In early August, Canadian TBM manufacturer, Lovat, announced that CSC Geoton of Moscow had purchased one of its 3.3m diameter EPB machines for use on a cable tunnel in the city.
Geoton has recently used Lovat TBMs to build over 4km of tunnels in the Moscow region. This latest acquisition will be used to bore the 1.8km long Gertsevo Cable Tunnel in the Strogino district. The tunnel will start at the Gertsevo power substation and will link 110-220kV transmission lines into the Moscow power grid.
Lovat told T&TI that each 1m long lining ring consists of six 400mm thick trapezoidal concrete segments. The geology expected is glacio-fluvial deposited fine and medium sands, plus loam. The entire alignment is below the water table which runs at up to 7m above the tunnel invert. Grouting will be through the segments.
Lovat is also providing technical services for the design, procurement, segment design and segment plant. The TBM is expected to begin boring in January next year.
