North America - Page 1
Stay up to date with the latest North America updates from the global tunnels industryLatest North America Update
3D parametric structural design and documentation workflow Jeff Fontana and Eric Westergren of McMillen Jacobs look back over the past 50 years and note that architecture, engineering and construction have gone through several advances in design development and documentation
An innovative tunnel and contracting model VTA is extending the BART transit system into Silicon Valley under a two-phased program. Phase 2, currently in design and engineering, features an innovative single-bore tunnel configuration. Report by the VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Team
Harding prize gains momentum for 2022 Young tunnel engineers can raise their profile and make their work visible to the civil engineering community by entering the Harding Prize, named after the founder chairman of the Society, Sir Harold Harding
Set in stone For centuries the home of quarrying and more recently mining of the eponymous stone, Portland, England could become home to an exciting new visitor attraction housed in a mine and demonstrating the potential of underground space. George Demetri reports
A challenge packed drive Erez Allouche, Matthew Devitt and Tyler Horton of Stantec Consulting, and Keivan Rafie of Hatch (Vancouver) discuss the relocation of a gas pipeline microtunneled through complex soils and beneath twin railroads, a river and multiple utility lines
Digging the deal on infrastructure George Demetri takes a look at the state of US infrastructure, the possible causes of its lacklustre performance and how it may be improved, taking in along the way the views of some high-profile engineers and consultants
Defying the quakes Reconstructing an existing dam and building new intakes, outtakes and spillway form part of an ambitious 10-year programme in the drought-hit and earthquake-prone Santa Clara Valley, California. George Demetri reports
The doors to success Bernd Hagenah, Sean Cassady, Jesse Harder and Ana Ruiz-Jimenez of HNTB Corp discuss the benefits of and considerations for the implementation of platform edge doors in modern underground transit and metro rail systems
Pipejacking on the rise Pipejacking is typically a horizontal technique. But attempting it vertically from inside a tunnel below the widest river in the world is an altogether new technology that is delivering environmental and economic benefits to Argentina. Julian Champkin reports
Construction claims and dispute resolution Every time the conditions of a construction project change – whether new ideas develop for implementation, or some unanticipated circumstances occur – the project’s cost and schedule will be affected. These changes and their cause could be interpreted by different stakeholders in various ways. So, there could be conflicts, disagreements and disputes on what portion of the cost and project schedule the contractor needs to be compensated for.
RETC RAISES THE CONFERENCE BANNER Following the interruption to the tunnel conference scene caused by the pandemic, the RETC Conference is back and – Covid allowing – looks set to take place in Las Vegas on 13-16 June 2021
Robbins reborn After a brief period involving Chinese part-ownership, veteran TBM pioneer Lok Home has bought back his company to set the revived Robbins on a new course of growth. Julian Champkin spoke to him
Race to repair Numerous hydroelectric plants include headrace tunnels that are getting old and operate beyond their originally-envisaged design life. Canada-based Dean Brox of Dean Brox Consulting discusses the importance of inspections and maintenance for hydroelectric tunnels
Drill and blast tunnelling Did you know... rock blasting has been used since the preexplosives time, when rock tunnels were excavated by building fires at the face and cracking the rock by throwing cold water on the hot surfaces? Later on, blasting with black powder was invented and since then, there have been steady developments in explosives, detonating and delaying techniques, and in our understanding of the mechanics of rock breakage by explosives.
CONEXPO 2020 The heavy equipment expo held every three years is back this March with new products and technologies on show from more than 2,800 exhibitors
The real world Liuna Local 183 is breaking ground on a tunnel training centre that will help the Greater Toronto Area access on-site training for tunnelling and safety skills, Nicole Robinson reports
Fit for duty Establishing baseline cognitive response times that can be compared over time helps mitigate or even avoid accidents on the job. Christina Lindstrom, Obayashi, explains this entirely new approach to ensuring a safe and healthy working environment
Health, safety and wellness Reducing on-the-job injuries is vital, but so is staying well. T&T highlights improvements in the industry
Ship shape Construction has started on Seattle’s Ship Canal stormwater tunnel, Paola De Pascali reports
