Two down, one to go in tunnel project
JEFF TOLLAN
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AFTER months of hard work there's light at the end of the tunnel ... another one.
Two of three tunnels in the sewer main renewal project have now been bored from end to end by council contractors Harker Underground Construction.
The latest breakthrough was made about 10am on Wednesday, and the tunnel now runs 460 metres from Ashbury Park under the Benvenue Cliffs to Virtue Ave. Boring on the tunnel began in December after the breakthrough at the first tunnel, between Washdyke Lagoon and Smithfield, on November 14.
Yesterday the contractors were dismantling the 27-tonne, 8.5m-long tunnel boring machine, which breaks into three pieces.
Project manager Leigh Bishop said everything had gone to plan and there hadn't been any nasty surprises during the boring.
"It's gone really well, the system's worked well and we're two weeks ahead of programme."
Mr Bishop said the drillers had "fantastic support" from residents near the boring sites, which didn't often happen at work sites.
Timaru District Council and local firms had also played a large part in the project's progress, he said.
Once everything is removed, two pipes, a 1200mm one for domestic wastewater and a 600mm one for industrial, will be placed inside the tunnel and surrounded by concrete.
The tunnel's diameter is 2.5m.
The boring machine works like a small excavator in a horizontal can which is propelled through the ground with a hydraulic ram.
A mechanical arm scoops soil on to a conveyor belt and the spoil is dumped into rail trolleys and removed.
The third and final tunnel to be bored, directly under Westcott St and Richmond St, is being prepared, with blasting taking place to get through the basalt rock.
Drilling is expected to begin on that section next month.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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