Tunneling
Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
The innovation, known as a "peristaltic conduit," mimics the segmented movement of earthworms to propel itself through the soil with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure.
DC Water granted approval for construction of Piney Branch Tunnel Project
DC Water’s Piney Branch Tunnel Project is moving ahead with construction, the next phase of the Authority’s Clean Rivers initiative. The 4.2-million-gallon underground storage facility will capture stormwater and untreated sewage during heavy rains, holding it until the overflow can be released back into the system during low flow periods and treated at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility.
IER, Mackinac urge Defense Secretary to expedite Line 5 Tunnel construction
Earlier this week, officials from the Institute for Energy Research (IER) and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urging the swift completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for the proposed Line 5 Tunnel project in Michigan.
Newsom announces key permit for Delta Conveyance Project, boosting water infrastructure
The Delta Conveyance Project, aimed at upgrading the State Water Project, has received an essential Incidental Take Permit, a necessary approval to move forward with the initiative.
WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project
The Clack-A-Mole Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was retrieved from the Willamette River in Oregon City, Ore., at the end of January after being submerged for more than seven months. During that time, the 250,000-pound machine drilled a half-milelong, nine-foot-diameter tunnel to construct a new outfall pipeline to transport treated water.
Final construction phase kicks off for Indianapolis deep rock tunnel
According to Mirror Indy, Citizens Energy Group’s DigIndy tunnel system has entered its final construction phases, and residents of Indianapolis should be prepared for a few road closures this month as construction continues.
Frontier-Kemper JV lands $1.2 billion contract to begin construction on Hudson Tunnel Project
The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) has awarded a $1.18 billion contract for the Manhattan Tunnel Project to Frontier-Kemper-Tutor-Perini JV and authorized the notice to proceed with construction. Completion is anticipated in 2029 for this portion of the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP).
Jacobs helps modernize Virginia’s Alexandria sewer system to improve water quality
The RiverRenew project involves the construction of a 2-mile-long, 12-foot diameter tunnel, along with two drop shafts, a deep pump station, and other infrastructure upgrades.
Smuggling tunnel equipped with ventilation discovered in El Paso storm drain system
U.S. Border Patrol agents, in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), uncovered a sophisticated man-made tunnel on Jan. 9 that connected Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, to the El Paso storm drain system.
Blackwater CSO tunnel project begins drill-and-blast phase of construction
Beginning Monday, January 13, Lynchburg Water Resources’ (LWR) contractor, Atkinson Construction, will begin the drill-and-blast phase of construction for the Blackwater CSO Tunnel project. The Blackwater CSO Tunnel Project, called LYHBeyond, is the largest capital improvement project in Lynchburg’s history.
Enbridge should reconsider Line 5 tunnel boring project, IEEFA report says
Enbridge Energy's plan to bore a tunnel between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron to replace an underwater segment of Line 5 is costly and ill-advised, according to a new report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
Hudson Tunnel Project utility relocation phase more than 50% complete, GDC says
The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) announced 50% completion of the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation Project. This work marks an essential phase of the Hudson Tunnel Project as it will create an access point for launching the Tunnel Boring Machines.
Jacobs to oversee 5.3-mile water supply tunnel for Metro Vancouver
As the program manager, Jacobs will oversee permitting, design, project controls, and construction of the critical water infrastructure.
Excavation begins for Ontario Line’s first downtown subway tunnels
Excavation has started near Exhibition Station for the Ontario Line’s tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch site. This 16-meter-deep shaft will mark the starting point for two TBMs that will create twin tunnels spanning approximately six kilometers—the first downtown subway tunnel project in Toronto in over 60 years.
DC Water continues progress on Potomac River Tunnel Project
DC Water has opened a new road as part of the Potomac River Tunnel (PRT) Project. The road provides an easy way to get around the main construction site in West Potomac Park, which will remain active until the project's completion in 2030.
Alaska Transportation Dept. to spend $1 million on feasibility study for tunnel megaproject
Alaska state transportation officials will conduct a $1 million feasibility study to evaluate its proposed transportation tunnel connecting Anchorage and Point MacKenzie, according to Anchorage Daily News.
Lynchburg, Va., breaks ground on largest-ever Blackwater CSO tunnel project
On Oct. 29, the City of Lynchburg broke ground on the Blackwater CSO Tunnel Project, a milestone in local infrastructure and the largest capital improvement in the city’s history. Known as LYHBeyond, the project aims to significantly reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and safeguard the city’s waterways.
California's Anderson Dam tunnel project marks milestone as completion nears
To complete the tunnel’s last 347 feet, crews used a specialized micro-tunnel boring machine, maneuvering it 30 feet beneath the reservoir’s surface. After the boring was done, divers and construction teams carefully removed the machine from the tunnel’s endpoint using a large crane.
Frontier-Kemper wins $1.1 billion New York tunnel project
(UI) – Tutor Perini subsidiary Frontier-Kemper Constructors has been awarded a contract valued at approx. $1.1 billion by the New York City Dept of Environmental Protection for the Kensico-Eastview Connection Tunnel Project.
Tunnel boring machine ‘Clack-A-Mole’ nears one-third completion in Oregon outfall project
As of Sept. 24, Clack-A-Mole has mined 770 feet of the total 2,370-foot tunnel, reaching 32% completion. Clack-A-Mole, weighing a massive 225,000 pounds, is currently averaging about 32 feet of progress per day as it digs a path toward the river.
Norfolk's HRBT expansion gears up for second tunnel excavation
In Norfolk, Virginia, crews are preparing to launch the tunnel boring machine (TBM) known as Mary for the second phase of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) expansion.
Newburgh, N.Y., completes $31 million sewer project using microtunneling for underground pipeline
The project installed 8,700 feet of new sewer pipes and used microtunneling for over 2,000 feet of underground pipeline to improve capacity and reduce pollution in the Hudson River.
Laredo, Texas, launches $30 million project to expand wastewater capacity
The project will see the construction of a 7,000-foot tunnel, designed to improve the system’s ability to move up to 10 million gallons of wastewater per day.
Queens, NY, completes $106 million Phase 2 sewer upgrade in Maspeth
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection and the NYC Department of Design and Construction have completed a $106 million infrastructure project in Maspeth, Queens, marking the second phase of a three-part initiative to establish a new drainage network in central Queens.
Seattle's SR 99 tunnel to undergo first six-year inspection
The Washington State Department of Transportation will conduct a comprehensive six-year inspection, which is required due to the tunnel's unique structure and federal regulations.
Texas A&M weighs underground transit plan with Elon Musk's Boring Co. to reduce campus traffic
Texas A&M University is exploring a collaboration with Elon Musk’s Boring Co. to create the "Aggie Loop," an underground electric transit system to reduce campus congestion. The project, estimated at $250-350 million, would connect key areas on campus with minimal environmental impact. It’s expected to take three years to complete.
Colorado's Wolf Creek Pass tunnel drainage project begins
The project involves upgrading the current drainage system beneath the eastbound lane, installing manholes for easier maintenance, and replacing damaged concrete panels. Delineators will also be added near the new drainage structures.
Enbridge agrees to reapply for key permit, stalling Line 5 tunnel project
The Army Corps of Engineers has extended its environmental review, pushing the project’s potential start date to 2026. Enbridge must now apply for a new water resources permit incorporating updated wetland data before moving forward.
Remembering Bob Affholder: A legacy of passion and innovation in the CIPP, tunneling industries
(UI) — Robert (Bob) Wilson Affholder, a true industry giant by any measure or perspective, passed away in late July after a brilliant career that amazed, impressed and established his footprint upon essence of both cured-in-place pipe rehabilitation and the tunneling industry.
Lynchburg, Va., begins work on $400 million Blackwater CSO tunnel to protect waterways
Construction has started on the Blackwater CSO Tunnel, the largest capital improvement project in Lynchburg's history. The nearly mile-long, 12-foot diameter tunnel will be built 70 to 120 feet below Blackwater Creek.
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Kinder Morgan moves forward with $1.7 billion natural gas pipeline project in Katy, Texas
- Final construction phase kicks off for Indianapolis deep rock tunnel
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- Trench collapse kills one construction worker in Houston, Texas
- Nevada OSHA fines Elon Musk's Boring Company over safety violations in Vegas tunnel project
- WES tunnel boring machine retrieved from Oregon river after seven-month project