauen. Further conveyor belts can carry the material to the station in Le Cave, from where it can be taken away in railway cars once the freight station there is operative.

Status: 2. July 2009