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| Züblin building Albabstieg tunnel on new Wendlingen–Ulm rail line Strabag SE, one of Europe's leading construction groups, has been awarded a large contract through its German subsidiary Ed. Züblin AG of Stuttgart: Deutsche Bahn AG has commissioned a joint venture (JV) led by the Stuttgart-based company to build the 5.9 km Albabstieg Tunnel along the new Wendlingen–Ulm rail line. According to Deutsche Bahn AG, eight bidding consortia had participated in the Europe-wide tender for the construction contract. The contract value amounts to € 250 million; Ed. Züblin AG's share is 60 %. "The Albabstieg Tunnel is a railway tunnel on the new Wendlingen–Ulm line leading from the Swabian Jura to the tracks at Ulm Central Station. While we will begin with the construction planning and preparations shortly, the start of the tunnelling works is planned for the spring of 2014, " explains Dr. Thomas Birtel, CEO of Strabag SE. The tunnel, with a north portal in Dornstadt and a south portal in Ulm, will consist of two single-track bores lying up to 70 m below ground connected with one another by eleven crosscuts spaced at intervals of 500 m each. The tunnel will overcome an elevation change of about 95 m. The tunnelling works for both bores will take place simultaneously from two starting points: downhill from Dornstadt to the south and from an intermediate access tunnel from which both bores will be driven uphill to the north and downhill to the south toward Ulm. The JV will move around 1.4 million m³ of soil and rock material during construction. The Albabstieg Tunnel is being built using sprayed concrete techniques: the rock is first loosened by blasting before an immediate protection is applied using sprayed concrete and reinforcement steel. Following waterproofing with plastic membranes, a load-bearing tunnel lining of in-situ concrete is inserted. Construction will last four-and-a-half years. write your comments about the article :: © 2013 Construction News :: home page |