Tunneling pressure
November 2, 2016
Author: Josh Posaner
Source: Politico, Oct 17, 2016, 7:15am
The tunnel mega-projects of Europe still pose many risks despite engineering progress, Hans-Georg Balthaus, general manager at engineering company Hochtief, told us Friday. “There is danger that you can’t talk away, that will always be there. There are some safety measures you can take but the risk is always there,” said Balthaus.
He’s worked on the Gotthard tunnel, a new 57 kilometer rail link through the Swiss Alps that will open officially in December and become the longest and deepest traffic tunnel in the world. “Tunneling under rocks 2,500 meters above you means high pressure,” he said. “One risk is that the geology is different for each project.”
Another notable tunneling project in Europe is the Brenner Base Tunnel from Austria to Italy, also through the Alps, but that’s not set to be finished until the mid-2020s.
