Implenia celebrates successful completion of tunnelling work for new U5 line
Dietlikon, 14 October 2015 – Implenia has been working since 2011 on the new U5 underground railway line for the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG). The project includes extending the existing U5 line from Alexanderplatz to the Brandenburg Gate and linking it up with line U55, which has already been completed (see map). Implenia is responsible for constructing “Lot 1”, i.e. drilling the two tunnels, building the shell of the Museuminsel and Unter den Linden underground stations, and building the track switching system and start shaft. In April 2015, the “Bärlinde” tunnel boring machine made her second journey beneath the streets of Berlin. Now, half a year later, the 74-meter long, 700-tonne colossus has done its duty and drilled out the second tunnel between the Alexanderplatz and Brandenburger Tor stations. “Bärlinde” has created 1620 metres of tunnel and installed 1076 tubbing rings. This Wednesday the BVG, the U5 project implementation company and Implenia jointly announced the successful completion of the drilling phase. For Implenia, the U5 is one of the most important ongoing infrastructure projects in the European market. You can find out more about the project here.
“Bärlinde” reaches its goal (left to right): Dr. Sigrid Evelyn Nikutta, Chairwoman of the BVG Management Board and Operations, and Ute Bonde and Jörg Seegers, Managing Directors of the project implementation company, celebrate the completion of drilling work together with Stefan Roth, Managing Director of Implenia Germany & Austria and Implenia project managers Peter Hoppe and Michael Greiner. (Photo: BVG)
The 74 meter long, 700-tonne tunnel boring machine “Bärlinde” drilled under the Spree River, on to the Humboldtforum and Spree Canal, below Unter den Linden and onwards to the U-Bahn station at the Brandenburg Gate. For more information about “Bärlinde” please go here. (Photo: Antonio Reetz-Graudenz)
The “New U5” project includes extending the existing U5 underground railway line from Alexanderplatz to the Brandenburg Gate and linking it up with line U55, which has already been completed. This will turn the U5 and U55 into a single line: the new U5, which will then run all the way from Hönow to the main railway station. (Photo: BVG)
Implenia press contact:
Philipp Bircher
Head of Communications Group
Tel.: +41 58 474 74 77
BVG press contact:
Heike Müller
Media Spokesperson
Tel.: +49 30 256 27 836
Implenia, Switzerland’s leading construction and construction services company, also has a strong position in the German, Austrian and Scandinavian infrastructure markets. Established in 2006, Implenia can look back on around 150 years of construction tradition. It brings the expertise of its highly skilled sectoral and regional units together under the roof a company active throughout Europe. With its integrated business model and specialists operating in all areas of construction, the Group can manage a building project through its entire lifecycle and deliver work that is economical, integrated and customer-centric. The focus is on striking a sustainable balance between financial success and social and environmental responsibility.
Implenia has its headquarters in Dietlikon near Zurich and employs approximately 8100 people around Europe. In 2014 it posted pro forma turnover (including the former Bilfinger Construction GmbH) of around CHF 3.6 billion. The company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (IMPN, CH0023868554). More information can be found at www.implenia.com.
