NASTT-NW May Technical Luncheon

This presentation explores the complexities of underground infrastructure development in sensitive urban environments through two distinct tunnelling case studies.

The first case study examines the high-stakes construction of the North-South metro line in Amsterdam. Following historic public resistance to open-pit construction in the 1970s, planners adopted Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology to minimize surface disruption. However, navigating a TBM through soft soils beneath a city, supported by 400-year-old wooden piles, posed a critical engineering challenge. This segment discusses the strategies employed to mitigate settlement risks and protect 17th-century heritage buildings from structural damage during tunnel excavation.

The second case study shifts focus to Calgary, Alberta, detailing the geotechnical assessment and execution of a trenchless storm trunk crossing beneath the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railway right-of-way. The project, using a Herrenknecht AVN1800 Microtunnel Boring Machine (MTBM), involved installing a 63-meter concrete tunnel with a diameter of 2,224 mm. This section outlines the protocols required to secure a crossing agreement, including the geotechnical investigation, settlement analyses, and adherence to strict allowable settlement limits. It further reviews the implementation and results of the settlement monitoring plan, which successfully assured the safety of ongoing rail operations during the trenchless installation.

These projects highlight the role of geotechnical assessment and monitoring in overcoming the challenges of tunnelling beneath historic foundations and active transportation corridors.

BIO: Remco Kleinlugtenbelt, M.Sc., P.Eng. - Senior Geotechnical Engineer

Remco Kleinlugtenbelt obtained his civil engineering degree in 2003 from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. After working in the Dutch, Hong Kong, and Australian engineering markets, Remco joined Thurber in 2016. He has expertise in tunnelling and trenchless technologies, geotechnical construction monitoring, foundation engineering, grouting techniques, including compensation and compaction grouting, as well as ground freezing. Remco is highly experienced in designing trenchless (railway) crossings. He has worked on numerous projects that enable clients in Western Canada to safely and efficiently cross CPKC and CN Railway tracks with their utilities, emphasizing safety and operational effectiveness.

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