TERRATEC Argentina

Two TERRATEC 4.66-m diameter Earth Pressure Balance Tunnel Boring Machines (EPBMs) currently operational in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the Río Subterráneo a Lomas tunnel continue to progress.

The first EPB TBM (S74), named “EVA,” commenced its journey at the end of September 2020. “EVA” completed the first drive, covering approximately 8 km (7,945 m), by the end of 2022.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the launch of its first machine was initiated. To accomplish this, Italian contractor CMC di Ravenna and TERRATEC secured specific permission from different Argentina embassies in different countries, enabling them to send a team of international technicians to Argentina. CMC di Ravenna played a pivotal role in this endeavor by establishing a vast organization and committing substantial resources to comply with governmental restrictions and successfully launched the first TBM.

This remarkable 13.5-km tunnel is a pivotal component of the multi-billion-dollar Agua Sur system that is currently being built by Argentina’s national water and sanitation company AySA. Representing the country’s most extensive water infrastructure project in four decades, the Agua Sur system is poised to provide fresh water access to 2.5 million inhabitants residing in the southern metropolitan area of Buenos Aires.

The sister machine, the 4.66-m diameter TERRATEC EPBM (S73), named “JUANA,” has been deployed by CMC di Ravenna for the final 5 km of the tunnel project. “JUANA” has achieved an impressive advancement of 88 rings, covering a distance of 123.2 m in just one week.

The TERRATEC EPBMs have been designed to handle the diverse soft ground geology along the project alignment, encompassing silts, sandy silts, and some cobbles. Equipped with high-torque soft ground cutterheads featuring a spoke-style design boasting a 49% opening ratio, these TBMs incorporate cutting tools comprising of multiple fixed and back-loading knife bits. This cutting-edge configuration ensures not only rapid advancement but also minimizes the need for interventions.

Both TERRATEC EPBMs were launched and received from shafts. The tunnel excavation takes place at an average depth of 25 m, commencing with an approximately 400-m radius curve before continuing along a predominantly straight alignment, with a maximum slope of +/- 2.0%. As the machines progress, a precast concrete lining ring is installed, which comprises six segments (four parallelograms and two keys) measuring 250-mm thick and 1,400-mm wide each.

The first launch shaft is composed of 4 interconnected circular sectors at the bottom area. Spanning around 45 m in length, 12 m in width, and 25 m in height, this shaft serves as an integral starting point for the tunneling operations.

The Agua Sur System, a comprehensive infrastructure endeavor, encompasses various significant works. These include establishing a raw water intake, expanding the General Belgrano Water Treatment Plant to augment its water production capacity from the existing maximum of 1,950,000 m3 per day to an impressive 2,950,000 m3 per day. Additionally, it involves the construction of a 23-km water conveyance tunnel, built in two stages, along with the creation of two pump stations and a vast network of pipe connections spanning 46 km. The ambitious project is anticipated to be completed over an estimated timeframe of 10 years.

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