Tunnels Construction

The total length of all the tunnels along this combined road is 27,435 km. Taking into account the lengths of the tunnels, hydrogeological conditions and construction experience in this area, two methods of tunnel construction are panned to be used: rock tunneling method (roadheaders and drill-and-blast) and shield tunneling method (TBMs)

Tunnel system 1

The Tunnel system 1 is located near the village of Akhshtyr, which is not far from the city of Sochi, at the 15th km of the road (between the 14.7th the and the 17.2th km) from Adler to Krasnaya Polyana and Olympic facilities. This Tunnel system enables the route to divert (отклонить) from following the course of the river which makes a loop (петля) here.

Lengths of the tunnels: railway tunnel – 2523,5 m; service tunnel – 2366,2 m; traffic tunnel – 2296,0 m.

The traffic and railway tunnels are being excavated by means of roadheaders, and the service tunnel is being excavated by means of the Lovat RME 232 SE TBM – diameter 5,6 m. It’s planned to construct the Tunnel system 1 between the 1st quarter of 2009 – the 2nd quarter of 2013.

3D model of the Tunnel system1

http://www.bamts.ru/eng/pro/futurpro/sochi/sochi_complex_1_1.jpg

Tunnel system 2

Near the 23rd km of the railroad it's planned to construct the shortest tunnel 116,2 meters long, which runs through a mountain cape (мыс), while the traffic road goes around this mountain cape and proceeds to the right bank. This tunnel will be excavated by means of roadheaders. It’s planned to construct the Tunnel system 2 between the 3rd quarter of 2009 and the 1st quarter of 2011.

Tunnel system 3

The longest Tunnel system 3 is located between the 23rd and the

28th km of the combined road including the traffic tunnel, the railway tunnel and the service tunnel of over 4 km each. All the three tunnels are planned to be constructed using the most innovative technology at present time – by means of tunnel boring machines. For this purpose three TBMs were purchased from Germany and Canada: Hrrenknecht 13210 HART (diameter 13,2 m) for the traffic tunnel construction (the tunnel length – 4034,8 m); Lovat RME 243 DS (diameter 6,2 m) for the service tunnel construction (the tunnel length – 4124,5 m); Lovat RM 394 DS (diameter 10,2 m) for the railway tunnel construction (the tunnel length – 4055,2 m). It’s planned to construct the Tunnel system 3 between the 2nd quarter of 2009 and the 2nd quarter of 2013.

3D-model of the Tunnel system 3

http://www.bamts.ru/eng/pro/futurpro/sochi/sochi_complex_3_1.jpg

Tunnel system 4

The 36th kilometer of the railroad goes under a mountain cape through the Tunnel system 4, which is 449,3 meters long. The Tunnel system will be excavated by means of roadheaders. It’s planned to construct the Tunnel system 4 between the 3rd quarter of 2009 and the 3rd quarter of 2011.

South portal of the Tunnel System4

http://www.bamts.ru/eng/pro/futurpro/sochi/sochi_complex_4_1.jpg

Tunnel system 5

Bypassing the hydro power station, the road proceeds to in the Tunnel system 5 located at the 39th kilometer of the road. This Tunnel system is a bit shorter than three km (situated between the 39,9th and the 42,7th km of the road). The railway tunnel length is 2857,1 m, the service tunnel length is 2838,0 m and the traffic tunnel length is 1367,0 m. The traffic tunnel will be excavated by means of roadheaders, and the service and railway tunnels will be bored by new TBMs that were specially purchased from Canadian and German companies Lovat and Herrenknecht. Thus, for construction of the service tunnel the Lovat RME 167 SE TBM 3,9 m was purchased, assembled and then put into operation in July 2009. For excavation of the railway tunnel the Herrenknecht 10690 TBM 10,3 m will be used. Right after trains come out of the railway tunnel 3 (north portal) at the 43d km of the road, they will stop at the Esto – Sadok train station. Passengers having arrived here by train or by bus will be able to proceed to the ski-jump complex or take a bus to other Olympic facilities in this mountain area. It’s planned to construct the Tunnel system 5 between the 2nd quarter of 2009 and the 3rd quarter of 2012.

Assembly of the Lovat RME 167 SE TBM on the jobsite of the Tunnel system 5

http://www.bamts.ru/eng/pro/futurpro/sochi/sochi_complex_5_1.jpg

Tunnel system 6

Leaving the Esto – Sadok train station the road proceeds to the last Tunnel system 6 located at the 45th kilometer. The Tunnel system 6 length is 407,2 m (between the 45.0th and the 45.4th km of the road).

T his Tunnel system is planned to have only one railway tunnel that will be excavated by means of roadheaders. The Tunnel system 6 brings the road to the endpoint of the route – the Alpika – Servis station. This station is located in the territory of the Krasnaya Polyana village, which has really unique natural factors. This village is situated 550-600 meters above sea level. From the Alpika – Servis station, passengers will be able either to walk to the sledge (санный) complex and the media village or to take a bus to other Olympic facilities in this mountain area.

Table:

Tunnel system	Lengths of the tunnel(s)	Purpouses of tunnel	Tools and technics	Years of construction
1	2523,5 m 2366,2 m; 2296,0 m	- railway - service - - traffic	roadheaders, TBM	2009-2013
2
3
4
5
6

3.4. Click here to watch video TV Channel “Russia Today” about the road and railway route Adler – Krasnaya Polyana.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NzONDydlI4

Adler-Krasnaya Polyana road construction site developed by SK MOST contains 3 tunnels, 3 tunnel complexes and over 40 railway and highway bridges. Today 7200 workers and 820 construction machines are employed at road construction. Work is performed round the clock.

While watching mind some more interesting facts.

3.5. Click here to watch video about a tunnel which has already been constructed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh7kehTi_kA&feature=player_embedded#at=65

After watching the video try to describe this tunnel. The following word combinations will help you:

modern, ligth, wide, two line of traffic, safe places for repaire, it takes … minutes to go through this tunnel.

3.6. Summarize the text “Tunnel Construction along the Road Adler – Krasnaya Polyana” using expressions (page 67).

3.7. Translate the following text in written form with a dictionary. Try to manage within 25 minutes.