Swiss firm Marti said it was awarded the contract for the 3.29km Tunnel de Choindez on 18 February.
“The rock of the Tunnels de Choindez consists of a sequence of Jurassic and Tertiary sediments. These layers of chalk and marl that have to be alternately cut through require different excavation methods. As a result, drilling and blasting for 1,700m, excavation using road headers for 680m and excavation under the protection of pipe screens for 400m are used. The use of these different driving methods places high demands on the construction site organisation,” said Marti.
This tunnel project formed the final part of the vision for the A16 highway tunnels in the Canton of Jura in northwest Switzerland.
A preliminary section of 460m has already been excavated. Main works will commence in March and an opening date has been set for 2016.
