TBM Debohra, operated by the Arge U2/17-21 consortium comprising Strabag and Porr, has broken through at the Augustinplatz emergency exit to complete tunnelling on the first of two tunnels. The TBM started the 2km drive on track 2 from Matzleinsdorfer Platz in autumn last year.
The second tunnel drive will begin this autumn. For this, parts of the TBM will be lifted out of the ground and returned to Matzleinsdorfer Platz, while the trailing gear of the TBM will be pulled back through the tunnel to the launch site.
The U2xU5 project involves the construction of the U5 line and the extension of the U2 line to the south.
The U2/17-21 consortium was awarded the contract for the first construction phase by Wiener Linien at the end of 2020 and started construction in 2021. The contract includes the construction of the tunnels and four stations –Matzleinsdorfer Platz, Reinprechtsdorfer Straße, Pilgramgasse and Neubaugasse – for the U2 line.
TBM Debohra, manufactured by Herrenknecht, is 127m long and weighs 1,300 tonnes.
“A breakthrough always marks a decisive milestone for us in tunnelling – especially in a major urban project of this complexity,” said Gerhard Urschitz, head of the Strabag’s tunnelling division. “It symbolises what we can achieve by joining forces: creating sustainable infrastructure that will improve mobility in Vienna in the long term. We are very proud to have achieved this success; it is a team effort at the highest level.”
