Third TBM ready to start on Oslo water project

The 1350-tonne Herrenknecht TBM has been assembled in a mountain hall in Stubberud in the Norwegian capital and was named Laila in a ceremony last week. It is named after Laila Schou Nilsen, one of Norway’s most prominent and versatile athletes. Nilsen, who lived from 1919-1998, was a world-class speed skater, participated in car racing and was Norwegian champion in alpine skiing, tennis, and handball. She participated in the Rally Monte Carlo four times and won five unofficial Norwegian Championships in driving skills.

AF Ghella JV will build an 11km tunnel to the water treatment plant at Huseby. The E6 contract also includes the construction of four large rock caverns, two clean water basins, a pumping station and a ventilation station. This will be the main artery for the distribution of reserve water to Oslo. The new facility is scheduled to be ready for use on January 1, 2028.

In April, Skanska Norway, which has the E5 contract, launched two 5.2m diameter Herrenknecht TBMs to dig the 19km tunnel from Holsfjord to the new underground water treatment plant at Huseby.

The water project is a major undertaking by the City of Oslo Municipality to provide water supply security through a new clean water tunnel from Holsfjord, west of the capital, and the underground treatment plant at Huseby. At present, a single water source and one treatment plant supply around 90% of the capital.