On 16 December last year, Ghella Sogene C.A., broke through its Lovat TBM on Line 3 of the Caracas Metro in Venezuela.
The 5.8m diameter EPB machine, named Betania, was launched at the beginning of March 2005, since which time it has bored 2,300m. The ground conditions were described as schists, sand and clay with water pressures of 1 bar.
Lovat said the drive from the El Valle shaft to the Coche shaft was completed on schedule and was the first drive for the Valley Station to Venezuela Seat Station extension to Line 3 for client Metro de Caracas. The TBM will be removed from the reception shaft and relaunched for a second parallel drive said Lovat.
Also in December, Odebrecht announced that it had launched its TBM Andreina on the left tunnel on the La Rinconada to Coche stations stretch of Line 3.
The 2,380m long tunnel will be lined with 1,698 rings through ground that is characterised as rock formations near La Rinconada and “sandy surfaces carrying a high flow of waters” at Coche. Odebrecht said it expected excavation to be complete by September this year.
