Tunneling
Houston considering new underground tunnels for flood mitigation
Harris County in Houston, Texas, is exploring substantial projects to mitigate flooding, including the construction of tunnels over 100 feet below the water. Over the past six years, the flood control district has invested $4.5 million in tunnel studies, partially funded by a federal grant.
MTA awards $1.97 billion tunnel-boring contract for subway expansion
New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board has awarded a $1.97 billion tunnel-boring contract for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway project. Connect Plus Partners, a joint venture between Halmar International and FCC Construction, will conduct tunnel boring between 35 and 120 feet below Second Avenue using 750-ton machines equipped with 22-foot drill heads.
VTA plans single tunnel for BART extension in bid to save $600 million
The Valley Transportation Authority has finalized its decision to build a single tunnel for the BART expansion project in San Jose, Calif., after years of debate regarding the construction of either one or two tunnels. Project officials have presented a cost report detailing up to $600 million in savings with the decision.
Tunnel boring continues under Chesapeake Bay for $3.9 billion HRBT Expansion project
The second phase of tunnel boring work beneath Virginia's Chesapeake Bay is excelling at a rapid pace, according to project officials. The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) Expansion project is a multi-year, $3.9 billion infrastructure overhaul led by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Aecon-led team lands $1.4 billion contract to build twin subway tunnels in Toronto
A $1.4 billion contract has been awarded to North End Connectors to design and build twin tunnels for the Yonge North Subway Extension. Major construction is expected to start following design completion.
California tunnel project nears construction with $200 million accountability plan
The Newsom Administration introduced a $200 million plan to support Delta communities and boost transparency as California prepares for construction of the Delta Conveyance Project.
Tennessee OKs land lease for Elon Musk’s Nashville tunnel project amid public pushback
Tennessee’s State Building Commission approved a free lease of state land for Elon Musk’s The Boring Company to begin work on the 10-mile Music City Loop tunnel—a critical step in infrastructure staging and project mobilization.
LA tunnel work at 'full stop' following collapse, ongoing investigation
Construction work on an LA wastewater tunnel project remains paused following a partial collapse earlier this month in which nearly 30 workers were trapped, and later rescued.
W.A. Rasic Construction wins major subcontract for $630 million LA tunnel
W.A. Rasic Construction has been selected by Dragados USA to install 144-inch pipeline segments for the $630 million Joint Water Pollution Control Plant Effluent Outfall Tunnel in Los Angeles County, enhancing regional wastewater infrastructure and seismic resilience.
Portland begins 3-year replacement of 90-year-old Carolina Trunk sewer under I‑5
Portland has started a multi-year project to replace the 90-year-old Carolina Trunk sewer under I 5. The work involves tunneling, excavation, and open-cut construction to modernize a key storm and sanitary line serving Southwest Portland.
Tunneling begins in Auckland for $69 million wastewater project
Watercare, New Zealand's largest water utility, has begun tunneling work to lay a new wastewater pipe as part of its Midtown Wastewater Diversion project. Watercare's micro-tunnel boring machine (m-TBM) began boring a stretch under Auckland's Queen Street that will span nearly 2,000 ft (600 m).
DC Water begins major Potomac River tunnel excavation near Watergate
DC Water is breaking ground on a major Potomac River tunnel project near Watergate, featuring deep excavation, secant pile drilling, and new trail detours to cut combined sewer overflows by 93%.
EGLE opens public comment phase for Line 5 tunnel project
Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has opened a public comment period for the Enbridge Line 5 tunnel project in the Straits of Mackinac. According to WLNS 6 News, members of the public can submit comments until Aug 29, with the EGLE launching a full review of the project this week.
Normet appoints new tunneling director to expand North, Latin America reach
Normet, a global technology company specializing in underground solutions, tunneling and civil engineering, has appointed Claudia Hernandez as Director of Tunneling Americas, reinforcing its goal to expand across both North America and Latin America. Claudia has held key technical and leadership roles supporting some of the world's most complex underground projects, Normet stated.
31 workers rescued after LA tunnel partially collapses
A massive rescue operation was launched last night in Los Angeles after a section of an underground tunnel partially collapsed, according to officials. A total of 31 workers were brought out safely, according to multiple news outlets. The collapse occurred 400 feet underground as workers were operating a tunnel boring machine.
Giant boring machine breaks through after 4-year dig under Auckland, New Zealand
A massive tunnel boring machine completed New Zealand’s longest wastewater tunnel, marking a major milestone in Auckland’s $1.2 billion Central Interceptor project. The 10-mile tunnel will improve water quality and system resilience through 2028.
Combining hand tunneling, HDD for El Paso sewer job
To accommodate new residential development in El Paso, Texas, crews have been working for more than a year on a project to install a 54-inch sewer force main for El Paso Water. The plan was to complete the installation by hand tunneling – until complications necessitated the addition of horizontal directional drilling (HDD).
Drilling, excavation to begin for four-mile, $133 million sewer tunnel in Charleston, S.C.
The Charleston Water System is initiating the final phase of a significant underground tunnel project aimed at connecting sewage pipes in rural areas of the county to the Plum Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, Live 5 News reported. With a total budget of $133 million, this project represents the most expensive infrastructure undertaking in the history of the Charleston Water System.
Elon Musk may bring Boring Co. tunnels to Music City
Elon Musk’s Boring Co. is in early talks with Tennessee officials about building an underground transit tunnel in Nashville. The project could link downtown to the airport and mirror the company’s Las Vegas tunnel system.
DC Water to begin ground stabilization phase of Potomac River Tunnel Project
Next month, DC Water will commence work to stabilize the ground prior to beginning excavation for the Potomac River Tunnel Project. Concrete columns, known as secant piles, will be installed in deep-drilled holes. These will serve as a retaining wall to avert soil collapse and groundwater intrusion during the excavation process, DC Water stated.
Collapse threat prompts DC Water to reinforce 140-year-old tunnel with shotcrete, geopolymer
DC Water has completed emergency repairs on a 140-year-old sewer tunnel beneath 22nd Street NW after a large soil void threatened collapse. Crews reinforced the structure using shotcrete and geopolymer lining to stabilize over 1,200 feet of aging pipe.
Dallas flood relief tunnel 80% complete, final lining work underway underground
Major excavation began in 2019 and wrapped up in 2022, but work continues to install a 15-inch-thick concrete liner along the tunnel walls to create a smooth, finished surface for water flow.
Metrolinx invites public to name tunnel boring machines for Ontario Line
Metrolinx is calling on the public to help name the first two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) set to excavate the downtown section of the Ontario Line subway project.
Santa Clara VTA looks to save $400 million by switching tunnel contractors on BART project
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is said to be seeking a new tunneling contractor for the $12.7 billion Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) extension through downtown San Jose, Calif., Progressive Railroading reported. Authority leaders this week will make a board recommendation to exit its current contract with Kiewit Shea Traylor (KST).
Amtrak begins shutdown of East River Tunnel tube for rehab project in NYC
Amtrak has begun its largest planned service outage in decades to restore East River Tunnels damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The work will fully reconstruct Line 2 and later Line 1, modernizing the century-old tunnels for another century of rail service.
Hudson Tunnel Project achieves another major construction milestone
The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) announced this week that the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing – Section 3 (HYCC-3) Project is more than 50 percent complete and is on track to be finished in 2026. The project reached this significant milestone on schedule and on budget.
Fort Wayne, Ind., tunnel project uses Vortex inserts to protect sewer system
Fort Wayne City Utilities is constructing a five-mile-long tunnel deep beneath the city to reduce combined sewer overflows into local rivers. Part of its Tunnel Works program, the project includes nine drop shafts, five of which feature IPEX’s Vortex Flow Inserts designed to minimize odors, prevent corrosion and improve wastewater quality before treatment.
Factory testing completed for DC Water’s Potomac River tunnel boring machine
DC Water completes factory testing on tunnel boring machine Mary, which will dig 2.4 miles as part of the Potomac River Tunnel project to cut sewer overflows by 93%.
Work paused on NYC’s massive tunnel repair as drought triggers contract overhaul
The $2 billion effort to fix a leak in New York City’s Delaware Aqueduct, which supplies water to millions, is now expected to finish after 2027 due to drought-related delays and contract revisions.
$51 million settlement adds to delays on Hartford, Conn., 41-million-gallon sewer tunnel
Hartford, Connecticut’s massive South Hartford Conveyance and Storage Tunnel project is now expected to cost $335 million and won’t be completed until 2026 after a legal dispute over groundwater conditions delayed progress.
- HDD industry faces challenges as cities push back on fiber drilling disruptions
- 2 workers killed, 1 injured while working on sewer line in Mobile, Ala.
- Tunnel boring continues under Chesapeake Bay for $3.9 billion HRBT Expansion project
- $5.3 billion, 516-mile pipeline to connect Texas to Arizona through New Mexico
- Judge approves construction for key portion of $485 million pipeline in Larimer County, Colo.
- New products: Latest industry developments
- 31 workers rescued after LA tunnel partially collapses
- Ohio Supreme Court rules sewer line location isn’t a ‘defect’ in property dispute
- Faulconer Construction begins rock blasting for water pipeline project in Charlottesville, Va.
- $5.3 billion, 516-mile pipeline to connect Texas to Arizona through New Mexico