NEWS

TBM Ida started work on 27 June 2023 and completed her first 3 km of excavation work on Tuesday, 14th May. She excavated an average of 13 metres per day, meaning 342,060 m³. This TBM, like her sister machine Lilia, has already passed the critical fault zones known as 'Viggartal' and 'Walzn', and is now ready to face the new challenges ahead with confidence.

Romed Insam, project manager for Lot H41 Sill-Pfons Gorge, expresses his satisfaction with Ida's progress. "Ida's journey is certainly not an easy one. Our TBM, having passed the critical zones, still has 5.4 km to go. Many challenges still lie ahead of us, but we are confident, based on the experience gathered so far, that we will succeed. My sincere thanks go to the whole team."

The production and laying of tubbing rings in Ahrental: a safe and sustainable choice

TBM Ida is not only digging a tunnel, as she moves southwards: the tunnel boring machine is also installing the inner ring lining of the tunnel. Each ring consists of six concrete segments weighing a total of approximately 60 tonnes each. The tunnel thus excavated immediately becomes a safe place for miners, thanks to the installation of the precast concrete elements that form the final lining of the tunnel.

Ida's twin sister, Lilia, has meanwhile excavated some 2,620 metres of tunnel, and is therefore also about to reach own her 3-km milestone.

So far, some 17,300 tubbing rings have been laid in the two main tunnels. All of the tubbing rings were produced by the site's own factory, thus sparing the environment the approximately 27,000 heavy vehicle transports required to move the tubbing rings.

The choices made in the 'H41 Sill-Pfons Gorge' lot, and more generally in the BBT project, are therefore focused on worker safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability. All this while our 'giants in the mountains' are moving swiftly towards their own ambitious milestones.