Herrenknecht TBMs to Spain

German manufacturer, Herrenknecht, is preparing to ship two 3.37m o.d. doubleshield hardrock TBMs to the Jucar-Vinalopo Water Transfer Project in Spain.

The TBMs will be used to drive four tunnelled sections, with a combined length of 23.3km by NESCO and OHL/UTE Cuesta Vinalopo. Designed for hardrock formations, the machines are expected to bore through dolomites, limestones, siltstone and marl.

Following a workshop inspection of the machines by the scheme's client and contractors in late February, the TBMs are being disassembled for shipping. Tunnelling is planned to start in the spring.