Malmo Gets Into Full Swing

In this article the author describes Sweden's $1.3 billion Citytunnel Project that will, upon its completion, be the Swedish National Rail Administration's largest rail undertaking. Specifically, two parallel 11 kilometer long tunnels being drilled beneath the city of Malmo are discussed. These tunnels are being constructed at a cost of $325 million. The bedrock where the tunnels are being drilled is comprised of a 60 meter thick layer of tertiary danian limestone with about four to 10 meters of clay till overlying it. The author describes the tectonics and hydrology of the region, problems associated with groundwater lowering caused by the tunnel construction, as well as the two tunnel boring machines that are being used. The tunnels will use a 350 millimeter thick precast concrete lining. One station for the project, the Triangeln Station, has already been mined, and its excavation is described in brief.