NEWS 2012

Posted February 3, 2012

Event: February 10, 2012

GSE/City of Edmonton: Millwoods TBM Tour

Location: 30 Avenue - 91 Street, Edmonton

Time: Tours begin at 1:30pm

Cost: Free

Confirm Attendance (By Feb. 8)

The GSE is pleased to offer an opportunity to view in action, the City of Edmonton Infrastructure Department’s newest tunnel boring machine (TBM). This new Caterpillar (formerly Lovat) TBM is currently cutting a 4m unfinished diameter, 3.5m finished diameter tunnel beneath Millwoods. The tunnel is for the new Millwoods double barrel storm separation project, requiring a tunnel nearly 1.7km in length. Stretching from 30 Avenue and 91 Street to 30 Avenue and Gateway Blvd, the TBM is currently advancing 8m per day through largely glacial till and bedrock of the Edmonton Formation. This tour will give members a rare opportunity to see this largely hidden operation first hand and to witness the workings of this massive machine

Groups of 12 will be first lowered 40m to the completed portion of the tunnel at the project ingress shaft at 30 Avenue and 91 Street. They will then take a train ride approximately 1.7 km to the TBM at the tunnel face. Mr. Yin Hsung from the City’s Infrastructure Department will be on hand to direct the tour and to answer any questions. The tour itself should take approximately one hour to complete, depending on questions.

This is an active work site. Participants will be required to supply their own hard hat, CSA certified safety boots and safety glasses or goggles. The site is dirty, so appropriate clothing or coveralls are recommended. Temperature in the tunnel is approximately 10ºC. If you arrive without the required PPE, you will not be able to participate in the tour.

Participants will have to supply their own transportation to the site and assemble at 30 Avenue and 91 Street, where the project trailer can be found. Parking is available on site. Due to space constraints, pre-registration will be required and depending on the numbers, you may be assigned a specific time when you can expect to begin your tour. This will avoid you having to wait on the surface in the cold for the previous tour to be completed. There will be no cost to participate in this tour, which is being hosted courtesy of the staff from Infrastructure Department of the City of Edmonton.