Final sprint on the Brandberg
Since autumn 2019, Heitkamp Construction Swiss has been involved in the construction of the Brandberg Tunnel as a member of the ARGE Tunnel Brandberg. The technically demanding project in the Elz Valley in the Black Forest is now drawing to a close. The shell and road construction work for the Brandberg Tunnel will be completed in mid-2023.
We look back on a challenging and exciting construction site.
After the tunnel was cut through in autumn 2020, the inner lining work of the 881m long tunnel was successfully completed in spring 2022 with the concreting of the last block. Accordingly, the inner shells, the open construction method including the ramp and the associated structures have now been completed as shells.
The last trades to be completed are the noise protection cladding and noise protection walls. In March, the asphalt roadway will be laid and the tunnel coating applied, as well as some last remaining work. The construction of the Brandberg tunnel was a project full of exciting tasks.
Already during the excavation, extensive protective measures had to be taken due to the asbestos-containing amphibolite rock in order not to endanger the personnel. As a result of the high mountain water pressures, the laying of the plastic sealing membranes was subject to more stringent evenness requirements for the sealing support that went beyond the ZTV-Ing.
The last trades to be completed are the noise protection cladding and noise protection walls. In March, the asphalt roadway will be laid and the tunnel coating applied, as well as some last remaining work. The construction of the Brandberg tunnel was a project full of exciting tasks.
Already during the excavation, extensive protective measures had to be taken due to the asbestos-containing amphibolite rock in order not to endanger the personnel. As a result of the high mountain water pressures, the laying of the plastic sealing membranes was subject to more stringent evenness requirements for the sealing support that went beyond the ZTV-Ing.
For the construction of the trough structure, an excavation pit protection with sheet pile walls was constructed. The excavation of approx. 7,000m³ was carried out under water with a special 120t cable excavator, which was accompanied by divers.
This was followed by a thirty-hour concreting of the underwater concrete base (2000m3 of concrete), which was not an everyday challenge even for the experienced divers and the project team. In addition to the corona-related faults, the geopolitical situation presented this project with considerable hurdles.
This was followed by a thirty-hour concreting of the underwater concrete base (2000m3 of concrete), which was not an everyday challenge even for the experienced divers and the project team. In addition to the corona-related faults, the geopolitical situation presented this project with considerable hurdles.
Only thanks to the constructive cooperation with all project participants was the successful implementation of the project possible.