A Look Back at David, Dan and Mikey’s European Tunnel Adventure

New Irvington Tunnel Project Manager David Tsztoo and Construction Manager Dan McMaster were invited to a prestigious tunneling information and technical exchange with their tunneling counterparts in Europe. Since they were on their own time, they invited our Mikey to join them!

From France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy our intrepid travelers went deep underground to see some of the world’s amazing tunneling projects.  Along the way they saw the world’s largest operating TBM in action, toured the premier tunnel equipment manufacturing plant, experienced controlled detonations first hand, and made a lot of friends and contacts in the tunneling industry. 

Check out David, Dan and Mikey’s European Tunnel Adventure:

Where did the adventure begin? Mikey Likes It!

Post #6: 72 hours, 2 tunnels, 3 time zones and countless new friends.

New Irvington Tunnel Project Manager David Tsztoo and Construction Manager Dan McMaster have been invited on a prestigious tunneling information and technical exchange with their tunneling counterparts in Europe. Since they are on their own time, they invited our Mikey to join them…. When last we left them they were in Switzerland.

Friday, Sept. 28: 

Guten Morgen! Or is it Buon Giorno?! You can understand David, Dan and Mikey’s early morning confusion. Crisscrossing Europe can have that effect and the boys had to wake up early to catch two impressive Italian tunnels.

At the twin bore Galleria Sparvo Tunnel near Bologna, Italy, the trio was greeted by a 15.6 meter (51-foot) Herrenknecht-manufactured tunnel boring machine (TBM) – the largest TBM in the world. It’s the equivalent of 51 Mikeys tall!

Most impressive sight? Watching what’s best described as a hovercraft move the 2,500-ton Sparvo TBM. Mikey wasn’t the only one that liked that!

Down the road was the Galleria Val di Sambro Tunnel. Unlike Sparvo, crews used fiber glass pre-excavation face supports and a giant hole-ram to mine the 50-foot diameter tunnel full face. Pre-fabricated steel and shotcrete were installed to support the ground after excavation.

Now for you foodies, dinner was at the rustic Antica Trattoria La Grotta tucked into the hills surrounding Bologna. This fourth-generation family restaurant served our intrepid travelers a multi-course meal that featured slow-cooked braised pork.

Saturday Sept. 29th: 

David, Dan and Mikey’s final day was a mix of technical presentations, sightseeing and fond goodbyes.

In the morning, the trio spent some time with the project managers of the Sparvo and Sambro tunnels and received briefings on current and upcoming tunnel projects in the United States.

The three spent the afternoon on a cultural tour of the historical center of Bologna and shopping for souvenirs. Mikey loved seeing how many old buildings were converted into shops, residential homes, and museums.

Finally, David, Dan, Mikey and tunneling experts from around the world gathered one final time over cheese, pasta and pork tenderloin. It was an evening of sharing stories, exchanging business cards and saying goodbyes to new friends.

Sunday, Sept. 30th:

The journey home started with a 4:00 AM wake up call. With their bags packed and passports in their pockets, David, Dan and Mikey boarded the early morning flight from Bologna. After layovers in Frankfort and London they made the trip back to San Francisco. Twenty-three hours later a very tired David, Dan and Mikey were back home.

Au Revoir. Auf Wiedersehen. Addio. It’s good to be home.

Want go back to where this adventure began?  Check out: Mikey Likes It!

Post #5 David, Dan & Mikey: Having a Blast in Switzerland!

New Irvington Tunnel Project Manager David Tsztoo and Construction Manager Dan McMaster have been invited on a prestigious tunneling information and technical exchange with their tunneling counterparts in Europe. Since they are on their own time, they invited our Mikey to join them…. When last we left them they were in Strasbourg, France.

Thurs. Sept. 27th:

Most travelers to Sigirno leisurely browse through the cultural and natural attractions of this classically Swiss village…world class art museum, the Autumn Festival, or cruising Lake Lugano.

If you’re David, Dan and Mikey you might be looking for a little more action… maybe even explosive!

When our tunnel travelers visited the Alp Transit Gotthard Ceneri Base Tunnel near Sigirno, they weren’t going to find a single tunnel boring machine or road header on site. Instead the railway tunnel is driven in four headings simultaneously using mechanized drill and blast!

Workers prepare for a controlled detonation

Mikey in around the Ceneri Base Tunnel with some new friends

Deep underground a large rapid drilling machine is used to drill about a hundred holes in the tunnel face, and the holes are packed with explosives. When everything is set the detonations blast away several meters of rock off the face, crews remove the blasted rock, and the process repeats for the next round. David and Dan were certainly impressed and well Mikey… he likes it!

After all the excitement the three boarded a bus for the six hour drive to Bologna, Italy. David and Dan took this time to catch up on sleep. Not Mikey, though. He was his fun, energetic self, as usual.

What’s next for the crew? Two twin bore tunnels and a night in downtown Bologna.

Auf wiedersehen!

Before blasting in Switzerland Mikey huddled with the world's premier tunneling experts!

Mikey's Travels: Post #4, PowerPoint, Bar Charts and an Exclusive Look at the World’s Premier Tunnel Equipment Plant

September 25 & 26: Strasbourg Tunnel Seminar and the Herrenknect Plant

New Irvington Tunnel Project Manager David Tsztoo and Construction Manager Dan McMaster have been invited on a prestigious tunneling information and technical exchange with their tunneling counterparts in Europe. Since they are on their own time, they invited our Mikey to join them…. We join them in Strasbourg.

Mikey couldn't wait for the presentations to start!

Dave and Dan enjoy presentations from their tunneling colleagues but you haven’t met anyone more excited about a day-long tunnel seminar than Mikey! 

A presentation on the Port of Miami Tunnel?  Forget about breakfast this is what gets Mikey going in the morning!

An overview on the successful use of shielded TBMs on a New York City subway project? Mikey likes it! He really likes it!

An in-depth technical discussion on how designers can specify large cross section final lining forming system performance using a new DIN standard for form performance requirements?!?! 

Okay, this one flew over Mikey’s head. But after Dave and Dan explained it to him…Mikey was in awe.

Dave, Dan and Mikey also had dinner with Dr. Martin Herrenknect who delighted them with stories from his life and how the Herrenknecht Group became the premier TBM manufacturer in the world! For the foodies out there, Dr. Herrenknect treated his guests to veal shoulder steak with vegetables and spatzle, pate, salad and snatpz.

The next day our tunnel adventurers departed for the much anticipated tour of the Herrenknecht Plant where all sorts of TBM's are being designed and manufactured.  After welcoming remarks by Dr. Herrenknecht we divided up into groups and saw the plant in action.   Mikey marveled as he watched large tunnel boring machines being assembled and steel segment moulds in fabrication. David and Dan were equally impressed as they watched shop engineers and technicians pre-assemble the full scale TBM's on the grounds to check for quality control.  

Up next? Serpiano, Switzerland - to a railway tunnel using mechanized drill and blast from four different headings!

Before Strasbourg David, Dan and Mikey were checking out Tunneling in Saverne, France.

Mikey's Travels: Post #3, Tunneling in France

Monday Sept. 24, 2012:
New Irvington Tunnel Project Manager David Tsztoo and Construction Manager Dan McMaster have been invited on a prestigious tunneling information and technical exchange with their tunneling counterparts in Europe. Since they are on their own time, they invited our Mikey to join them…. When last we left them they were in Zurich.

Our jet lagged travelers stumbled onto an early bus from Zurich to Saverne, France this morning.
After three hours, they arrived at the LGV East Saverne Railroad Tunnel Project to find a completely deserted site. No people. No tunnel boring machine. Turns out, the bus driver accidently took them to the wrong end of the tunnel! 

After a good laugh, the group found their way to the correct side of the tunnel to find their hosts at Vinci Construction patiently waiting for the lost bus.

Mikey, Dan, and David were quite impressed with the tunneling operations. The Saverne Tunnel Team later provided detailed project presentations to their guests. The tunnel is a twin bore through sandstone and softer ground, and at the time of their visit it was getting ready to bore the second tunnel heading.

Mikey and David checkout the Saverne TBM

Little Mikey made a lot of friends at the site.

Our travelers then headed to Strasbourg, France for a two-night stay.

Mikey enjoys Strasbourg, France.. and the French cheeses!

There the three enjoyed an excellent traditional French dinner (roast chicken, pate and salad, and dessert cheeses with breads, for you foodies) before turning in early to get ready for tomorrow’s technical presentations.

David, Dan,and Mikey visit the Strasgbourg Cathedral and take a break before tomorrow's technical sessions.

Au revoir!

Where were David, Dan and Mikey before Saverne?  Check out their Arrival in Zurich!

Mikey's Travels, Post #2: Arrival in Zurich

New Irvington Tunnel Project Manager David Tsztoo and Construction Manager Dan McMaster have been invited on a prestigious tunneling information and technical exchange with their tunneling counterparts in Europe. Since they are on their own time, they invited our Mikey to join them.


Saturday, September 22, 2012
David, Dan and Mikey depart for Zurich.

Apparently Mikey and David encountered some issues with their steel-toed boots and laptop when going through security at the airport.

Sunday, September 23, 2012
Arrival in Zurich.

Despite their jet lag, David, Dan and Mikey visit the sites in Zurich before a welcome dinner with the leaders of the Swiss Tunneling Industry in the evening.

Follow the travels of our intrepid SFPUC colleagues - Mikey, Dan, and David - as they visit tunneling sites all over Europe and bring home what they've learned.


See Mikey's first blog entry here.Mikey Likes It - Sept 20

Post #3: Tunneling in France

Mikey Likes It

Meet Mikey.  Mikey likes fog, food trucks and Buster Posey…Go Giants! Most of all Mikey likes the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System.  Mikey drinks water from the tap instead of buying bottled water.  Mikey likes to conserve water so he always turns off the faucet when he brushes his teeth. Mikey also likes the important work being done to repair, replace and improve the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System.

Mikey learned all about the New Irvington Tunnel - a key project that is part of that effort -- from Project Manager David Tsztoo and Construction Manager Dan McMaster. David and Dan have forty-two years of combined experience building tunnels. They showed Mikey how the road headers dig the tunnel.  Mikey also saw the large diameter steel pipe that will eventually line the tunnel and carry the water he likes so much to his home.

David and Dan have been invited to take part in a prestigious information and technology exchange on designing and constructing large diameter tunnels abroad. Since they are on their own time, they invited Mikey to join them.  Together they will tour tunnel projects and tunnel equipment manufacturing facilities in France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. They will bring back their newly acquired knowledge to benefit the New Irvington Tunnel Project and the Water System Improvement Program.

Follow David, Dan and Mikey @WSIPintheNews or search #MikeyLikesIt to see all of the amazing tunnel projects they will learn about and explore over the next couple of weeks.  Mikey and the NIT team will share pictures on our blog at www.sfwater.org/sunolvalley.

Ciao!

Post #2: David, Dan and Mikey: Arrival in Zurich