More action on the UK’s Channel Tunnel Rail Link Section 2 as Contract 220’s two Kawasaki TBM’s undergo rigorous testing by the Nishimatsu/ Cementation/Skanska JV at Haverton Hall in Teeside, North East England. The machines are soon to be transported south to the site at Stratford in East London ready to start boring the 7.5km long twin bore Stratford to King’s Cross tunnels this summer. Seen are the upline TBM under test on the right and the downline TBM being assembled on the left. The 8.1m diameter machines are capable of operating in dual mode whilst boring the US$205M contract. Contract 320, the 2.5km long Thames Tunnels, has also reached a milestone with last month’s lowering of the 8.1m diameter cutterhead for the Hochtief/Murphy JV’s first Herrenknecht TBM scheduled to start boring this month.
