A shock decision by the Higher Environmental Court in Sweden has halted the Hallandsås tunnel project in Sweden, delaying construction by at least another two months.
The 8km long twin-tube Hallandsås rail tunnel was originally halted in 1997 following an environmental disaster, in which the grout used leached into the water table. The (lower) Environmental Court gave the go-ahead in February 2003 for the project’s continuation, provided the tunnel is constructed using a TBM rather than drill and blast, and that strict controls were placed on the water extraction.
Christer Möller, Project manager for Banverket (the Swedish rail administration), told T&TI that the Higher Environmental Court did not give a reason for its intervention. In an unusual turn of events, the Higher Environmental Court decided to halt the project before a scheduled hearing due in September 2003. The Court usually waits until a decision has been made following a detailed hearing.
Möller was reasonably unconcerned about the costs that will be accrued due to the new delay. “It always costs money when you are waiting for something,” he said. “But we hope to use the time wisely.”
A Skanska/Vinci JV will construct the US$400M+ project, probably using a Herrenknecht TBM (T&TI, March 2003, p7).
