The Metro Manila Subway Project is thriving with the implementation of TERRATEC’s Continuously Advancing Tunnel Conveyors.

TERRATEC Continuously Advancing Tunnel Conveyors are currently deployed for Phase I Contract Package CP101 of the Metro Manila Subway Project in Manila, Philippines. These tunnel conveyors were selected by the Shimizu-Fujita-Takenaka-EEI Joint Venture, the contracting team working on behalf of the Department of Transportation in Manila.

The Metro Manila Subway Project is the first underground railway system in the Philippines. The Shimizu-Fujita-Takenaka-EEI Joint Venture selected TERRATEC’s technology to handle the exacting demands of this significant infrastructure project. A total of six Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are being employed, with TERRATEC’s conveyors ensuring efficient spoil removal throughout the excavation process.

A total of Four TERRATEC Continuously Advancing Conveyors play a vital role in the construction of the 33.1-kilometer subway section, connecting Mindanao Avenue in the northern part of Metro Manila to Western Bicutan in the south. The four tunnel conveyors, delivered for CP101, are currently in place at the section between the Metro Manila Subway Depot and Quirino Highway.

TERRATEC C09 & C10 Continuously Advancing Conveyors, 1,500m in length, supported TBM1 and TBM2 in their successful breakthrough at Quirino Highway Station after just 11 months of operation. These conveyors are now being dismantled and stored. Meanwhile, Continuously Advancing Conveyors C11 & C12 are preparing to support TBM3 (assembly scheduled for January 2025). TBM4, having completed its test run, will resume excavation in December 2024.

Designed to meet the specific demands of the project, TERRATEC C11 & C12 Continuously Advancing Conveyors are 1850m long and can operate at a rate of 225m3/h. With a single pulley head drive power of 160kW, these conveyors are designed to be capable of efficiently handling the various materials extracted by the Tunnel Boring Machine along the entire length of the drive.

These robust conveyors are designed to handle mixed materials, including sandy gravel and boulders up to 400mm in diameter, with designed in adaptability for the challenging ground conditions. Key features include hydraulic tensioning for horizontal cassettes, wider-than-standard roller sets for enhanced tolerance, and two-roll vee-return idlers for improved tracking. TERRATEC’s patented advancing tail piece, employing an active hydraulic system, ensures smooth negotiation of curves, maintaining efficient spoil transport even in unsteady conditions.

The CP101 section alone is expected to yield approximately 1.2 million cubic meters of excavated material – enough to fill 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The entire alignment will generate around 7,419,940 cubic meters.  Upon completion in 2028, the Metro Manila Subway is projected to serve up to 370,000 passengers daily. This project highlights TERRATEC’s commitment to providing innovative and reliable tunnelling solutions for efficient and safe underground transport infrastructure globally.