Dubai, UAE: The first Tunnel Boring Machine on the Green Line known as TBM 3 which tunneled its way from Union Square to SalahAlDeen, has broken through. This marks one of the first milestones on the Green Line. Although the Green Line is shorter it has more underground stations (and tunnels) than the Red Line which is mostly elevated.
The first tunnel of this green line was completed by breaking the diaphragm walls in SalahAlDeen Station completing a 729 meter tunnel from Union Square to SalahAlDeen. The tunnelling began on 01-12-2007 and 3888 tunnel lining segments have been used to form 486 tunnel lining rings.
Adnan Al Hammadi, Director of Construction, Rail Agency said, " The TBM has excavated the tunnel between Union Square and SalahAlDeen and formed a tunnel of 9.5 meters in internal diameter. The machine has covered the distance from in 60 days advancing at an average rate of about 12.15 meters per day."
"This is the third TBM on the project and we are glad to experience such remarkable progress. We still have considerable amount of tunnelling to be completed on the Green Line due to its location. The Green Line is being constructed within the Central Business Districts of the city and will have eight underground stations which includes two transfer stations on the Red Line ", he added.
The TBM is currently being planned for dismantling and transportation to Palm Deira station from where it will begin its second phase of tunnelling towards Al Ras.
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© Press Release 2008
