New updates from the H53 Pfons-Brenner construction site: TBM Olga has reached the 4-kilometre mark

The H53 Pfons-Brenner construction site has taken a new and important step forward: the TBM known as Olga has officially reached the 4-kilometre mark in excavating the east main tunnel. Olga started work on 18 September 2024 together with her twin Wilma and is now past the halfway point of the stretch she is excavating northwards, which is just over 7.6 kilometres long. With only 3.6 kilometres still to be excavated, Olga is coming down the home stretch.

Olga's progress should be seen in addition to the results already achieved by Wilma, who in recent weeks had in turn passed the five-kilometre mark in the west main tunnel. Together, the two 'giants in the mountain' have built over 9 kilometres of tunnels so far. The completion of the approximately 15 kilometres in total to be excavated by the two TBMs - of which less than six remain - will mark the end of mechanised excavation work for the entire Pfons-Brenner site. But the importance of this moment goes well beyond the individual lot: as these are the last two TBMs still in action for the Brenner Base Tunnel project, the arrival of Wilma and Olga at their destination will mark the final completion of all mechanised excavation work for the entire cross-border project.

This extraordinary engineering effort still maintains a human dimension, symbolically represented by the choice of the TBM's name. Elisabeth Wolf, patroness of the TBM, wanted to emphasise the uniqueness of the challenge these works present, by reminding us that Olga means 'blessed': it is precisely that blessing that protects the workers in the heart of our mountains every day and allows them to perform such extraordinary work. In this spirit, the BBT project continues to move forward swiftly towards the important milestones expected for 2026.