In Denmark, the Vejdirektoratet (Danish Road Directorate, a state owned entity) decided not to use "bored tunnel" option. They found the Tunnel Boring Machine method to be prohibitively expensive according to info on their site:
The bored tunnel is taken out of the equation for the Marselis tunnel in Aarhus
In connection with the environmental impact assessment of the project tunnel under Marselis Boulevard, Vejdirektoratet has examined four different execution methods, and can already rule out a drilled tunnel on the project.
Vejdirektoratet has investigated the advantages and disadvantages of four different construction methods for a tunnel under Marselis Boulevard in Aarhus. The investigated methods are a tunnel cast in open excavation carried out in stages, a tunnel in two floors, a short bored tunnel and a long bored tunnel. The four tunneling proposals have been compared and assessed on the basis of 12 criteria with the main emphasis on neighboring and traffic nuisances, connection with projects in the area, road solutions in operation, tunnel safety, CO2 emissions and economy.
"There are advantages and disadvantages to all four methods, but overall, a tunnel cast in open excavation is cheaper than the drilled solutions, and in fact the drilled solutions are associated with such a high price that it will result in a significant excess of the construction estimate adopted in the Infrastructure Plan 2035. That is why we are already excluding the drilled solutions from the project," says René Juhl Hollen, project manager at the Road Directorate.
Another challenge with a drilled tunnel is that the road in and out of the tunnel will be very steep, which has an impact on the safety and capacity of the tunnel. Among other things, this can cause the trucks to lose speed on the way up the tunnel, with an increased risk of collisions, which is critical in a tunnel.
A short bored tunnel is 50% more expensive than a tunnel cast in open excavation, and a long bored tunnel is 80% more expensive than a tunnel cast in open excavation.
Vejdirektoratet and Aarhus Municipality will jointly find good solutions for traffic management. During the entire construction period, one track will be passable in each direction. In the coming time, we will investigate various other solutions that can relieve traffic. We expect to be able to say more in 2024.
original in Danish; https://www.vejdirektoratet.dk/nyhed/2023/boret-tunnel-er-taget-ud-af-ligningen-marselistunnelen-i-aarhus
cover tunnel photo by: Matt Brown from London, England / CC BY
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