Geotechnical and Design Challenges for TBM Selection on the ICE Tunnel
Abstract
The Irvine-Corona Expressway (ICE) tunnels consist of two 16.0-m-diameter (52.5-ft) road tunnels and, potentially, one rail tunnel extending 17.4 km (11.5 miles) between Riverside and Orange counties in Southern California. The
purpose of the tunnels is to relieve traffic congestion along the SR-91 corridor. Among the geotechnical challenges are variable and poor quality ground conditions, including weak, highly fractured rock, numerous fault and shear zones, high groundwater pressures, potential for gassy ground conditions, and a corrosive groundwater environment. Other significant challenges include protection of sensitive groundwater resources in the Cleveland National Forest. This paper discusses some of the results of the feasibility study recently completed for the project with a focus on tunnel boring machine (TBM) selection.
2010
North American Tunneling (NAT) Conference
Steve Dubnewych
Jacobs Associates
Stephen Klein
Jacobs Associates
Paul Guptill
Kleinfelder
