Brenner Base Tunnel
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The challenge
Deployment deep inside a mountain
Work on the Brenner Base Tunnel is well under way. The most recent construction lot – "H53 Pfons-Brenner" – was awarded at the beginning of April 2024 and preparations for a new tunnel section commenced. Prangl was commissioned with assembling the "Wilma" tunnel boring machine (weighing in at a total of 2,700 tonnes), which was delivered in individual parts for deployment deep inside the mountain.
Our solution
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High-tech tunnel boring machine
Where possible, tunnel sections are blasted or engineered using state-of-the-art, electrically powered full-section tunnel boring machines. The rock is loosened with a rotating boring head, the excavated material is removed right away and the tunnel is immediately secured. Progress can be up to 40 metres per day. The "Wilma" tunnel boring machine (manufactured in Germany) has a bore diameter of 10.37 metres and was transported in countless individual parts in a total of 120 transports to the "H53 Pfons-Brenner" construction lot, where it was to be assembled.
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Hydraulic gantry
Due to the limited working width of 16 metres and the lifting capacity of 269 tonnes, the only option considered for this assignment was a 534 tonne hydraulic gantry. The advantage of hydraulic gantries lies in their versatility, because they can be combined with a wide range of dimensions and lifting capacities. Moving loads in a transverse direction is also possible thanks to hydraulic skidding systems, which guarantees precise positioning of the load. In this particular case, the lifting gantry was equipped with an 18 metre long skidding unit including turning device and 60 metres of rails.
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269 tonnes
Construction of the hydraulic gantry began on 25 March 2024, roughly four kilometres deep inside the mountain. Assembly of the tunnel boring machine, which was delivered to the assembly cavern in small parts (maximum weight 90 tonnes), commenced on 2 April 2024. The most important components were the main drive including cutting wheel. The greatest challenge lay in untwisting the cutting wheel with a diameter of 10.6 metres, which weighed in at 269 tonnes after assembly. Working with full concentration, this task was completed without incident – as was the untwisting of the 234 tonne drive.
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A perfect job
With the help of Prangl's hydraulic gantry, "Wilma" slowly took shape over weeks of painstaking work in the tunnel cavern, and grew into a mega tunnel boring machine around 180 metres long and weighing in at a total of 2,700 tonnes. From autumn, "Wilma" will begin heading towards Innsbruck and is set to complete around 7.50 kilometres of tunnelling by the time it arrives at the neighbouring "Sillschlucht-Pfons" construction lot. The Prangl team executed the job perfectly and is proud to have been involved in this key construction project.
Services
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