Tunnel replacement work begins on Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie Canal after 2019 collapse
Construction is set to begin this fall on the long-awaited replacement of Tunnel No. 2 along the Goshen/Gering-Fort Laramie Canal — six years after a catastrophic tunnel collapse and canal breach cut off water deliveries to more than 107,000 acres in Nebraska and Wyoming for 44 days.
According to The Fence Post, a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 28 at the Goshen Irrigation District office in Torrington, Wyoming, followed by a technical briefing at the Tunnel No. 2 site. Initial work this fall will include development of the inlet and outlet structures, construction of access roads, and installation of power lines to support the tunneling operation.
Full excavation is slated to begin in fall 2026, using a purpose-built sequential boring machine and shield designed specifically for the project. Crews will enlarge the existing tunnel in 5-foot increments, removing the original structure and timbers before installing precast, reinforced concrete sections. Once complete, the annular void will be grouted to stabilize the new tunnel, The Fence Post reported.
Replacement of Tunnel No. 1 is expected to follow in late 2027, with the full rehabilitation of both tunnels scheduled for completion by spring 2028. The total project cost is estimated at $150 million. To date, irrigation districts have secured $64.5 million in grants from Nebraska and Wyoming and may access an additional $58.5 million low-interest loan from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The tunnel replacement marks one of the most significant irrigation infrastructure undertakings in the region’s history, aiming to safeguard future water deliveries and strengthen system resilience against flood and collapse risks.
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