The assembly of the TBM machine, which will drill a 2-km tunnel near Rzeszów, begins
The last elements of the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), which will drill a 2.2 km long tunnel on the S19 Rzeszów Południe-Babica expressway, have already arrived at the construction site in Babica. When folded, the machine will weigh 4,000 tons and will be 112 meters long. The "Karpatki" drilling shield - because this is the name chosen by Internet users in a vote - has a record length of 15.2 m.
In February, assembly of the machine elements into segments will begin. Special crawler cranes with a lifting capacity of 300 to 650 tons will be helpful in this process. The investment carried out by the consortium of Mostostal Warszawa and Acciona Construcción is a real engineering challenge. The record-long tunnel will be constructed using the most modern technology available, i.e. using TBM equipment, and not using the mining method. This allows the work to be done faster and much more safely.
– The construction of a section of the S19 expressway from the Rzeszów Południe junction to the Babica junction is the most advanced task that we carry out for the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways. The scale of construction, technology, know-how and specialized TBM equipment is incomparable to most investments currently being designed and implemented in Poland - says Jorge Calabuig Ferre, Vice President of the Management Board of Mostostal Warszawa. - Undertaking such an interesting, and at the same time technologically difficult, construction project is a sign of the development we have made in recent years, as well as a confirmation of our strong position as the leading General Contractor of infrastructure investments in Poland.
There will be 32 alarm points, 28 rescue niches and 28 hydrants along the entire length of the tunnel. The tunnel will be equipped with transverse ventilation. The supply of fresh air will take place from the bottom along the entire length of the tunnel, and the discharge of used air will take place through special portals.
- The success in the implementation of such a technologically advanced investment is the main merit of the team of the best engineers from Mostostal Warszawa and Acciona Construcción, who at this important and difficult stage show professionalism, great commitment and care for the quality of works - says Sławomir Barczak, Director of the Infrastructure Area at Mostostal Warszawa.
As part of the investment - in addition to the tunnel - there will also be six overpasses, two viaducts, a collision-free passage along the national road nr. 19 and a passage under the S19 route. Three animal crossings will be built on the section from Rzeszów to Babica.
Photo: Mostostal Warszawa
