The TBM that will dig the Turin Median Collector has been lowered into the launch shaft.
The 4m-diameter Herrenknecht TBM, named Gaia, will excavate a 9.5 km tunnel for Turin’s new sewer network. A further 5.2km of tunnels will be completed by conventional method.
In total, around 270,000m3 will be excavated.
The Colmeto JV of Itinera and Ghella is carrying out the work on behalf of Società Metropolitana Acque Torino (SMAT). The project will connect the SMAT wastewater treatment plant located in the north of Turin with the southern areas of the city and some neighbouring municipalities and relieve pressure on the city’s existing sewer network.
The new system will also collect and store so-called “first rainfall waters”, which carry the largest number of pollutants such as hydrocarbons and mineral oils.
