The New Irvington Tunnel is officially in service!

Our teams are excited to announce that the New Irvington Tunnel is officially in service carrying drinking water to our 2.6 million Bay Area customers.

This is a major milestone since the completion of the New Irvington Tunnel Project completes the last three tunnels in the Water System Improvement Program (WSIP), creating a critical water lifeline able to withstand earthquakes on the Hayward, Calaveras, and San Andreas faults.

Located between the Sunol Valley and Fremont, the new seismically-designed tunnel is the last of three tunnels making up this “water lifeline” around the Bay.  The project is part of the agency’s $4.8 billion Water System Improvement Program.

The tunnel was constructed by the joint venture of Southland Tutor Perini who began tunneling in March 2011. It was constructed using conventional mining techniques from four separate headings using road headers and controlled detonation to break up the hard rock.

Tunnel Facts:

• Tunnel Length: 18,660 feet or 3.5 miles
• Location: Parallel to the existing tunnel between Sunol Valley and the City of Fremont 
• Depth: Between 30 feet and 700 feet underground
• Finished internal diameter: 8.5 feet
• More than 7.8 million pounds injected into the tunnel
• The New Irvington Tunnel will carry approximately 120 million gallons of water a day on average during normal operating conditions when both tunnels are in service.
• The maximum amount of water the tunnel can transport per day: approximately 300 million gallons 
• This project provided approximately 42% of total labor hours to SFPUC service territory residents, and nearly half (48%) of total apprentice hours to SFPUC service territory apprentices ensuring our local workers and local residents were able to participate in this unique, once-in-a-lifetime construction opportunity.

What Happens Next?

Now that the tunnel is in service, the construction team will begin restoration of the above ground facilities. The SFPUC will take the existing tunnel out of service for inspection in early March 2015. The entire New Irvington Tunnel Project will be complete in Fall 2015.

1933: Historic photo of  worker at Irvington Portal spherical manifold

Today: New Irvington Tunnel worker at new dishhead at Irvington Portal

Construction Advisory: New Irvington Tunnel Neighbors

We are preparing to bring the New Irvington Tunnel into service!
In order to do so, our crews need to fill and disinfect the tunnel and connecting pipelines in preparation for it to carry drinking water. Disinfection is a 24/7 process, and therefore, you will notice nighttime work at the Irvington Portal. Here’s more information:

Completion of Tunnel Cleaning and Installation of Dish-head
The Contractor will need to work inside the tunnel during night hours on Friday, Feb 13^th. They will also install the dish-heads starting this weekend inside the new portal structure located off Mission Blvd. in the City of Fremont.

Disinfection/ Flushing activities start week of February 16, 2015 
Beginning on Tuesday, Feb 17^th we will pump highly chlorinated water through the tunnel to disinfect it. Crews will be running pumps 24 hours a day and will be flushing the pipe for an estimated 5 to 7 days. Adjacent neighbors at Irvington Portal may hear the operations of the equipment. Passersby will notice lights and increased activity in the area. We will be installing sound blankets on the pipes to help minimize the water injection noise located near Mission Blvd entrance.

Future Work: Restoration work at Irvington Portal

After the tunnel is in service, the next step will be to construct a concrete structure around the existing tunnel portal up by the valve houses. Once the major construction work is completed, the Contractor will remove the remaining sound barrier walls. We will give the neighborhood advance notice before taking down the sound walls. Final grading, paving and installation of the wrought iron fence will be installed at the Mission Boulevard entrance by this summer.

Project Background

The New Irvington Tunnel Project is part of the $4.8 billion Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) to repair, replace, and upgrade our system’s aging pipelines, tunnels, and dams. The new 3.5 mile long tunnel will provide a seismically-designed connection between water supplies from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Alameda Watershed to our Bay Area water distribution systems.  We anticipate being completely done in fall 2015. 

Questions / Concerns?

We greatly appreciate your patience. Contact us with any questions by calling our 24 hour answer line at 866-973-1476 or emailing mle@sfwater.org

Why we should all be excited about Cement Mortar Lining

The really big news from the team constructing the New Irvington Tunnel – a seismically designed crucial tunnel between Sunol Valley and Fremont and our 2.6 million Bay Area customers – is that installation of the cement mortar lining has begun!  Although this may seem like a good time to yawn, this is actually really exciting news! Here’s why.

It is one of the final stages of constructing a water tunnel before we bring it into service.  The New Irvington Tunnel is 95% complete, and we hope to bring the new tunnel into service this fall.  Now are you more excited?

First we excavated the tunnel from four different locations using road headers and drill and blast methods. Then we inserted steel pipe final liners into the 3.5 mile long tunnel. We welded the pipe together and injected grout in the space between the pipe and the tunnel to seal it off from groundwater intrusion along the entire 3.5 mile length. 

There is still work left to be done before water delivery can begin, but cement mortar lining application is a key step to prevent corrosion of the steel pipe and prepare it for water conveyance.  Our workers will use specialized equipment that sprays cement on the pipe’s interior and creates a very smooth surface.   

Mortar Lining being applied in the New Irvington Tunnel

Installation of the mortar lining should take about two months. After that we will complete the pipeline connections on both ends of the tunnel and install rounded dishhead caps on the end of the pipe. Then SFPUC Operation crews will disinfect the entire pipe, flush it and bring it into service by the end of October 2015.  Surface work and restoration will then take up the remaining months of the project. We anticipate being done in summer 2015.

So although the words “mortar lining installation” might not stop traffic, it is music to our ears! 

Neighbors Catch up on the New Irvington Tunnel

Thank you to all of the community members who dropped by the New Irvington Tunnel Open House at the Mission Coffee House last week!  It was really great to see you.  For those of you who weren’t able to attend, here are the highlights as shared by the project team.

• The New Irvington Tunnel Project is currently 95% complete.
• The steel liner of the tunnel has been installed. We are welding and grouting the space between the tunnel lining and the outside of the tunnel to seal the tunnel off from groundwater intrusion.
• The 3.5 mile New Irvington Tunnel will be brought into service sometime this fall 2014, allowing us to take the old tunnel out of service for inspection and possible repairs.
•  Overall project completion is anticipated in fall 2015, soon after we complete site restoration of all of the above ground work.
• The New Irvington Tunnel runs parallel to the existing tunnel (which was built in 1932)  between the Sunol Valley south of Highway I-680 and Fremont, California. It provides a seismically designed connection between Sierra Nevada and Alameda Watershed water supplies and 2.6 million Bay Area customers.

We will be back out with another open house in a about three months, so we hope you can make the next one. 

Neighbors have some tunnel talk at the New Irvington Tunnel Open House

Milestone Breakthrough for the New Irvington Tunnel

Roadheader breaks through for final hole-through on October 8th

On October 8, 2013 at precisely 9:00 a.m. two crews of miners from the New Irvington Tunnel project met underground with their roadheader digging away at the last final feet of rock.  Miners celebrated the final hole-through excavation of the 18,660 foot tunnel.  The 3.5 mile New Irvington Tunnel will transmit water between the Sunol Valley and Fremont to our 2.6 million Bay Area customers. Work is still not quite done yet, our miners will prepare the new tunnel for installation of 8.5 ft diameter steel pipe, installed in 50-foot sections and welded together inside of the tunnel.  This will be followed by the placement of cellular concrete between the steel pipe and tunnel wall to complete the project in mid-2015. 

 

Hole-Through Challenge Winner: Priya Iyer
With that, we also would like to congratulate our Hole-Through Challenge contestant.... Priya Iyer! Priya selected the winning time and date of the hole-through and will be receiving our prize package.  Congratulations to Priya!

Our hardworking New Irvington Tunnel crew

                                      Tunnel Superintendents Jim Mulkey and Jack Bowling from 

                                      Southland Contracting share a handshake after the hole-through.

New Irvington Tunnel Project Staff celebrates Hole-Through

New Irvington Tunnel Neighbors compete in the Final Tunnel Hole-Through Challenge at Open House

Last week, neighbors of the New Irvington Tunnel project stopped in for a cup of coffee and to hear the latest updates on tunnel progress at Mission Coffee House in Fremont.  Attendees were able to discuss construction progress, see new project photos, handle some rock samples collected from tunneling, and participate in the final "hole-through" challenge. 

 Residents participate in the Tunnel Hole-Through Challenge

We are still anticipating the exciting moment when the miners will meet underground between the tunnel segment from Vargas East to Alameda West Portal.  The winner will be notified to receive their gift basket of local goodies as soon as the day comes.  Thank you to all who have participated in the New Irvington Tunnel Hole-Through Challenge!  

Our final guesses are shown here:

For more project info, please email mle@sfwater.org or call our 24 hour answer line 866-973-1476.

One more week to play! New Irvington Tunnel Challenge

Sometime in the next few weeks, two teams of miners will meet hundreds of feet underground. One is excavating the New Irvington Tunnel eastward from the Vargas Shaft near I-680; the other is working its way west from the Alameda West Portal in Sunol Valley.

When will they meet?

Guess correctly and you could win a wonderful prize pack featuring gift certificates to local businesses!

Need a little help?

As of September 14, 2013, our miners have tunneled 5,044 feet east from Vargas and 8,758 feet west from Alameda West. In ideal ground conditions, crews have tunneled an average of 130 feet per week. When ground conditions are poor they excavate less than 20 feet. We have 405 feet left to go to hole-through as of September 14, 2013.

How to Play

The chart squares shown below correspond to a possible date and timeframe when the tunneling teams will meet. Selections already submitted by contestants are indicated by a “star “.

1. Choose three squares and e-mail your choices to: mle@sfwater.org
2. If your first choice is available, then you will be assigned that square. If the square is unavailable, then the next available choice is assigned. You will receive an email confirmation with your selection.
3. Include the date and time you think the hole-through will take place. Squares will be assigned on a first come, first serve. Only one square is allowed per person
4. Please include your name, phone number and e-mail address so we can contact you if you make the winning selection.
5. Submissions will be accepted through September 29, 2013.  GOOD LUCK!

New Irvington Tunnel Project Background

The SFPUC is constructing a new 3.5 mile long tunnel to transmit water between the Sunol Valley and Fremont. The New Irvington Tunnel has been excavated from four different tunnel headings. The first two headings met each other in June 2012. This second and final ‘hole-through’ will mark the completion of excavation of the entire 18,660 ft tunnel. Following the hole-through, miners will prepare the tunnel for the installation of 8.5 ft diameter steel pipe, installed in 50-foot sections and welded together inside of the tunnel. This is a major milestone as the final project completion is near!

Your Challenge - When will our Tunnels Meet?

Sometime in the next few weeks, two teams of miners will meet hundreds of feet underground. One is excavating the New Irvington Tunnel eastward from the Vargas Shaft near I-680; the other is working its way west from the Alameda West Portal in Sunol Valley.

When will they meet?
Guess correctly and you could win a wonderful prize pack featuring gift certificates to local businesses!

Need a little help?
As of September 14, 2013, our miners have tunneled 5,044 feet east from Vargas and 8,758 feet west from Alameda West. In ideal ground conditions, crews have tunneled an average of 130 feet per week. When ground conditions are poor they excavate less than 20 feet. We have 405 feet left to go to hole-through as of September 14, 2013.

How to Play

The chart squares shown below correspond to a possible date and timeframe when the tunneling teams will meet. Selections already submitted by contestants are indicated by a “star “.

1. Choose three squares and e-mail your choices to: mle@sfwater.org
2. If your first choice is available, then you will be assigned that square. If the square is unavailable, then the next available choice is assigned. You will receive an email confirmation with your selection.
3. Include the date and time you think the hole-through will take place. Squares will be assigned on a first come, first serve. Only one square is allowed per person
4. Please include your name, phone number and e-mail address so we can contact you if you make the winning selection.
5. Submissions will be accepted through September 29, 2013.  GOOD LUCK!

New Irvington Tunnel Project Background

The SFPUC is constructing a new 3.5 mile long tunnel to transmit water between the Sunol Valley and Fremont. The New Irvington Tunnel has been excavated from four different tunnel headings. The first two headings met each other in June 2012. This second and final ‘hole-through’ will mark the completion of excavation of the entire 18,660 ft tunnel. Following the hole-through, miners will prepare the tunnel for the installation of 8.5 ft diameter steel pipe, installed in 50-foot sections and welded together inside of the tunnel. This is a major milestone as the final project completion is near!

Another Shut Down for the Books

The New Irvington Tunnel Project has just completed its winter pipeline shutdown work this season.

“What’s the big deal?” you ask. Here’s why.

Our construction team must construct upgrades to this water system while it still provides water to our 2.6 million customers.  We shut down the pipelines in order to cut into them and weld pipeline connections to improve your water system.  We can only do this for short periods of time during winter months when demand for water is low. The timelines within which the contractor can complete their work are very short. The work is very complex and challenging in a very tight area. No pressure!

At the Irvington Portal area in Fremont, the contractor Southland Tutor Perini had two shutdown seasons – last year and this – to complete a complex set of pipeline connections between the existing Irvington Tunnel, the New Irvington Tunnel currently under construction, and the five Bay Division Pipelines. These pipelines can only be shut down one at a time during winter months.

The SFPUC is creating pipeline connections to allow water to be distributed from both tunnels to all five pipelines in a variety of ways.  Work on the final Bay Division Pipeline #4 connection started on November 5, 2012, and the project team recently completed the work.

For our customers this means a water transmission system that will be more flexible from an operational standpoint and better able to withstand a major earthquake.  For our construction team it means a pat on the back for a job well done.

Work being done on the final Bay Division Pipeline #4 Connection

Workers perform welding work on pipeline

For more project info, please email mle@sfwater.org or call our 24 hour answer line at 866-973-1476.

Then & Now: Tunnel Lining

The existing Irvington Tunnel was built in the early 20th century and can no longer be taken out of service for repairs or maintenance without impacting the water supply to customers. The last time the old tunnel was inspected for maintenance was in 1966. Completion of the New Irvington Tunnel will allow us take the existing tunnel out of service for much needed maintenance. The new tunnel is designed to provide a seismically-strengthened or reinforced connection between water supplies from the Alameda Watershed to Bay Area customers

Here’s a quick look at tunnel construction then and now:

Then: In 1933, the existing Irvington Tunnel was lined with cast-in-place concrete. The average cost of house was $5,750, IT’S-IT Ice Cream was gaining popularity at San Francisco’s Playland-at-the-Beach, and baseball by the Bay was played at Seals Stadium. 

Now:  The New Tunnel will be lined with a total 18,660 feet of welded steel pipe..  After the pipe is installed, the pipe will be lined with cement mortar finish to protect the steel pipe from rusting, so the tunnel will serve drinking water for future generations.

At 102-inches (8.5 feet) in diameter, the pipes are the final liner of the new tunnel, through which the pristine drinking water from the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and our East Bay Watershed will flow to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Just in case you’re curious about how things compare in 2012:  The average price of a home is $295,300, Playland-at-the-Beach is gone but IT’S-IT is found at your local grocer, and the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants play at AT&T Park! 

Check out the previous entries in NIT’s Then & Now series:

Then &Now: Mining Methods

Then & Now: Alameda West Portal

What’s Underground?

Have you ever wondered what’s underground? Throughout construction of the New Irvington Tunnel (NIT) project, we’ve had the rare opportunity to encounter some of the most fascinating and diverse geological features in the world. From faults capable of generating huge earthquakes to ancient rock formations dating back to before man first walked the Earth, the unique geographic setting of the new tunnel leaves plenty to be discovered.

The Bay Area’s San Andreas Fault system featuring the Hayward Fault (middle to bottom right) and Calaveras Fault (bottom right)

The new tunnel is located in a seismically active part of California between the Calaveras and Hayward faults. Between these two major faults are several small faults that cross the path of the tunnel. These faults consist of very short sections of intensely fractured sandstone and fault gouge (fault rock rich in clay, characterized by a mixture of fine grain-like rock fragments). Due to their incohesive nature, these formations are extremely weak, a stark contrast to other materials encountered while digging through this section.

A sample cross section view of the new tunnel alignment. The red markings indicate fault zones that intersect the tunnel.

Briones formation contains fossilized shell fragments (circled in yellow)

During excavation, a majority of the ground encountered is part of the Briones Formation, which includes massive sandstone characterized by coarse, grain-like quartz sandstone and shell fragments. These rocks are extremely old, dating back to the Late Miocene Epoch nearly 12 million years ago! These rocks aren't just old, but they are so strong that drill and blast methods were utilized to mine through the tough ground.

This is only a glimpse of the geology hidden beneath Sunol Valley. So the next time you look down and ask, “What’s underground?”, keep in mind that that there are ancient rocks, ever-shifting faults, and whole lot more going on just underneath your feet. 

Teamwork pays off

It’s not quite like a Giants baseball game out here, but our crews at the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project sure know a thing or two about the importance of teamwork.  Just like base coach Tim Flannery uses hand signals to communicate on the field, our Calaveras Dam workers use the same method to communicate to each other at the site.

Since Friday, we started filling concrete in the new shaft which is an important function for the new Calaveras Dam.  The shaft is part of the new intake tower which moves water from the Calaveras Reservoir through the adit tunnels eventually treated to become our drinking water. The level of noise and limited visibility in the shaft can be challenging, so our workers rely on hand signals and radio communication to mobilize.  Our workers signal the crane to lower a bucket full of concrete into the shaft, and then workers below fill the wall forms with concrete.

The shaft is 152 feet deep and over 720 cubic yards of concrete will be placed once it is completed. It takes approximately a week for the concrete to reach a specified strength before continuing, therefore the concrete work will be completed in 16 foot lifts at a time through March 2013.

Worker signals crane to move concrete bucket into shaft

Top of the Shaft 

 

Workers in Shaft below with Concrete Bucket

For the San Francisco Giants, teamwork wins championships.  As for our workers, teamwork builds progress for the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project.  Congrats to both teams!  For more project info, contact us at our 24 hour answer line at (866) 973-1476 or email mle@sfwater.org

 

Photo Courtesy Fox News

Building Tunnels and Building Lives

Robert Shumate put in the work to go underground

In the fall of 2011, Robert Shumate, a recent graduate of Alameda County’s Cypress Mandela Training Center, attended the Miner Tender Preparedness Program. Shortly thereafter, he put his training to the ultimate test at the New Irvington Tunnel project.  Robert quickly excelled and gained the trust of his peers, learning all aspects of working in extremely challenging and potentially dangerous conditions. Robert came to work each day with a positive attitude and a great work ethic, and within a short period of time, he was not only working on a tunneling project, but IN a tunnel. A feat which surpassed the expectations of his training. In addition to providing a stable income for himself and his family, Robert gained unique work skills specific to mining, making him  a “hot” commodity in the industry and open to a wide range of work opportunities across the nation.

Robert’s success is a testament to his hard work.  His opportunity to shine was made possible by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SPFUC) and Southland Tutor Perini’s (STP) commitment to hire locally for the $4.6B Water System Improvement Program (WSIP).   In addition to Robert, half of the New Irvington Tunnel project’s workforce is made up of local residents meeting the goals of the SFPUC’s local hire program.  This means a portion of the ratepayers investment into improving the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System is also putting people to work in communities where our projects are located.

Whether it is local workers or local small business the 

SFPUC and STP are committed to the San Francsico Bay Area

© San Francisco Public Utilities Commission R. Scheswohl

“Southland is enthusiastic about tapping into the Bay Area’s talented and diverse workforce”, said Michael Cash, Regional Manager for Southland Contracting, Inc. “In addition to exceptional people like Robert, we've also provided nearly $10 million in construction contracts to local small businesses.”

The SFPUC is committed to training future members of the Bay Area’s workforce.  The WSIP goal is to have one apprentice worker for every four journeyman workers on each capital improvement   project.  Tunneling is not an apprenticable trade so this contractor made sure to place junior workers in above ground roles and has exceeded this goal with  32 percent of workers in apprentice positions. 

The Job Training Opportunity Program (JTOP) where  Robert gained his training  is a great example of how the SFPUC, contractors, unions, and community-based organizations partner to create opportunities for local residents to receive the skills, training, and support necessary to help them attain successful and sustainable careers in construction.

Robert Shumate (R) stands tall with Tunnel Superintendent Jack Bowling (L)

Photo by S. Bednarz, ©2012 Jacobs Associates, All Rights Reserved

Robert recently reached another major milestone by completing  all apprentice hours required for Journey-level status! He is now one of the elite mining workers in his union and shares a proud heritage with the many other miners before him.  Congratulations to Robert and all of the other JTOP trainees!

For more information visit the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s local hire program page.

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