Pipe by pipe to the target.
In the pipe jacking process the pipeline with the heading machine at its tip is driven by hydraulic cylinders from the launch shaft towards the target shaft.
The distance to the target shaft can be as much as 2000 meters and more, depending on the nominal diameters of the pipes, the geological conditions, the pipe materials and the number of intermediate jacking stations. The thrust cylinders are retracted after they have reached their final position. The next tunnelling pipe is let down into the launch shaft, installed and then pushed forward. This process is repeated until the target shaft has been reached. The tunnelling machine is then recovered from the target shaft and prepared for the next operation.
Ditchless tunnelling has many advantages for the environment, traffic flow and those living in the affected area, because no major earth shifting is necessary at the tunnelling site and only a few shafts are required. Above ground everything carries on as before:
- Roads don't need to be dug up or cordoned off and there are no traffic jams
- Earth shiftings or construction site traffic (trucks) kept to a minimum
- Groundwater lowering required only at certain spots resulting in minimum environmental impact
- Minimum inconvenience to inhabitants from dirt and noise
- No danger to historic buildings
- Sewers and buildings not subject to subsidence.
If you need further information, please contact our Media Service for our brochures or our Utility Tunnelling animation.
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