Finans Merkezi- Göztepe TBMs arrive in Istanbul
8 January 2019Turkey – The two TBMs set to mine the Finans Merkezi- Göztepe section of the Istanbul Metro have been successfully tested and accepted at the site. The section forms part of the 13km-long Ümraniye-Ataşehir-Göztepe line. The contractor is the Gulermak, Kolin & Kalyon Joint Venture.
The machines are 6.56m-diameter Terratec EPBMs. A spokesperson for the manufacturer said of the design, “The TBMs have versatile mixed-face dome-style cutterheads with an opening ratio of about 35% that have proven to work extremely effectively in Istanbul’s mixed geology – which includes low-strength sandstones, siltstones, limestones and shales – as well as other state-of-the-art features such as VFD electric cutterhead drives, tungsten carbide soft ground cutting tools that are interchangeable with 17’’ roller disc cutters, high torque screw conveyors and active articulation systems.”
The tunnel will be lined with 1,500mm wide, 300mm thick precast concrete segments forming a ring in a 5+key arrangement.
