TBM arrives in LA

8 December 2014


USA - The TBM cutterhead that will excavate portions of the Crenshaw/LAX light rail in Los Angeles arrived in late November from Germany, according to Metro Los Angeles.

The Crenshaw/LAX Line is an 8.5-mile (13.7km) light rail line that will run between Exposition Boulevard and the Green Line. Walsh/Shea Corridor Constructors is the contractor for the project. The alignment has three different underground sections, and is otherwise aerial and at grade.

The scope of work includes 2 miles of cut and cover excavation and U-wall and 1 mile of twin bored tunnels, among other construction including the stations. Ground conditions are expected to be both coarse and fine-grained soils consisting of clays, silts, sands, gravels and cobbles typical of the LA basin.

The Walsh-Shea JV will use one Herrenknecht TBM for the drives, launching the machine at the future Crenshaw/Exposition station on the southbound excavation first, followed by the northbound.