Construction News

04/09/2015

Poor Ground Conditions Delay Tunnelling Project

Network Rail has announced a complex tunnelling project has been delayed due to exceptionally poor ground conditions.

Engineers enlarging the Farnworth Tunnel to enable electric trains to run between Bolton and Manchester have encountered large swathes of sand during excavation.

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Rather than firm material to bore trough, sand pours down into the excavated area therefore halting progress.

Network Rail originally planned to safely excavate while concurrently installing and grouting sections of tunnel wall.

Engineers are now pumping resin into the ground to firm it up before the UK's largest tunnelling machine, Fillie, bores through it.

Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail, said engineers are now 'working around the clock' to solve the issue as quickly as possible.

(LM)

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