Getting road traffic moving
Expansion of road traffic structures

To improve traffic flows and increase people’s mobility, new and efficient road links are being built in and between cities. Innovative Herrenknecht tunnelling systems are paving the way for new roads worldwide – economically, quickly and safely.

the future needs infrastructures

Investments in the development of road infrastructure are increasing steadily. By 2040, around 1.3 trillion US Dollars will be invested worldwide.

With us, tunnel construction and road traffic do not come to a standstill

Herrenknecht tunnelling technology is used to build efficient road tunnels that allow the traffic to flow on important transport routes and in major cities.

Earth Pressure Balance Shields, Mixshields and Hard Rock TBMs from Herrenknecht support the construction of efficient new road tunnels, for urban traffic, long-distance traffic, or both. As part of the construction and extension of these routes, more than 375 kilometers of road tunnel tubes have been produced worldwide using innovative tunnelling technology from Herrenknecht. Building upon this unique expertise and experience, we work closely with our customers and develop tailor-made technical solutions to overcome all challenges and create robust, sustainable tunnel structures – to budget and on schedule, while maximizing safety for the people and the environment.

We put performance on the road

Road, railway, metro, utility, pipeline, hydropower, mining, and exploration: Herrenknecht’s references include more than 6,200 completed projects around the world. Our tunnelling technology helps to build tunnels, pipelines, shafts, and production wells in all types of ground with diameters ranging from 0.10 to 19 meters. Pioneering technology from Herrenknecht is creating the infrastructure to take people forward, paving the way for progress.
As the world’s leading provider, Herrenknecht stands for:

  • vast experience and expertise
  • top technology of the highest quality
  • fully-customized, innovative solutions
  • smooth progress and expert troubleshooting
  • comprehensive service on and off site
  • close teamwork with all project partners
  • maximum reliability from start to finish

In short: we make every effort to ensure that your project runs as smoothly as possible, while staying on budget and on schedule.

Infrastructural developments
in road construction

Around the world, countries keep expanding their road traffic infrastructures. The world is expected to further increase its investments in roads to the enormous sum of 1.3 trillion US Dollars in 2040. The biggest investments by far are expected in Asia with an estimated 797 billion US Dollars. Far behind in second place are the Americas with 239 billion US Dollars.

Source: Global Infrastructure Hub (2021)

Road lengths increase across all continents:
Asia and Africa alone are expected to build more than
2 million kilometers of new roads each by 2050.

Dealing with megacities´
infrastructure challenges

Keeping up with the fast-growing economy is a must in China. But it’s not as easy as it may seem. Accelerated industrialization and marketization result in high demand on traffic roads. Tunnels are a great relief in the expansion of infrastructure. With Shanghai’s extensive need of deeper, longer and sometimes smaller radius tunnelling, the right equipment is essential to their success. Machine design and expert knowledge is key to building the future of tunnelling.

Coping with increased demand and challenging
construction of road infrastructure

Guan Linxing, Deputy Chief Engineer Urban Traffic and Underground Space Design and Research Institute

“Supporting underground projects with the right equipment greatly increases the chances of their success.”

Example jobsite
overview

Topographic barriers such as rivers or densely built-up urban areas often hinder the flow of traffic. Road and service tunnels as well as rescue and ventilation shafts must be built to suit the topographical or urban conditions while observing high safety standards. Herrenknecht tunnelling technology can be installed under extremely tight space constraints. The machines excavate the tunnels underground following a precise course and exactly where they are needed. Our broad range of additional equipment and services provides high-performance tunnelling and high levels of safety – for site personnel, residents, infrastructure and buildings. This includes all technical facilities indispensable for efficient construction logistics, for example, removal of excavated material or separation plants.

1
Road Tunnel

The convertible Mixshield, suited for complex geology and ground conditions with high water levels and high water pressures, is excavating an inner-city road tunnel beneath a river.


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2
Rescue shaft

The VSM is sinking a rescue or ventilation shaft for a road tunnel to be built later – safely, quickly and precisely. It can be used both in stable ground and below groundwater.


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3
Slurry circuit

Efficient and sequential processes separate and remove the excavated soil from the bentonite suspension. The cleaned suspension is then transferred back to the slurry circuit.

4
Cross passage

The AVN Micromachine is constucting one cross passage between the two giant road tunnels. All logistic processes for the larger diameter tunnelling could continue in parallel during pipe jacking, thanks to a special start-up structure.


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1
2
3
4

The convertible Mixshield, suited for complex geology and ground conditions with high water levels and high water pressures, is excavating an inner-city road tunnel beneath a river.


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The VSM is sinking a rescue or ventilation shaft for a road tunnel to be built later – safely, quickly and precisely. It can be used both in stable ground and below groundwater.


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Efficient and sequential processes separate and remove the excavated soil from the bentonite suspension. The cleaned suspension is then transferred back to the slurry circuit.

The AVN Micromachine is constucting one cross passage between the two giant road tunnels. All logistic processes for the larger diameter tunnelling could continue in parallel during pipe jacking, thanks to a special start-up structure.


More Information

Tunnelling technology for road tunnels

Learn more about our full range of tunnelling technology for your upcoming tunnel project.

AVN Machine
0.4–4.8m
Soft ground Heterogeneous ground Rock
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EPB Shield
1.7–16m
Soft ground
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Mixshield
3.7–19m
Heterogeneous ground
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Single Shield TBM
1.5–14m
Rock
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Vertical Shaft Sinking Machine (VSM)
4.5–18m
Soft ground Heterogeneous ground Rock
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View all products

Still got questions?

We are ready!

Steffen Dubé President and General Manager Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems USA Inc.
Gerhard Goisser Commercial Manager Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems USA, Inc.

Your contact person Contact us

Steffen Dubé President and General Manager Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems USA Inc.
Gerhard Goisser Commercial Manager Herrenknecht Tunnelling Systems USA, Inc.