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Tunnel construction

Implenia is a recognised expert for demanding tunnel construction of all kinds. In the course of a 100-year tradition, we have acquired unique expertise and experience, particularly with transport tunnels and in power plant construction. This is evidenced by numerous projects that have gone down in construction history, such as the world's longest railway tunnel, the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

Implenia Tunnelling in figures

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Reference projects

Our services

For the tunnel contruction  we focus on the sustainable cost-effectiveness of the customer's solution in terms of costs, deadlines, quality and functionality. Implenia is committed to the highest quality standards. To achieve this, we combine proven skills with a spirit of innovation, state-of-the-art processes and technologies.

Construction worker driving a bulldozer through a tunnel. The bulldozer is a large, yellow vehicle with a shovel at the front.
A construction worker driving a bulldozer through a tunnel.

Transport tunnels

Successful tunnel construction for rail and road combines experience and expertise with state-of-the-art technology and respect for nature. Implenia is a master of all modern tunnelling construction methods. Likewise, all complementary special processes are part of our daily bread. Implenia's comprehensive range of services, which we offer in Switzerland and in selected foreign markets, also includes sophisticated finishing work with railway and transport technology and the refurbishment of underground structures.

Transport tunnels

Successful tunnel construction for rail and road combines experience and competence with modern technology and respect for nature. Implenia has mastered all the modern construction methods of tunnel construction. And all the supplementary special procedures are part of our daily bread. Implenia's comprehensive range of services, which we offer in Switzerland and in selected foreign markets, also includes the demanding final construction of rail and road tunnels using railway and transport technology, as well as the renovation of underground structures.

We set international standards. Our latest coup: the world's longest railway tunnel through the Gotthard, at 57 kilometres. We are open to all forms of cooperation, whether as general contractor, total contractor or specialized subcontractor.

Implenia has mastered all excavation procedures and construction methods:

  • Rock drilling and blasting
  • Driving with tunnel boring machines in the rock: full cut tunnel boring machine, tunnel boring extension machine
  • Shield machine tunnelling in loose rock: with/without mechanical support, with compressed air support (compressed air shield), with earth pressure support (earth pressure shield), with fluid support (hydro shield)
  • Machine-assisted tunnelling in rock and loose rock: roadheader, excavation with mining hammer/excavator bucket, ripper or cutting head
  • Special procedures and auxiliary building measures: pipe umbrella, spit umbrella, jetting umbrella, injection, freezing method, chest anchor
  • Preventer protected advance explorations
  • Segment production

We construct vertical and inclined shafts using the sinking method, the raise drilling method or as shaft excavation. We also provide numerous additional services such as materials management and logistics concepts, surveying, project and construction management as well as consulting and feasibility studies.

Tunnel boring machine (TBM) at work. TBMs are used to build large tunnels, for example for motorways, railways and underground railways. The machine drills through the rock and removes the excavated material at the same time.
Tunnel boring machine (TBM) at work. TBMs are used to build large tunnels, for example for motorways, railways and underground railways.

Service tunnels

Supply and disposal lines are central lifelines of populated areas. The constant growth of urban centres and conurbations calls for new construction methods so that people and traffic are not disturbed as much as possible. Implenia offers innovative, sophisticated complete solutions for trenchless construction.

More information on service tunnels

Using microtunnelling, pipe jacking and horizontal drilling, Implenia is able to construct service tunnels and pipelines for which only a start and target shaft is required above ground. We also offer the construction of these shafts. This saves on interfaces and your order is completed more quickly and flexibly. Implenia can draw on its own complete range of equipment for all procedures.

Our service package for trenchless construction is rounded off with consultations and feasibility studies.

Typical scene from the construction of a power station. The tunnel is a long, dark and damp room. The walls of the tunnel are made of concrete and are illuminated. At the bottom of the tunnel are rails on which the excavator is travelling.
Typical scene from the construction of a power station.

Power plant construction

Implenia offers a comprehensive range of services in power plant construction. Our engineers and specialists are entrusted with the construction of tunnels and inclined shafts of challenging lengths and inclinations, whether in mechanised tunnelling, where we have unique experience and a comprehensive inventory of our own, or in conventional blasting. We construct vertical and inclined shafts using the appropriate sinking method, raise-boring method or shaft excavation. Finally, we also construct caverns of all dimensions.

Further information on power plant construction

Construction sites for power plants are often located in difficult-to-access mountainous areas, where our engineers and specialists are confronted with special topographical and climatic demands. Thanks to their broad experience and flexibility, they master even the most difficult challenges and hand over the finished project to the client on time and in the usual Implenia quality.

Implenia is proficient in all excavation methods:

  • Blasting in rock
  • Tunnelling with tunnel boring machines: full cut tunnel boring machine, tunnel boring extension machine
  • Machine-assisted excavation: roadheader, excavation with excavation hammer/excavation bucket, ripper or cutting head
  • Special procedures and auxiliary construction measures: Pipe screen, spike screen, jetting screen, injectio-nes, freezing method, breast anchor
  • Preventer-protected advance explorations

In addition, there are numerous additional services such as material management and logistics concepts, surveying, project and construction management as well as consulting and feasibility studies. Preventer-protected advance explorations

Vision Underground

The future of underground construction

Visualization of the Lysaker-Fornebu tunnel in Norway
Visualization of the Lysaker-Fornebu tunnel in Norway

VISION UNDERGROUND reflects on the future of underground construction, a topic that affects more than just the construction industry.

Vision Underground

HS-EPS tunnel elements

High-strength expanded polystyrene

HS-EPS compression elements for tunnel construction are lightweight, flexible and durable
HS-EPS compression elements for tunnel construction are lightweight, flexible and durable

Demanding ground conditions in tunnel construction are mastered with high-strength expanded polystyrene (HS-EPS) tunnel elements.

HS-EPS tunnel elements

Impressions

Tunnelling and its importance

References

A selection of our best projects

Secondo tubo San Gottardo - Los 241, Haupttunnel Nord
Secondo tubo San Gottardo - Los 241, Haupttunnel Nord

Secondo tubo San Gottardo - Los 241, Haupttunnel Nord

The project includes the construction of the second tunnel bore north (2TG), the fault zone drive north, the second stage of the pre-cut, the TBM starting section, the cross-connections, the ventilation centres and the lay-bys.

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News

Here is a selection of our tunnelling news

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