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Evaluation of Large Tunnels in Poor Ground – Alternative Tunnel Concepts for the Transbay Downtown Rail Extension Project

2007
Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference (RETC) Proceedings

Steve Klein
Jacobs Associates

David Hopkins
Jacobs Associates

Bradford Townsend
Hatch Mott McDonald

Derek Penrice
Hatch Mott McDonald

Ed Sum
Transbay Joint Powers Authority

 



The Transbay Downtown Extension (DTX) Project involves construction of an approximately 1.5-mile rail line that will extend Caltrain commuter service, and the future California High Speed Rail service, into downtown San Francisco. The DTX excavation will employ mined tunnel and cut-and-cover methods. Challenges include difficult ground conditions, low rock cover, an alignment that passes beneath several historic buildings, and a large tunnel span.