Germany

First Tunnel driven for the
Düsseldorf Wehrhahn Line

The Wehrhahn Line, a 300 mill. euro project is intended to relieve traffic in the centre of Düsseldorf considerably once it is opened in 2015. The 3.4 km long Underground line will replace a number of tram lines on the surface. Towards this end roughly 2.3 km of tunnel tubes with 8.30 m internal diameter are to be bored by mechanised means for 2 directional tracks –one after the other in 2 single drives (1,290/955 m) using the same 65 m long and roughly 1,300 t heavy TBM with bentonite-supported face, a mix-shield with 9.49 m diameter (S-491 from the Herrenknecht AG).

The first section of tunnel embraces the bore from the Bilk access shaft to the target shaft at the Benrather Straße Underground Station and largely runs beneath the urban area. The TBM was able to break through in late-September 2010 in less than 7 months – a month ahead of schedule. The shield was then dismantled and returned to the access shaft at the Corneliusplatz and reassembled there to drive the second tunnel section. The TBM backup was pulled back through the bored tunnel to the Bilk access shaft, dismantled and also transported to the access shaft at Corneliusplatz. Starting from that point the second tunnel section will be produced with the TBM heading to the target shaft Am Wehrhahn, which partially runs beneath existing buildings and partially under the road grid.

The tunnel is to be lined with reinforced concrete segments (45 cm) in 1.5 m wide rings (7+1/ring) with conic keystone, cam and groove couplings and external sealing strip. The method selected to construct the tunnel sections as well as the underground stations contributes towards ensuring that traffic is hampered as little as possible during the construction phase. ⇥G. B.

x

Related articles:

Issue 04/2012 Germany

Second Tunnel Section for the Düsseldorf Wehrhahn Line driven

The Wehrhahn Line, a 300 million euro Metro project, is intended to relieve traffic in downtown Düsseldorf once it opens in 2015, for it will replace several tram routes operating on the surface. For...

more
Issue 02/2016 Germany

Wehrhahn Line, Düsseldorf: Opening of the inner-city Tunnel Project

The ceremonial opening of the Wehrhahn Line in Düsseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, took place on 20 February 2016. Surrounded by businesses and shopping streets, the...

more
Issue 04/2010

Wehrhahn Line in Düsseldorf: Planning, Design and Execution

The Metro network in downtown Düsseldorf will be rounded off by the Wehrhahn line, towards this end the existing Heinrich-Heine-Allee Metro Station will be intersected and will gain great importance...

more
Issue 03/2021

Diameter Change – USA’s Largest Hard Rock TBM Undergoes Planned In-Tunnel Conversion

The drainage relief tunnel in Dallas, Texas, USA is an important project, as the tunnel will provide 100-year flood protection for east and southeast areas of the city--locations affected in recent...

more
Issue 01/2021 India

TBM Excavation Begins for Delhi Metro Phase 4

A refurbished Terratec Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) Tunnel Boring Machine has been delivered to a joint venture between Hindustan Construction Company Ltd. of India (HCC) and Vensar Constructions...

more