Current Location of Niagara Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
Map Courtesy of Maria Mammoliti, B.A.Sc.
Geologist, Niagara Tunnel Project
Geotechnical Engineering Intern, Project Delivery Group
February 4th 2010
The tunnel is 5,757.2 meters long at an elevation below
the surface of 89 meters.
There is no tunnel over-break. TBM averaging 18.5 meters per day
The Concrete Invert Bridge is at 3,850 meters
The Restoration
Carrier: Grinding is at 1,040 meters
Shotcrete is at 800 meters
The crown of the TBM approaching the flat bottom layer of Power Glen rock
strata
January 16th 2010
TBM Record Best
BEST MONTH: July 2009 for
mining with a distance of 467.8 meters (1,534.7 feet)
BEST WEEK: June 28th 2009 for mining with a distance of 121.3 meters
(398 feet)
BEST DAY:
July 11th 2009 for mining with a distance of 22.3
meters (73 feet)
BEST SHIFT:
July 5th 2009 for a mining shift with a distance of 14
meters (46 feet)
Total Tunnel Length: 10,161
meters long
33,336 feet
The TBM reached the 5,000 meter milestone of the Niagara Tunnel Project at 14:08 hours (2:08 p.m.)
on July 29th 2009
The TBM reached the 5,079 meter
official halfway milestone of the Niagara Tunnel Project at 02:30 hours (2:30 a.m.)
on August 4th 2009
The St. Barbara Ceremony held inside the Niagara Tunnel on December 4th
2008
The red arrow points to the size of an average man in stark comparison
to the immense size of the tunnel
On Friday June 25th
2004, the Ontario Government announced that Ontario Power Generation has
been given approval to proceed with the 3rd tunnel under the City of
Niagara Falls.
The first two tunnels were built during
the 1950's.
On Thursday August
18th 2005, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced the selection of the
Austrian - STRABAG AG COMPANY to build the $600 million dollar hydro
tunnel. The 10.4 kilometer (6.4 miles) water tunnel will run under the
City of Niagara Falls from the upper Niagara River to the Sir Adam Beck
Power Stations at Queenston at a maximum depth of 140 meters (459 feet).
This third tunnel project is expected to be one of the largest tunnels
built in North America.
The new tunnel will parallel the existing
water tunnels but at a lower depth. The existing tunnels reach a maximum
depth of 100 meters (328 feet).
On
Wednesday September 14th 2005, the official ground breaking ceremonies
were held to announce the beginning of this massive project.
Currently, Sir Adam Beck Power Group
generates 2,080 megawatts. Approximately 1,800 cubic
meters (63,566 cubic feet) of water per second from the existing twin
tunnels and the hydro canal supply the Sir Adam Beck Stations. The
new tunnel will divert an additional 500 cubic meters (17,657 cubic
feet) of water per second.
Strabag AG will also undertake remedial
work on the former Ontario Power Station, the Ontario Power Station
Water Intake Gate House and the former Toronto Power
Station increasing the contract cost to $985 million dollars.
The project
has now been projected to be completed in 2012 or 2013 from the initial date of
2009.
The course and depth for the new Niagara Tunnel had been
predetermined many years ago as a result of the location of
the original hydro canal (1921), the subsequent twin water
tunnels (1955), the ancient buried St. David's Gorge and
urban development.
The hydro canal was initially designed to consist of two
canals leading from the Welland River to the
Chippawa-Queenston Power Station (Sir Adam Beck #1). The
course of the canal dissected the city in an area that was
predominately rural at that time. After the first canal was
built, the second canal plan was abandoned. The excess hydro
land was returned to the city for urban development.
In the
early 1950's, twin 14 meter (45 feet) diameter water tunnels
were built under the city at a maximum depth of 330 feet
nearest Chippawa and slowly rising before surfacing and
terminating near Whirlpool Road into an open cut canal.
Engineers determined that the
existing tunnels and canal would have been too hazardous and expensive to
continue as they passed underground through the glacial silt of the
buried St. David's Gorge. In both instances the water is channeled
on the surface as it crosses the buried gorge through concrete lined trapezoidal
sections.
The
corridor of land utilized for the location of the twin
tunnels was previously owned by the hydro company and/or
upon city land that was for the most part undeveloped.
Since
the 1950's, the urban development of the City of Niagara
Falls has grown exponentially so that today, little if any
excess land was available.
History, geology and urban development has dictated the
current location of the new Niagara Tunnel with little
flexibility. The new tunnel would begin in an area of land
near the forebay' of the Sir Adam Beck Power Generating
Stations.
The
Niagara Tunnel had no alternative than to bore steeply
underground in order to tunnel underneath the ancient buried
St. David's Gorge and to maintain a safe separation from the
existing tunnels . The current path of the Niagara Tunnel is
(for the most part) to follow the path of the existing twin
tunnels.
The
Niagara Tunnel is 14.4 meters (47.2 feet) in diameter at a
maximum depth of 140 meters (459.3 feet). Both are
unprecedented in size and depth in Niagara. The rock strata at the
current depth of the tunnel boring machine is predominately
Queenston Shale (mudstone). The reddish-purplish shale is
fractured and has resulted in many roof-line rock falls
slowing the boring operation. Although test boring samples
were conducted in preparation for this project, none
uncovered the vertical fracturing in the rock strata that
the tunneling crews are currently experiencing.
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is owned by
the Province of Ontario and is an electricity generation company whose principle
business is the generation and sale of electricity in the Province of Ontario.
OPG has approximately 11,300 employees. Power generation is produced by nuclear,
hydroelectric, fossil and wind. Ontario Power Generation produced 109 TWh
or 70% of Ontario's electricity in 2005.
Strabag AG is an Internationally world renown engineering and
construction company based in Spittal, Austria. It was established by Anton
Lerchbaumer is 1835 and has become the largest construction company in Germany
and Austria.
Strabag's current CEO is Peter Haselsteiner. The company has
approximately 40,000 employees world wide. Revenues in 2005 amounted to €9.8
billion Euros.
Strabag has extensive experience in road construction,
structural engineering and other building fields including tunneling, civil
engineering, bridge construction, power plant construction, rail construction,
environmental technology and specialized underground engineering and project
development.
With more than 50 years on innovation
and experience, The Robbins Company is the world's foremost developer and
manufacturer of advanced underground construction machinery.
In 1952 James
S. Robbins, the founder of the Robbins Company, built the first successful hard
rock tunnel boring machine (TBM). That success provided the foundation of
innovation upon which Robbins continues to build.
Over the past 50 years Robbins has been involved in
hundreds of tunnel boring projects around the world. Robbins is an
international organization with four primary manufacturing facilities, seven
international sales & service locations, and representatives worldwide.
The largest hard rock TBM
in the world (14.4 m in diameter) will be designed and manufactured by The
Robbins Company. Austria based Strabag AG, the contractor for the Niagara
Tunnel Project, awarded the TBM order to The Robbins Company based in Solon,
Ohio USA.
The Robbins
tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be an open, hard rock, main beam TBM that
utilizes the proven Robbins floating gripper design. The TBM will be
manufactured with a state-of-the-art ground support system.
Hatch Mott MacDonald is an international award
winning full service consulting engineering firm offering public and private
clients multi-disciplined expertise and comprehensive capabilities in planning,
environmental assessments, studies and analysis, design, procurement,
construction engineering and inspection, project, program and construction
management and facility maintenance and operations.
With more than a century of experience, Hatch Mott MacDonald has
approximately 10,000 employees world-wide providing the absolute best and
highest engineering technical service.
Hatch Mott MacDonald is a North American company
which has earned a reputation for technical excellence, innovation and client
responsiveness on some of the most prominent and challenging projects. They have
an extensive record of major accomplishments in the fields of transportation,
tunnels, water conveyance, wastewater/CSO, environmental, gas pipelines,
buildings and utilities.
Hatch Mott MacDonald's tunneling expertise began
over 100 years ago, in the development of the London underground road and rail
systems, and Toronto's subway system more than 50 years ago.
Peter Wickens is the current President and CEO.
Hatch Mott MacDonald and Hatch Acres are acting
as Owner’s Representatives to Ontario Power Generation on the Niagara Tunnel
Project.
Through six decades, Hatch (which joined with
long-time partner Mott MacDonald to create the infrastructure unit Hatch Mott
MacDonald in North America in 1996) became prominent in North American
transportation when it provided tunneling skills, know-how, design and
management to several Toronto Transit Commission subway extensions, the CP Rail
tunnel joining Windsor and Detroit, the Schreyer-Award winning CN Rail tunnel
between Sarnia and Port Huron, tunnels for the Los Angeles Red Line subway,
tunnels for BART in the San Francisco Bay area, tunnel-jacking for the massive
Boston Central Artery project, and the recent Schreyer-winner dual-purpose (rail
and auto traffic) Whittier Tunnel in Alaska.
Rowa Tunneling Logistics AG is a
worldwide construction and engineering company specializing in tunneling installations and logistics
systems. It is headquartered in Wangen, Switzerland.
Rowa Tunneling Logistics serves tunnel projects around the
globe. Rowa logistics systems and back-up equipment have proved themselves in
the construction of the Channel Tunnel, in Manapouri (New Zealand) and in
Siberia. They have been involved in Swiss projects such as the Vereina Tunnel
and the high-performance rail transit through the Alps in the St. Gotthard and
Lötschberg mountain ranges. They have been involved in more than one hundred
large construction sites, many of them prestige projects.
Strabag has contracted Rowa Tunneling Logistics to develop
and manufacture a backup system compatible with the 14.4 meter (47.2 feet)
diameter Robbins gripper TBM. This 105 meter (344.48 feet) long backup
unit will consist of four elements on four levels. The first element will
consist of a stepper installation while the remaining three are towed on running
gears.
Rowa Tunneling Logistics Company will be providing for the
essentials required to facilitate the tunneling to proceed in a safe and
efficient manner. This includes removal of debris, air ventilation, dust control
and mortar installation. In addition to the typical infrastructure components,
two rock bolt drilling machines for anchor lengths up to 6 meters (19.6 feet).
Two longitudinal displaceable 360° round spray robots
are included. The removal of the excavated material will be by way of a conveyor
belt assembly.
McNally International Incorporated and its group of companies
was established in 1949, under the name S. McNally & Sons Limited.
Post-war house building was the main activity in the early
years but soon changed to heavy civil engineering projects. Since the
1950's, the name "McNally" has become synonymous with difficult and
demanding projects.
Throughout the years, McNally International has completed projects including
roads, bridges, sewage treatment plants, sewers, and water mains. They are
best known for their experience in underground tunnel work.
Tunnel construction is still one of the most exacting sectors
of the construction industry. McNally International is recognized as
Canada's leading Tunnel Contractor. They built tunnels for water, sewer,
steam, subways, power transmission, traffic and pedestrians.
In the 1980's we started McNally Tunneling Corporation expanded operations
in the United States. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, McNally Tunneling has
completed projects in Birmingham, Cleveland, Houston, Seattle, Chicago,
Minneapolis and Columbus.
Construction like many industries has its own cycle of activities. One
sector most acutely affected has been marine construction. In the 90's
McNally purchased the marine assets of the Beaver Construction Group of
Montreal, and started a new company called Beaver Marine Limited based in
Nova Scotia. After a couple of years, McNally acquired the marine assets of
Canadian Dredge and Dock, Pitts Engineering and MacNamara Marine all major
players in the Construction industry in their day.
Under the new McNally International flag these assets help
make up one of the best equipped and manned construction fleets anywhere in
Canada.
Together with Beaver, McNally Construction Group is capable
of completing marine construction or dredging projects anywhere in the Great
Lakes, St. Lawrence River or Eastern Canada.
McNally International Incorporated with its team of experienced and
dedicated professionals is ready for the future.
McNally International - Marine Division is employed at the
Niagara Tunnel Project in the preparation and construction of the Upper
Niagara River intake.
Founded in 1912, Dufferin Construction is part of the St.
Lawrence Cement Group, the largest cement producer in eastern Canada. Dufferin
is a leader in its own right - Canada's biggest concrete paving company and one
of Canada's largest heavy civil engineering contractors. Dufferin Construction
has headquarters in Oakville Ontario. One of their many major projects included
the building of Highway #407. Dufferin Constructions principal area of operation
is Southern Ontario from Windsor to Ottawa.
Strabag has contracted Dufferin Construction for surface
and concrete works including the construction of the Grout Gallery Tunnel at the
intake site.
Morrison Hershfield is a
multidisciplinary engineering and management firm. Engineering and design build
services are provided to clients in the Transportation, Building, Life
Sciences, Municipal, Utilities and Telecommunications sectors.
Morrison Hershfield Group Inc. is
an employee owned organization. It is a corporate holding company with a mandate
to operate national and international professional consulting engineering
businesses through the Morrison Hershfield Group of Companies.
Morrison Hershfield has been
employed in the design of the Niagara Tunnel Project.
At the 2008 Canadian Consulting
Engineer Awards, Morrison Hershfield Limited won an award for the Water
resources & energy production category for their work on the Intake works at the
Niagara Tunnel Project in Niagara Falls.
ILF Consulting Engineers was
founded by Mr. P.Lässer, M.Sc., and Mr. A.H.Feizlmayr, M.Sc., in 1969. The
abbreviation ILF is derived from the German company name "Ingenieurgemeinschaft
Lässer-Feizlmayr".
On the basis of its well-tested
know-how, ILF has continually extended its mission to all continents. Today, ILF
ranks among the world's leading independent engineering consultants;
particularly with regard to tunneling, underground construction and pipeline
engineering.
ILF has been employed in the design of the Niagara Tunnel Project.
Peter Kiewit
Sons Co. was founded in Omaha, Nebraska in 1884. Canadian operations began in
1941 and currently comprise Eastern and Western Districts, with permanent
offices in Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
The Eastern Canada District is responsible for all construction work from
Newfoundland to Manitoba and Construction Kiewit Cie builds work in Quebec. All
other work is performed by Peter Kiewit Sons Co.
The District is certified ISO 9001 and employs 160-180 engineers,
superintendents and technicians. An annual university-recruiting program ensures
the continuity and growth of the district. Some 300-500 craft employees are
hired each year to complement permanent staff.
In recent years, the District has built some of the most challenging work in
Eastern Canada, including major participation in the gigantic James Bay
hydroelectric complex, the development and ongoing open pit mining of the Raglan
nickel mine, the Hibernia offshore oil platform and the Thousand Islands and
Humber bridges in the transportation sector.
On March
30th 2006, Ontario Power Generation awarded Peter Kiewit Sons Company a contract
worth $17 million dollars for the decommissioning of the retired Toronto Power
Generating Station (TPGS), the retired Ontario Power Generating Station (OPGS)
Power Generating Stations and the Ontario Power Generating Station Gate House in
Niagara Falls.
The work
at the three sites includes electrical and mechanical removals of existing
equipment down to the thrust deck floor. Additional work includes:
Toronto
Power Generating Station - sealing of twenty-three (23) portals and backfilling
the inner forebay of the power station. This required the dewatering of the
inner and outer forebays by means of a rock cofferdam approximately 80 meters
(262 feet).
Ontario
Power Generating Station - sealing of the penstock openings
Ontario
Power Generating Station Water Intake Gate House - removal of the existing
head-gates and concrete seals constructed in their place. This work required the
dewatering by means of a sectional stop-log cofferdam.
Work is
scheduled for completion in the Spring of 2007.
Established in 1897, Bermingham
Foundation Solutions is an internationally renown company having works in more than 33 countries
worldwide.
Bermingham Construction
has been instrumental in building the infrastructure of
Canada. The company worked on the famous Crow’s Nest Pass for the Canadian
National Railway, as well as ports, docks, bridges and highway overpasses all
over the country.
Today, the company is active in building foundations for bridges, condominium
towers, power plants, water treatment plants, and docks mostly in Ontario and
Eastern Canada.
Bermingham is an industry leader and
innovator. It is known for developing the StatnamicTM Load test which is used
extensively in Asia, North America and Europe.
Bermingham is introducing a
revolutionary green technology to North America - geothermal foundations that
produce heating and cooling.
Bermingham Construction
Company
has been employed in the building of cofferdams and steel sheet
pile-driving for the Niagara Tunnel Project.
Ontario Power Generation awarded a $600
million dollar contract to Strabag AG Company to design and build the new Niagara Tunnel.
September 14th 2005
-
Ontario Power
Generation announced the start of construction of its $985 million dollar,
10.4 kilometer (6.46 mile) Niagara Tunnel project to increase the output
of power from Niagara Falls. The Niagara Tunnel project is estimated to cost
$600 million dollars and $385 million dollars for remedial and other work costs.
The project involves boring a tunnel 14.4
meters ( 47.24 feet) at a depth of up to 140 meters (459.3 feet) below the City
of Niagara Falls . The tunnel will enhance the original engineering
accomplishment of the Sir Adam Beck Hydro-Electric Generating Stations - Niagara
Group in transporting water from a location up river from the Falls of Niagara
to the power stations at Queenston to increase its power output.
The new tunnel will complement the upgrading
of the 16 generators at the Sir Adam Beck Power Station #2. This 9
year upgrading project cost $220 million dollars increased the potential peak
output by 194 megawatts.
When the new Niagara Tunnel project is
completed, it will enable the Beck Power Group to produce an additional 1.6
terawatt-hours of electricity for at least the next ninety (90) years. It will
allow enough energy production to serve an additional 160,000 homes and increase
power output at Sir Adam Beck by 14%. - enough to meet the annual needs of a
city of 700,000 persons.
Currently 1,800 cubic meters of water per
second (63,566 cubic feet of water per second) are available to be
diverted to the Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations for power production. The new
Niagara Tunnel will allow an additional 500 cubic meters of water per second
(17,657.2 cubic feet of water per second) when available to be diverted for
power generation.
On average, the Niagara Tunnel project will
employ approximately 230 workers however this number will peak to about 350
employees.
The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) to be used
on the Niagara Tunnel project will be 14.4 meters (47.2 feet) in diameter and will be one of the largest to be
used in the world. In comparison the Robbins TBM will be 2½ times the size of the Toronto
Subway
tunnel and 1½ times the size of the English Channel tunnels.
The Robbins Company will design and manufacture the
largest hard rock TBM in the world for the Niagara Tunnel project. It will be an
open, hard rock, main beam TBM that utilizes the Robbins floating gripper
design. The TBM will be equipped with a state of the art ground support system.
The cutter-head will be powered with a 4,725 kW variable frequency drive system
that can be increased to 5,040 kW. For optimum performance Strabag has chosen to
use Robbins 20-inch cutters mounted in a back-loading cutter-head. Alternately,
Robbins 19-inch cutters can be used without modification of the cutter-head. The
cutting head will typically revolve at 4 to 10 revolutions per minute (rpm).
The geology is varied consisting of limestone, dolostone,
sandstone, shale, and mudstone. The rock strength ranges from 15 to 180 MPa,
with most of the rock in the 100 to 180 MPa range. With the exception of
sandstone, the geology is basically non-abrasive. Most of the rock debris
(80%) removed
from the tunnel will consist of Queenston Shale.
The Niagara Tunnel is expected to advance at
a daily rate of 10-15 meters (32.8 feet - 49.2 feet). Approximately 1.6
million cubic meters of material excavated from the tunnel will be dumped on
Ontario Power Generation property between the two existing canals.
The new Niagara Tunnel will follow the same basic route as
the existing two tunnels parallel to Stanley Avenue. The new tunnel starts on Ontario Power Generation property at
Queenston with a -7.82% drop over a length of approximately 1,500 meters
(4,921 feet) reaching a depth of up to 140 meters (459.3 feet) below the City of
Niagara Falls. Here the tunnel proceeds with a relatively horizontal plane
over a distance of approximately 7,400 meters (24,277.9 feet). The
alignment will follow a horizontal curve radius of over 1,000 meters (3,280.8
feet) in length. The tunnel ends on the Niagara River at the International Water
Control Dam located one mile upriver from the Horseshoe Falls with an ascent
gradient of +7.28% over the final 1,500 meters (4,921 feet).
The inside diameter of the finished tunnel will be 12.5
meters (41.1 feet) and will be lined with 50 centimeters (23.62 inches) of un-reinforced concrete with double layer seal and pre-stressed injection
concrete.
The Tunnel Boring Machine will reach its maximum depth of
140 meters (459.3 feet) within the first 1.5 kilometers of operation. The TBM
will operate 24 hours a day - 365 days a year on a 3 shift rotation (8 hours) until completed. The Tunnel Boring
Machine will be operated by two Chief Operators per shift with a crew of
approximately 10 workers onboard. An additional 20-30 men will be employed on
each shift for the required surface support.
May 18th 2006 -
Province of Ontario, Minister of Energy - Donna Cansfield on tour of the
construction site announced the nickname of the Tunnel Boring Machine as "BIG
BECKY". A grade 6 class at Port Weller Elementary School came up with the
winning entry to name the TBM. Under the direction of computer and science
teacher - Kevin Dyck, his class selected the name after much "brainstorming".
They called it BECKY because it is a feminine version that pays tribute to Sir
Adam Beck.
August 8th 2006
-
A ceremony attended by Ontario Premier - Dalton McGuinty and other officials was
held at the starting location of the Niagara Tunnel Project near the Sir Adam
Beck Power Generating Stations. Premier McGuinty threw a switch to turn on the
cutter head of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).
Importing a European tradition, Doctor Robin Williams -
Regional Municipality of Niagara - Medical Officer of Health was named the
patroness of the Niagara Tunnel Project by officials of Strabag AG. Naming a
patroness is based upon a religious tradition of St. Barbara - the patron saint
of miners, construction workers and engineers. Doctor Williams will keep up to
date on the tunneling project and will be a public ambassador for it. According
to traditions associated with tunneling, naming a patroness of the tunnel will
keep the workers safe.
LEGEND OF ST. BARBARA
Barbara lived in the 3rd Century AD in Nicromedia, the capital
of the Roman province of Bithnia (Asia Minor). She was the only
child of Dioscuros, a high ranking and wealthy man. Her father
adored her, had her tutored in the best schools of arts and
sciences, and set out to reinforce her faith in the Roman- Greek
Gods.
To protect her from foreign influences, he provided sumptuous
living quarters for her in a tower. But her very loneliness
caused Barbara to think seriously; as a result, she became more
and more convinced that the old gods were but a hollow
imitation.
Without her father’s knowledge, she became familiar with the
teachings of Christ, and had herself baptized. At that time,
Christians were being persecuted nearly everywhere, and
considered as enemies of the state. Adherence to Christianity
was subject to the severest punishment.
Dioscuros planned to marry Barbara to a very prosperous man,
with a view to increasing the family fortunes. At first Barbara
asked for time to reflect. Following his return from a long
journey, Barbara explained to her father that she was a
Christian and did not wish to marry. She had already removed the
different images of Pagan gods from her living room quarters and
had replaced them with crucifixes.
Dioscuros, seeing that his only child had turned to the new
religion and that he himself had been placed at a disadvantage,
was overcome with rage. He handed over his daughter, as a
Christian, to the Roman pro-consul Martianus, a Supreme Court
judge, for the assessment of punishment.
Martianus tried at first by kind persuasion, to make her break
with her faith; but when this failed, he had her thrashed and
cast into jail. Due to the strength of her faith, her wounds
healed immediately. On the following day, she was ordered by
Martianus to pay sacrifice to the pagan gods. When she refused,
she was mutilated in a dreadful way. When she continued to
proclaim her Christian faith, she was sentenced to die by the
sword. Barbara went to her place of execution in cheerful
ecstasy: with her enthusiasm for her true faith. Her last wish
was that God through her experience help all those confronted
with and unprepared for a sudden untimely death.
The Barbarous father was so outraged that he himself severed his
daughter’s head! Immediately following Barbara’s death, a
terrible thunderstorm arose. As punishment for his monstrous
crime, Dioscuros was killed by lightning. This is the story of
Santa Barbara in its oldest form.
Later when Christianity had become firmly established, St.
Barbara was invoked as a protectress against the perils of
lightning. Barbara Day was used as a holiday in the very
earliest festival calendar of the city of Cologne. The belief
became widespread that Barbara could control lightning and other
manifestations of flame and fire. Barbara was adopted as the
patron saint of miners most probably because the mining
profession had to cope with many hazards to life in those days.
Also, the miners formed a large part of those for whom she
prayed in the hours of her own death.
Miners later developed the use of gunpowder for disintegrating
rock, involving manifestations similar to thunder claps and
lightning flashes. This led to their need for special protection
against accidents from the use of explosives, thereby
strengthening the reputation of Saint Barbara as their adopted
patron saint.
Saint Barbara was also a protectress of the plague which
further strengthened her veneration, mothers would pray for
healthy children and miners would mirror that by praying for
plentiful blessings in their mining operations: both seeking a
bountiful production and an enhanced degree of well being.
There are many churches, mines and works of art named after or
produced in remembrance of Saint Barbara. A few examples of
note:
Barbara Cathedral in Kuttenberg (Bohemia) built between 1388 and
1518 in the old silver city. This was thought to be the most
likely source of the Barbara adoration. The cathedral was built
around an already existing Barbara altar in an area with many
Barbara altars present. Kuttenberg has for centuries had on its
coat of arms St. Barbara above the crossed hammer and gad. [Schlaegel
und Eisen-the classical symbol of mining]
Mine names frequently indicated wishes and hopes, in both
Freiberg and Marienberg there was a mine named "St. Barbara
Bonanza". There is also the "St. Barbara Good Hope Vein" in the
Harz Mountains on the German-Austrian border.
August 2006 -
The
Regional Municipality of Niagara and Ontario Power Generation drafted an
agreement that will see approximately 3.5 million tonnes of Queenston Shale
excavated provided to the brick manufacturing industry for free. Queenston Shale
is the sole raw material used for the production of clay bricks in Ontario.
August 2007 -
The
tunnel boring machine (TBM) is nearing the 1,000 meter (3,281 feet) mark.
Progress has been extremely slow because of frequent vertical rock falls as a
result of unforeseen geological rock structures. It is hoped that the unstable
rock sections will soon be behind them as the TBM bores deeper underground . Several
rock falls weighing an estimated 10-20 tons have stopped the boring progress for
lengthy periods. The
maximum depth of 140 meters (459.3 feet) will soon be reached as the TBM reaches
the 1,500 meters mark. In order to reduce the frequency of rock falls,
horizontal support rods are being installed in the rock above the TBM in advance
of the cutter head.
In order to reduce airborne dust pollution at the
debris dump site, a containment building has been erected.
September 22nd 2007-
The tunnel boring machine (TBM) has reached a milestone of the first 1000 meters
(3,281 feet).
January 21st 2008 -
The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is approximately 1,650 meters (5,413 feet) and
is located at it's maximum depth. It's current location is under the
ancient buried St. David's Gorge. Because of very difficult, unpredictable and
unstable rock conditions, the TBM has been progressing at forward rate of
several meters per day. This unfortunate delay in progress
has setback the targeted completion date of this project from 2009 to 2010.
Five - 130 meter deep dewatering shafts from the surface to
the tunnel are being drilled near the Whirlpool Road site approximately 1500
meters from the tunnel outlet. Each of these shafts
will allow the tunnel to be dewatered using massive mobile water pumps if ever
required. Each shaft is approximately 900 millimeters in outside diameter with
the inside diameter of 700 millimeters.
March 1st 2008 -
The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is 1800 meters (5,905 feet) with
continuous roof-line over break.
March 5th 2008 -
Strabag has announced further delays in the Niagara Tunnel Project. The Tunnel Boring machine (TBM) has been making very
slow progress under very unstable rock conditions. Big Becky might have to chart a new course and
revise her schedule to make up for time lost while digging through difficult
rock conditions. Progress on the Niagara Tunnel Project continues to
be slower than both Ontario Power Generation and Strabag AG, the Austrian
company hired to build the 10.4-kilometre tunnel, expected, officials with both
companies say.
"You're dealing with nature. You can't predict the
rock condition for 10 kilometers," said Ernst Gschnitzer, Strabag's project
manager, who oversees the construction of a third hydro tunnel under the city of
Niagara Falls.
What excavators call "over- break" continues to be the problem, the same situation
that slowed progress last year. Once Big Becky, the nickname for the $35-million
tunnel-boring machine, cuts a portion of the tunnel, loose rock from the ceiling
falls in behind the machine.
The cavities will be filled in to make a smooth surface before the tunnel is
finished, he said. But for now, removing the rock and digging through "unstable"
material is hindering progress.
To compensate for the delays, Strabag wants to alter the alignment of the
tunnel, both vertically and horizontally.On the south side of the St. David's Gorge, the tunnel will go higher than first
planned. That will allow the excavation to get out of the difficult conditions
and into more predictable rock, said Gschnitzer.
According to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, the buried St. David's Gorge is
an abandoned channel that has been filled in with a glacial debris including
gravels, sands, tills, silts and clays. The ancient gorge is thought to have
been 116 meters (380 feet) wide and up to 79.25 meters (260 feet) deep. It has been estimated at approximately 22,000 years old.
A portion of the tunnel will also be shifted a bit to the east - or toward the
Niagara River - from its original alignment, which ran approximately underneath
Stanley Avenue.
Strabag has applied for necessary approvals to make that change. The company
expects to hear a decision in a few months, Gschnitzer said. The August 2010
target for completion also needs to be adjusted.
"We hope it won't change that much. It will go into 2011," said Gschnitzer.
Last fall, Ontario Power Generation's board approved August 2010 as the
completion date for the tunnel. When work began in September 2006, Strabag
expected it could complete the work by fall 2009.
OPG says Ontario taxpayers are protected from cost overruns because it gave
Strabag a design-build contract meaning the company agreed to build the tunnel
for a fixed price, said OPG spokesman John Earl. The tunnel work is pegged at
$600 million.
At the beginning of March 2008, the TBM had excavated 1,800 meters of the
10.4-kilometre tunnel.
By December 31st 2007, the TBM had excavated 1,609 meters of the tunnel.
By September 2007, the TBM had excavated 1,350 meters of the tunnel, less than
half the distance Strabag had hoped for at that point.
Once the TBM excavation reaches 2,300 meters (2.3 kilometers), Strabag will be
in a position to reassess how to make up for lost time in the remaining 8.1
kilometers of the tunnel.
May 10th 2008 -
The TBM - Big Becky has reached the 2,000 meter mark.
May 24th 2008 -
The TBM - Big Becky has passed the 2 kilometer
point in the Niagara Tunnel Project, but is so far behind that Ontario Power
Generation (OPG) and Strabag AG are reviewing the cost of the $630-million
project and its schedule.
"The Niagara tunnel is progressing slower than
planned. The drilling conditions have been challenging," president and chief
executive officer Jim Hankinson said Friday. OPG is officially sticking to its
August 2010 completion target, which had already been revised once from 2009.
But Ernst Gschnitzer, project manager for Strabag, the Austrian company
contracted to design and build the tunnel, predicted it won't be completed until
much later.
"It's going to be 2012. We don't see any possibility to be quicker, at present,"
Gschnitzer said.
After 2 kilometers, the TBM is one-fifth of the way into the 10.4-kilometre
tunnel that will connect the Sir Adam Beck generating stations to the upper
Niagara River, south of Dufferin Islands.
At the end of March, OPG's first fiscal quarter, the tunnel boring machine had
advanced about 1,848 meters. That's 239 meters further than where it was at the
end of 2007, based on OPG figures.
For the first three months of 2008, Big Becky was digging an average of 2.6
meters a day - considerably slower than what had been hoped could be an average
rate of 15 meters a day.
As part of the review, three independent experts are examining how the project
has gone since work began. They're looking for mistakes that might have been
made and ways to improve progress, an OPG official said. Those experts are
expected to consult with both OPG and Strabag in June. OPG expects to have a
better understanding of how the cost and schedule will be affected by July.
"We will provide further details about changes in the schedule and the cost when
they are available," Hankinson said in a conference call to discuss the Crown
corporation's first quarter results for 2008.
Tunnel construction has been slowed by the loose rock conditions under the St.
David's Gorge - the area near the whirlpool - that have dogged the project almost
since it started. As Big Becky - the nickname for the tunnel-boring machine -
advances, loose rock from the tunnel ceiling falls in behind it. That "over-break"
rock has to be removed. The cavities in the rock will be filled in when the
tunnel's concrete lining is poured.
"Once we get beyond the St. David's Gorge, we do expect better performance,"
Hankinson said.
The tunnel-boring machine was 2,077 meters into the tunnel as of Friday,
Gschnitzer said. His company expected to be "much further" along than it is now,
after 20 months. "I can't even tell you - several more kilometers," he
said. Removing the "huge amount of over-break material" is the ongoing
challenge, he added.
It's impossible to know for certain what rock conditions exist before
construction starts, Gschnitzer said. OPG could have spent more than $100
million on a more extensive rock study, he added, but "you would never be able
to anticipate these rock conditions 100 per cent." Strabag has bought more
equipment to remove that rock material faster. That reduces the time the
tunnel-boring machine loses, Gschnitzer said.
"We have worked on a consistent basis to make improvements. The rock conditions
aren't changed," he said.
OPG agrees the pace has picked up. "In the last couple weeks, our progress
has been much better - more like six or seven meters a day," Hankinson said.
OPG's report predicts "considerable uncertainty" about the schedule and cost
until Big Becky reaches the 2,300-metre mark, the point when the loose rock is
expected to turn to harder rock, reducing the over-break concerns. Ontario
Power Generation plans to review the entire $985-million estimate of the Niagara
Tunnel Project. That estimate includes some work OPG is doing not directly
related to the tunnel, including the refurbishing of the Toronto Power station
on the Niagara Parkway.
On May 29th 2008, the TBM had progressed to 2,114
meter. Now slightly south of the St. David's buried gorge, the TBM was averaging
up to 7 meters per day but still experiencing heavy over-break (rock fall from
the roof of tunnel).
May 29th 2008 -
The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is 2114 meters (9,936 feet) with
continuous roof-line over break.
July 11th 2008 -
Big
Becky is behind schedule and potentially over-budget, but the Niagara Tunnel
Project is so "integral" to Ontario's electricity supply the government is
prepared to pass cost overruns onto provincial
electricity customers, Premier Dalton McGuinty says. If
there are additional
costs that fall to us, that is regrettable.
But these
things happen from time to time in large-scale construction projects," McGuinty
said in an interview Thursday, following a funding announcement at Niagara
College. Despite lingering questions about the cost and timetable, McGuinty
remained bullish.
"We're absolutely committed to finishing this project. We need that clean
electricity," McGuinty said. "We're not going to build another coal
plant."
Ontario Power Generation, the publicly-owned electricity producer, and Austrian
contractor Strabag AG are now trying to sort out who will pay for expenses if
the tunnel work goes above its $600-million budget.
Loose rock conditions have plagued construction of a third tunnel that will
divert water from the upper Niagara River to the Sir Adam Beck
generating stations since work began nearly two years ago.
It was a problem for the first 2,300 meters of the tunnel, the portion between
the Beck generating stations and the St. David's Gorge.As
the tunnel-boring machine nicknamed Big Becky inches along, overhead rock falls
in from the tunnel roof and needs to be removed.
OPG and Strabag AG met for two days last month with their "dispute review
panel," a three-member board created before
the project began. The expert panel is expected to make recommendations in
September about how to assess additional costs incurred because of the
rock conditions.
"In general, it's about the different rock conditions and who is going to be
responsible for these rock conditions," said Strabag's project
manager Ernst Gschnitzer.
Strabag says the rock is not what the company expected based on geological
information OPG provided before the company bid on the
contract.
"The rock is
different than anticipated," Gschnitzer said.
OPG says the contract holds Strabag responsible for overruns. Strabag was given
a design-build contract, meaning they agreed to do it
for a fixed price of $600 million.
"The contract has been done in a way that as much of the risk has been
transferred to the contractor as can be done," OPG's chief
operating officer Pierre Charlebois said in an interview.
Before asking for bidders, OPG bored test holes in the rock to give them an idea
of the type of rock they would be excavating.
"Bore holes tell you one thing," Charlebois said, but doing the actually digging
with a 14-metre diameter boring machine is
another.
It could mean an increase in electricity rates if Ontario Power Generation is
deemed to be responsible for some of the
overruns and if they use up the undisclosed contingency fund the
provincially-owned generation company included as part of the Niagara
Tunnel Project.
Under the contract, OPG pays Strabag for progress, meaning payments are made as
the tunnel moves forward. Charlebois
emphasized it's "premature" now to say whether the project will go over-budget.
But if it does happen, OPG will recover its costs through the rates the company
charges for power. The rate-recovery process allows OPG
to spread those costs over a 100-year period, Charlebois said.
While OPG and Strabag await the dispute panel's recommendations, work continues.
Both companies say progress has improved now
that excavation is past the St. David's Gorge. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is
2,475 meters into the 10.4 kilometer tunnel. The pace has picked up to an
average of eight meters a day from the 2.6 meter average in the first quarter of
2008. But it is still below the 12 meters a day goal set when work began.
July 18th 2008 -
The TBM had tunneled 2,528 meters and was progressing at a rate of 8 - 9
meters
daily. The over-break (rock falling from the ceiling) was continuous
August 22nd 2008 -
The tunnel boring machine named "Big
Becky" is taking a short cut. Two years after construction of the Niagara Tunnel
Project began, Ontario Power Generation confirmed both the horizontal and
vertical alignments will be changed to cut costs and make up for lost
construction time.
"The horizontal realignment has been adopted which will reduce the total length
by 200 or 300 meters," Pierre Charlebois, Ontario Power Generation's chief
operating officer, said Friday.
Ontario Power Generation is building a 10.4-kilometre tunnel under the city of
Niagara Falls to bring more water from the upper Niagara River to the Sir Adam
Beck generating stations in the city's north end. But the Niagara Tunnel Project
has been plagued with delays caused by the loose rock in the St. David's Gorge
area. As the tunnel-boring machine, nicknamed Big Becky, moves along, overhead
rock falls in and has to be removed. It has created what OPG regularly calls
"considerable uncertainty" about the $600-million budget and schedule. Plans
originally called for it to be completed in 2010, but the contractor has
suggested 2011 is more realistic. A realignment was suggested by Strabag AG, the
Austrian company hired by OPG to build the tunnel. Original plans called for the
tunnel to run north-south, a bit west of Stanley Avenue.
"We have decided to change the horizontal alignment. "We will enter into a
curve a little bit sooner," said Ernst Gschnitzer, Strabag's project manager.
The new alignment will put the tunnel "more or less under Stanley Avenue," he
said. "There is a slight cost advantage. There is an advantage in flow capacity.
The tunnel can deliver slightly more water, once it's in service."
Recent excavation has occurred at about seven meters a day. At that rate, a
200-metre short-cut would save about 28 construction days. Strabag also plans to
change the vertical alignment of the tunnel - the point at which the tunnel will
begin rising toward the surface from its lowest point. Tunneling is taking
place 140 meters (459 feet) below the surface to get underneath the St. David's
Gorge. The vertical re-alignment has been approved, but not formalized,
Gschnitzer said.
Both OPG and Strabag say they believe the pace will quicken now Big Becky has
advanced past the troublesome rock conditions of the buried gorge.
It was at the 2,812-metre mark as of Friday (August 22nd), Gschnitzer said.
That's a little more than one-quarter of the length of the entire tunnel.
Ontario Power Generation and Strabag have discussed how to improve the pace.
OPG and Strabag are working through a dispute-resolution process to determine
which company will be responsible for additional costs resulting from the delay.
Strabag has said the rock conditions aren't what the company expected based on a
geological report prepared by OPG. A three-member panel held a hearing June 23
and is expected to make a recommendation by the end of September. "The
schedule delay and the issues currently being considered by the dispute review
board could impact the project cost," OPG's report states.
August 27th 2008 -
The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is 2862 meters (9,390 feet) into the 10.4 kilometer tunnel
with continuous roof-line over break of 1.5 meters. Progress is averaging 8
meters per day.
October 2nd 2008 -
The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is 3,131 meters (10,5073 feet) into the 10.4 kilometer tunnel
with continuous roof-line over break of 1.5 to 2.5 meters. Progress is averaging
8 meters per day.
October 20th 2008 -
As a result of an agreement between Strabag and OPG, the tunnel boring machine
has begun altering it's course from the original planned path. The new alignment
will basically follow a north-south route under the existing Stanley Avenue. The
former path followed an alignment underneath the existing twin tunnels west of
Stanley Avenue. This former alignment required the TBM to maintain a greater
depth to create a safe buffer from the tunnels above.
The Queenston shale continues to be a great source of over-break causing lengthy
delays. As the cutting head bores into the rock face, a large amount of
unsupported roof shale is collapsing onto the TBM. This causes the stopping of
the TBM until the fallen rock debris is removed and the roof stabilized. With
the St. David's buried gorge behind them, the rock conditions were hopefully
expected to improve: have not. Strabag and OPG have agreed to change the
trajectory of the TBM in an upward movement until the TBM reaches a more stable
rock strata of Whirlpool Sandstone. Final approval of the change in trajectory
of the TBM by OPG is further slowing progress.
The tunneling is stopped for a six week maintenance period. The tunnel is 3,200
meters in length.
December 2008 -
The Invert Concrete Formwork Bridge has been walked into position. The first two
bays have been lined with the waterproofing membrane and the first concrete pour
is scheduled for Friday December 12th 2008.
The Invert Concrete Formwork Bridge (right) is used
to apply inner tunnel membranes (left) before concrete is applied
December 4th 2008 -
The annual
St. Barbara Day celebration is held. No significant injuries have been reported
during the past two years of tunneling.
December 10th 2008 -
The TBM is at 3,222.76 meters (10,573 feet) with a continuous over-break of up
to 3.7 meters (12.14 feet).
December 30th 2008 -
The TBM is at 3,296.6 meters(10,815 feet)with a
continuous over-break of up to 3.7 meters (12.14 feet).The TBM is
gently ascending at a rate of 0.100% (rising one meter for every one kilometer).Rock over-break continues to prevent efficient tunneling progress.
Currently, the TBM is pushing (moving) forward at a rate of 0.8 meters
(80 centimeters) because of the heavy over-break rather than a usual push of up
to 1.5
meters (150 centimeters). Although the TBM is capable of pushes of 4 meters (400
centimeters) or more, it is restricted in order to allow the mining crews the
time to safely reinforce the roof line to prevent over-breaks and to prevent the
rock conveyor from becoming overloaded. Debris removal from the
roof line over-break causes much of the delay being experienced. The cutting
head of the TBM is 6 meters (19.6 feet) thick
After each push (movement)
forward the TBM is halted to allow mining crews to clear the rock debris from
the roof line over-break, apply reinforcement rebar and steel joists which are bolted
into the ceiling. Ten holes are drilled into the support joist at regular
(80 centimeter) intervals and 4 meter long expansion rock bolts are inserted into each hole and
pressurized causing the bolts to expand in diameter to secure the roof line.
Each bolt is rated at 25 tonnes. The
final process involves spraying Shot Crete (concrete spray) over this entire
ceiling area. This process is repeated with each measured "push" of the TBM.
When the TBM
reaches 3,304 meters (10,840 feet), it will begin to ascend at a 7.15% gradient
(rising 7.15 meters every 100 meters) in
an effort to escape from the Queenston Shale strata to more predictable and
stable rock formation (Whirlpool Sandstone). The TBM will level out after rising
to a depth of 90 meters (295 feet) from the surface. It is hoped that this
maneuver will allow much less roof line over-break currently experienced.
At this depth the TBM will be at the same level of the existing twin tunnels
built under the city in the 1950's.
Miners working above the crown of the TBM cutter head
January 23rd 2009 -
The TBM is at 3,417.02 meters(11,210.5 feet)with a
continuous roof line over-break of up to 4 meters (13 feet).
The overland conveyor belt from the tunnel to the rock dump broke down on the
evening of January 22nd causing a temporary shutdown of mining operations until
600 meters of continuous loop conveyor belt is replaced.
Workers replacing the overland conveyor belt
January 26th 2009 -
The overland conveyor belt from the tunnel to the rock dump has been replaced
and mining has resumed.
February 5th 2009 -
The tunnel is 3473 meters long (11,394 feet) with a continuous roof line
over-break of up to 4 metres (13 feet). Progress is averaging 6 metres per day.
February 12th 2009 -
The tunnel is 3503.7 meters long (11,495 feet) with
continuous roof line over-break of up to 3.8 metres. Progress is averaging 6
metres per day. TBM has already begun ascent to the Whirlpool Sandstone rock
strata on a 7.150% gradient (rising 7.15 meters every 100 meters). The TBM will follow a route directly under Stanley
Avenue.
February 13th 2009 -
Progress rate reaches 8.2 meters. Average push is now 90
centimeters up from previous 80 centimeters.
February 23rd 2009 -
The tunnel is 3574.9 meters (11,728.5 feet) long with
continuous over-break of up to 4 meters. The progress rate is averaging 6
meters per day.
March 2nd 2009 -
The tunnel is 3618.6 meters (11,872 feet) long with
continuous over-break of up to 4 meters. The progress rate is averaging 5
meters per day.
March 12th 2009 -
The tunnel is 3693 meters (12,116 feet) long with
continuous over-break of up to 4 meters. The progress rate is averaging 5
meters per day.
March 22nd 2009 -
The Toronto Star Newspaper reported today the according to the OPG, the Niagara
Tunnel Project could be three years behind schedule.
Ontario Power
Generation confirmed today that its Niagara tunnel
project could be three years late in a worst-case
scenario, but the province-owned power producer denied
reports that the cost of the hydroelectric venture is at
risk of more than doubling. The tunnel is being built to
divert more water from Niagara Falls to the Adam Beck
power station, which will be able to generate enough
additional electricity to power 160,000 homes. But Big
Becky, the massive boring machine that's digging the
10-kilometre, 14-metre wide tunnel has run into some
dangerous rock conditions and is behind schedule. OPG
disclosed late last year that the project will be late
and over budget, but the details are still under review.
Global News, citing an interview with John Murphy, OPG's
executive vice-president of hydro, reported on Friday
that the project could cost $1.6 billion and be three
years late under a worst-case scenario. It also reported
the original cost estimate as $600 million. However, OPG
spokesperson Ted Gruetzner told the Star that the
original estimate was $985 million. He doesn't dispute
the $1.6 billion figure, just the suggestion it's more
than doubling the cost of the project. In reality it
would represent a 62 per cent increase.
Gruetzner also said it's unclear how much of that
additional costs, if any, will be borne by electricity
ratepayers. OPG is still negotiating its contract with
Strabag AG, the Austrian company leading the project. A
dispute review board is expected to determine who will
bear the cost or whether it should be shared between the
two parties.
"Once we do get the final timelines we'll announce
that," said Gruetzner, adding that the update could come
next month.
OPG says that even in a worst-case scenario the project
is still economical because the tunnel will deliver
clean electricity for more than 90 years. But critics
say the company should have known about the rock
conditions before committing to such a complex
engineering project.
March 23rd 2009 -
The tunnel is 3762.2 meters (12,342 feet) long with continuous over-break of up to 4 meters.
The progress rate is averaging 5 meters per day.
April 11th 2009 -
The tunnel is 3855.3 meters (12,648 feet) long with continuous over-break of up to
2.85 meters.
The progress rate is averaging 6 meters per day.
April 14th 2009 -
The tunnel is 3873.84 meters (12,709.2 feet) long with continuous over-break of up to
2.85 meters.
The progress rate is averaging 6 meters per day.
April 30th 2009 -
The tunnel is 4007 meters (13,146 feet) long with continuous over-break of up to
2 - 2.5 meters. The progress rate is averaging 7-8 meters per day. The TBM
has stopped ascending (39.778 meters - 130 feet) and has levelled it's trajectory. It was originally hoped
that the crown of the TBM cutter-head would be cutting into the Whirlpool
Sandstone rock strata while the lower portion of the cutter-head would continue
to mine in the Queenston Shale rock strata. It appears at this point that the
TBM remains approximately 2 meters below the Whirlpool Sandstone and for the
time being continues to mine entirely within the Queenston Shale layer. The
over-break has been significantly reduced.
May 3rd 2009 -
The average push of the TBM is now 1 meter (up
from a previous average 80 centimeters). Over-break continues
at 2 to 2.5 meters.
The Invert Concrete Formwork Bridge has
poured approximately 350 meters of finished concrete tunnel lining. It is
progressing at a rate of approximately 62.5 meters per week with an estimated
rate of 100 meters per week in the near future.
To date approximately 700,000
cubic meters of rock debris have been mined from the tunnel.
May 9th 2009 -
The tunnel is 4067.9 meters (13,346 feet) long with continuous over-break of up
to 2.85 meters. The progress rate is averaging 6 meters per day.
The average push of the TBM is now 1-2 meters (up
from a previous average 80 centimeters). Over-break continues
at 2 to 2.8 meters. The TBM had been halted for the past three days to allow for
the expansion of the rock conveyor system.
The TBM has begun to ascend another
1.50 meters (5 feet) over a distance of approximately 150 meters . When it levels out after this brief climb, it will
continue to mine entirely within the Queenston Shale strata however the
over-break will be significantly reduced. The TBM will be approximately 80 centimeters below the Whirlpool Sandstone strata.
The Invert Concrete Formwork Bridge has
poured approximately another 100 meters of finished concrete tunnel lining
during the past week.
May 19th 2009 -
The tunnel is 4148.0 meters (13,609 feet) long with continuous over-break of up
to 2 to 2.5 meters. The progress rate is averaging 7-8 meters per day.
The average push of the TBM is now 1-2 meters (up
from a previous average 80 centimeters).
May 22nd 2009 -
Ontario Power Generation has released information in its first quarter financial
report of 2009 that the cost of the Niagara Tunnel project has risen from
the original project cost estimated at $985 million with a
scheduled completion of June 2010 to the revised project cost estimated at $1.6
billion and the revised scheduled completion by December 2013.
May 23rd 2009 -
The TBM is now pushing forward at a rate of 1.2 to 1.6 meters and is averaging
6-7 meters per day. The over-break above the crown of the TBM cutter-head is
approximately 2 - 2.5 meters. The crown of the tunnel has become much flatter in
appearance as the TBM nears the bottom layers of the Whirlpool Sandstone. The
TBM has levelled out after an ascent of 10 meters (33 feet). On the current
trajectory, the TBM will climb at a grade of 0.010% (10 centimeters for every 1
kilometer).
The Invert Concrete Formwork Bridge
advancing at a rate of 100 meters per week as it lines the bottom portion of
tunnel with finished concrete.
May 27 2009 -
The tunnel is 4230.9 meters (13,881 feet) long with continuous over-break of up
to 2 to 2.5 meters. The TBM is now pushing forward at a rate of 1.2 to 1.6 meters
and is averaging 6-7 meters per day.
June
1st 2009 -
The tunnel is 4245 meters (13,927 feet) long with continuous over-break of 1.4 meters
but decreasing. The TBM is now pushing forward at a rate of 1.2 to 1.6 meters
and is averaging 10 meters per day.
June
11th 2009 -
The tunnel is 4348.9 meters (14,268 feet) long with continuous over-break of 1.4 meters
but decreasing. The TBM is now pushing forward at a rate of 1.2 to 1.6 meters
and is averaging 10 meters per day.
June
13th 2009 -
The TBM is halfway into a one meter (3.28 feet) ascent. Roofline over-break above the
crown of the TBM cutter-head is 60 centimeters and lessening as the climb to a
higher elevation towards the Whirlpool Sandstone strata continues. The TBM is
now progressing at a rate of 13 meters per day with each push forward averaging
1.1 meters.
Since beginning it's journey the TBM
has been in operation more than twenty-two thousand (22,000) hours.
The Invert Concrete Formwork Bridge has
poured approximately 750 meters of finished concrete tunnel lining to the bottom
portion of the tunnel.
June
21st 2009 -
The tunnel is 4459.6 meters (14,631 feet) long with continuous over-break of 60
centimeters and decreasing. The TBM is now pushing forward at a rate of 1.1 to 1.2 meters
and is averaging 13 meters per day. The TBM has levelled it's trajectory and is
moving forward at near maximum capacity. The crown of the TBM cutter-head
will soon begin mining into the much more stable Whirlpool Sandstone above.
The Whirlpool Sandstone rock strata is
quite narrow averaging 4 to 7 meters in thickness and the entire rock strata
drops in elevation the farther south the TBM progresses.
The Invert Tunnel Concrete Lining is
1050 meters long and is
averaging 100 meters per week.
June
30th 2009 -
The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) has
mined a record best of 323 meters (1,060 feet) during the month of June.
July 1st 2009 -
The tunnel is 4568 meters (14,986 feet) long with no roof line over-break. The TBM is
mining forward at near maximum capacity. The crown of the TBM cutter-head is mining in the much more stable Whirlpool Sandstone
rock strata.
July 5th 2009 -
The TBM sets a single day mining record of
21.1 meters (69.2 feet) and a single shift mining record of 14 meters (46
feet). There is no roof line over-break.
July 6th 2009 -
The tunnel is 4656 meters (15,275 feet) long with
no roof line over-break. The TBM is
mining forward at near maximum capacity. The crown of the TBM cutter-head is mining into the much more stable Whirlpool Sandstone rock strata.
The current elevation is approximately 97.5 meters (319.8 feet) below the
surface.
The TBM pushes approximately a meter at a time before
being required to stop to re-grip as the TBM moves forward. With no over-break,
the process of reinforcing of the roof with rebar, steel joists and expansion
bolts are done virtually simultaneous as the TBM cutter-head is engaged. The
only limitation is the amount of debris the rock conveyor can handle and the
speed of the mucking operations under the TBM behind the cutter-head.
The cutter-head of the TBM crown is now clearly mining
into the Whirlpool Sandstone. The sandstone rock occasionally cracks with sounds
similar to that of thunder as it is mined. The vibration aboard the
TBM is much more intense.
The Invert Tunnel Concrete Lining is
approximately 1400 meters long and is
averaging 100 meters per week.
Fresh air into the tunnel is now being channelled through
the five existing dewatering shafts from the surface to the tunnel. The
dewatering shafts are
located near the 1400 meter mark and at the deepest portion of the tunnel (140
meters/459 feet) .
Previously the fresh air had been channelled from the tunnel entrance.
The crown of the TBM Cutter head - July 7th 2009
the crown is mining into the Whirlpool Sandstone with no roof line
over-break
July
14th 2009 -
The tunnel is 4795.3 meters (15,732 feet) long with
zero to .80 centimeter roof line over-break. The TBM is
averaging 15 meters per day. The Invert Concrete poured to date is 1,375 meters
(4,511 feet).
July
18th 2009 -
The TBM had been inoperative for the previous several
days for maintenance updates. It began operations again and completed 20 meters
by the end of the day. Over-break is minimal. The TBM is partially mining
through the much more abrasive Whirlpool Sandstone. The replacement of cutter
discs has become daily with one or two being replaced regularly. Previously
while mining the Queenston Shale, the replacement of a cutter discs once or
twice a month was typical.
July
20th 2009 -
The tunnel is 4862.1 (15,952 feet) long with zero to
.80 centimeter roof line over-break. The TBM is averaging 20 meters per day.
July
27th 2009 -
The tunnel is 4961.3 meters (16,227 feet) long with zero to
.80 centimeter roof line over-break. The TBM is averaging 20 meters per day.
The Invert Concrete is 1,450 meters (4,757 feet).
July
29th 2009 -
The TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) reached the 5000
meter (16,404 feet) milestone at 2:08 p.m.
August 4th 2009 -
The TBM reached the 5,079 meter official halfway milestone of the Niagara
Tunnel Project at 02:30 hours (2:30 a.m.).
August 6th 2009 -
The tunnel is 5115 meters (16,781 feet) long with zero to
.80 centimeter roof line over-break. The TBM is averaging 19 meters per day.
The Invert Concrete is 1,500 meters (4,921 feet).
August
15th 2009 -
The tunnel is 5199.50 meters (17,058 feet) long. The TBM is
averaging 11 meters per day. The crown of the
TBM cutter-head has begun mining the bottom of the Power Glen rock strata within
the last 30 meters (100 feet) or so and it's coasting just above the centre of
the shield. The roofline is horizontal on the left side with over-break down to
the end of the shield. The Whirlpool Sandstone/Queenston Shale contact is
currently about a meter above the spring-line, so thickness of Whirlpool
Sandstone is about 6.2 - 6.3 metres (20.3-20.6 feet) in thickness. Elevation is
89.633 meters (294 feet).
August
18th 2009 -
The tunnel is 5239.0 meters (17,188 feet) long. The TBM is
averaging 20 meters per day.
August
22nd 2009 -
The tunnel is 5289.48 meters (17,354 feet) long at an
elevation below the surface of 89.775 meters (294.5 meters). The TBM is
averaging 12.63 meters per day. The over-break has returned. It is approximately
1.7 meters (5.6 feet) in that top left corner of the flat ceiling and about 1
meter (3.2 feet) above the centreline. Apparently the same type of rock
over-break was similar as the TBM descended at the beginning of the tunnel
boring process at a chainage of about 0+650 (2,132.5 feet). The over-break is in
the bottom of the Power Glen Rock Strata Formation. The Power Glen Formation
grades upward from shale to a sandstone, so the over-break should lessen as the
TBM ascends up through this strata and into the Grimsby Formation.
August
31st 2009 -
Contrary to the projection, the tunnel over-break has increased to 3 meters (10 feet) and
as a result the TBM is progressing at a daily rate of 5-6 meters per day.
September 3rd 2009 -
The tunnel is 5370 meters (17,621 feet) long at an elevation
below the surface of 89 meters (292 feet). The tunnel over-break has increased to
2.5 meters (8.2 feet) and
as a result the TBM is progressing at a daily rate of 5-7 meters per day.
The Invert Concrete Bridge is 1,925 meters
(6,315.5 feet).
September 9th 2009 -
The tunnel is 5404.2 meters (17,730 feet) long at an elevation
below the surface of 89 meters (292 feet). The tunnel over-break has increased to
3.5 meters (9.8 feet) and
as a result the TBM is progressing at a daily rate of 5-7 meters per day.
The Invert Concrete Bridge is 2,000 meters
(6,561.6 feet).
September 11th 2009 -
The tunnel is 5418 meters (17,775 feet) long at an elevation
below the surface of 89 meters (292.5 feet). The tunnel over-break is
3.5 meters (9.8 feet) and
as a result the TBM is progressing at a daily rate of 5-7 meters per day. Mining
has been halted following a fall of ground at 3,600 meters. The clearing of
debris and repairs to the effected area as well as a scheduled six week shut
down for maintenance of the TBM will precede continuation of mining.
Niagara Falls Review:
Work on the Niagara Tunnel Project has
resumed after a small portion of the temporary lining and Queenston shale fell
at the construction site Friday morning. The material that fell was enough to
fill a few dump trucks, said Ernst Gschnitzer of Strabag, the contractor on the
Niagara Tunnel Project.
No one was injured, as on-site workers escaped from the tunnel safely using what
a company press release described as well-rehearsed procedures.
"When this type of event does occur in tunnel and mining projects, safety is our
top priority so we'll make every effort to find out what happened and make sure
it doesn't happen again," said Gschnitzer.
The incident happened about two kilometres behind the current location of the
tunnel-boring machine nicknamed Big Becky, in an area that experienced some of
the most severe "overbreak" during the digging. A realignment of the tunnel route moved Big Becky to more stable rock conditions
and the project has been making progress, having recently moved past the halfway
mark of the 10.2-kilometre tunnel.
Gschnitzer said work is continuing on the first 3.5 kilometres of the tunnel and
intake structure, and that a six-week maintenance outage that was scheduled to
start at the end of the month was moved up and started Friday.
Strabag engineers are working with staff from the Ontario Ministry of Labour to
determine the cause of the event and how best to move forward.
September 12th 2009 -
Niagara Falls Review:
Work on the Niagara Tunnel Project has
resumed after a small portion of the temporary lining and Queenston shale fell
at the construction site Friday morning.
The material that fell was enough to fill a few dump trucks, said Ernst
Gschnitzer of Strabag, the contractor on the Niagara Tunnel Project.No one was injured, as onsite workers escaped from the tunnel safely using what
a company press release described as well-rehearsed procedures.
"When this type of event does occur in tunnel and mining projects, safety is our
top priority so we'll make every effort to find out what happened and make sure
it doesn't happen again," said Gschnitzer.
The incident happened about two kilometres behind the current location of the
tunnel-boring machine nicknamed Big Becky, in an area that experienced some of
the most severe "overbreak" during the digging.
Gschnitzer said work is continuing on the first 3.5 kilometres of the tunnel and
intake structure, and that a six-week maintenance outage that was scheduled to
start at the end of the month was moved up and started Friday.
Strabag engineers are working with staff from the Ontario Ministry of Labour to
determine the cause of the event and how best to move forward.
Strabag is building the Niagara tunnel for Ontario Power Generation.
October 7th 2009 -
Niagara This Week: reporter Bill Robinson
There will be no more tunnelling under
the city’s streets until the contractor makes repairs to a portion of the Big
Becky tunnel that collapsed early last month.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour issued a stop work order to Strabag, the
German-based company contracted for the Niagara Tunnel Project, after a collapse
occurred on September 11th 2009. Bruce Skeaff, spokesman for the Ministry of
Labour, said no work can be done beyond the 3,500-metre mark of the tunnel,
where the collapse occurred, until deemed safe by the ministry.
“We have stop work orders in place, so no more tunnelling can go on while the
employer continues to repair the tunnel,” Skeaff said. “Drilling is halted until
the repairs are done and quality assessments have been completed. We’ve got
engineers working with the employer to make sure that everything is done
properly and up to our standards.”
Strabag issued a statement after the collapse, saying “a small portion of the
temporary tunnel lining and Queenston shale fell.” No workers were injured
during the collapse.
Project manager Ernst Gschnitzer said this type of collapse is not uncommon, and
occurred about two kilometres behind the present location of “Big Becky,” the
tunnel boring machine.
“While this type of event does occur in tunnel and mining projects, safety is
our top priority so we’ll make every effort to find out what happened and make
sure it doesn’t happen again,” Gschnitzer said, adding the amount of material
that fell “would fill a few dump trucks.”
The collapse caused Strabag to prematurely begin a six-week maintenance
operation that had originally been scheduled to take place the end of September.
As a result, the company laid off about 100 workers, Gschnitzer said.
“Obviously, we have some temporary layoffs,” he said. “We’re working behind
schedule but we hope to be up and running in about a month.”
Gschnitzer said while drilling has halted, work and repairs are still being done
inside the tunnel, which is now 5,418 metres long, and that Big Becky is
currently under Stanley Avenue, near Valley Way, undergoing maintenance.
Completion of the 10-kilometre tunnel, which will add enough electricity to
power a city twice the size of Niagara Falls by allowing more water to the Sir
Adam Beck generating stations in Queenston, was pushed back to some time in 2010
instead of late 2009 as originally planned.
Strabag ran into problems drilling through Queenston Shale. The cost of creating
the tunnel has more than doubled from an estimated $985 million to $1.6 billion.
In a previous interview with Niagara This Week, John Earl, a spokesperson for
Ontario Power Generation, said there are stipulations built into the contract
that will protect the province, and taxpayers, from any cost overruns as well as
incentives for Strabag to complete the project on schedule.
November 1st 2009 -
Scheduled maintenance of TBM is in progress. The Invert
Concrete Bridge is 2,640 meters (8,661 feet).
November 13th 2009 -
Niagara Falls Review: reporter Corey Laroque
Tunnel work back on track after September cave-in causes
delay, OPG says
Mining to resume after planned outage ends in December
Work resumed this week on the Niagara Tunnel Project after it
was stopped in Sept following the collapse of rock from the ceiling of the
tunnel, Ontario Power Generation announced in an update on the project. It means
about 368 workers are back on the job and a full complement of 398 will be
working again some time in December when full-scale excavation resumes, said OPG
spokesman Ted Gruetzner.
"They're expected to be back up and running again in December," Gruetzner said.
Work had been disrupted since Sept. 11 when there was a collapse of rock from a
25-metre section of the tunnel's ceiling. It occurred about two kilometres into
the tunnel, more than three kilometres behind the spot where the tunnel-boring
machine, nicknamed Big Becky, is cutting into the rock face.
Big Becky was about 5.4 kilometres into the tunnel when the collapse occurred.
No one was injured as workers followed what Strabag's project manager Ernst
Gschnitzer called a "well-rehearsed" evacuation. Ontario's Ministry of Labour
ordered a halt to the digging until the debris rock could be removed and the
tunnel ceiling reinforced for worker safety.
The delay is not expected to affect the tunnel's 2013 target for completion.
The Niagara Tunnel Project is OPG's $1.6-billion construction of a third tunnel
to bring more water to the Sir Adam Beck hydroelectric generators. Over-break
had been an ongoing problem for the first three years of the digging because
loose Queenston shale in the St. David's gorge area fell in.
Strabag AG, the Austrian mining company hired by OPG to dig a 10-kilometre
tunnel under the city of Niagara Falls, had scheduled a planned outage on its
tunnel-boring machine for October. They moved the start of that outage up to
coincide with the cave-in. Planned outages are scheduled periodically to do
maintenance work on the tunnel-boring machine and on other equipment used in the
excavation process.
When the rock fell in on Sept. 11th, no one could get past the debris and Big
Becky was left unattended. That debris has been removed and wire mesh is being
installed on the roof and shotcrete, a rough form of concrete is sprayed over
top to give the tunnel a rough shape.
Both OPG and Strabag say they're committed to worker safety. There have been no
significant injuries since work began in 2006.
November 19th 2009 -
Tunnel Talk Magazine: reporter Paula Wallis
Repairs are complete following a 25m3 rock fall
in the tunnel but planned maintenance keeps the mega TBM idle on Niagara's water
diversion tunnel some two months after the partial collapse. Meanwhile, in an
interview with Tunnel Talk yesterday (November19), the contractor says the root
cause of the collapse stems from early geotechnical investigations. Section of
high over-break in crown of tunnel - "The crown fall happened in a area
surrounding a 20-year old bore hole," said Ernst Gschnitzer, Project Manager
for Strabag. "The hole had a long time to deteriorate and eventually the
ground gave way."
Gschnitzer said it took some time to make the repairs in part because the
contractor had to build up a ramp to reach the crown and the over-break. "We
used standard means and methods employed throughout excavation to repair the
crown, including 6m (20 ft) rock-bolts and 6m (20 ft) IBO bolts plus wire
reinforced shotcrete," said Gschnitzer. "We will also increase rock supports
in areas of known previously drilled bore holes and we have also grouted all
these old bore holes." Gschnitzer said the bore hole in question hadn't grouted
at the time it was encountered, but has been subsequently.
The partial collapse came just as the TBM was moving into more competent ground
and achieving higher progress rates. About 25m3 (100 tonnes) of
temporary lining and Queenston Shale fell from the crown on September 11th 2009.
According to the owner, Ontario Power Generation, no one was injured in the
collapse and all of the workers left the tunnel safely, following established
emergency procedures. The fall occurred about 2 km (1.2 miles) behind the TBM,
and some 3,600 meters (2.2 miles) into the 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) long ,14.4
meter (47ft) diameter tunnel, in an area that experienced some of the most
severe over-break to date.
It happened on the new alignment in 80 meters (262 ft) of overburden and beyond
the immensely challenging section under the St David's Gorge that cancelled out
the original completion schedule and cost estimate of the contract. The revised
schedule agreed to as part of the realignment. The original project cost was
estimated at $985 million with a scheduled completion of June 2010. The revised
project cost estimate is $1.6 billion and the revised schedule completion date
is December 2013. The contract includes revised incentives and penalties tied to
the new target cost and schedule.
A six-week maintenance outage planned for the end of September on the Robbins
TBM was moved forward and combined with the crown repairs. "After 5.4km (3.4
miles), partially in very abrasive rock, the bucket lift scrapers were worn out,
so we have some major refurbishment on the cutter-head and we are also making
repairs to the conveyor system, trucks and trailers and other equipment,"
said Gschnitzer.
Meanwhile installation of the concrete lining is
progressing ahead of the revised schedule. Before the stoppage, ground
conditions had improved markedly following a change in the vertical alignment
that was initiated late last year. Progress rates jumped to a high of 468m
(1,535ft) for the month of July. "That was excellent, and confirmed that
changing the alignment was the right decision," said Gschnitzer. "Since
then rates have deteriorated a little to about 8m-10m/day (26ft-32ft), but not
to the extent of what we experienced in the Queenston Shale, and we expect
decent progress rates once we resume excavations in about two weeks."
Repairs to the crown were completed at the end of October and Gschnitzer says
the TBM repairs will be completed shortly, with excavation resuming in early
December.
December 4th 2009 -
The annual
St. Barbara Day celebration is held. No significant injuries have been reported
during the past three years of tunneling.
December 8th 2009 -
TBM mining has resumed.
December 20th 2009 -
The tunnel is 5454.9 meters (17,897 feet) long at an elevation
below the surface of 89 meters (292 feet). The tunnel over-break is 3 meters (9.8 feet).
The Invert Concrete Bridge is at 3,300 meters
(10,827 feet).
The Shotcrete Over-break Carrier is at
500 meters.
December 31st 2009 -
At the end of 2009, the tunnel is 5480.7 meters (17,981
feet) long at an elevation below the surface of 88 meters (289 feet).
The tunnel over-break is 3.4 meters (11.15 feet).
January 10th 2010 -
The tunnel is 5541.2 meters (18,179.5 feet) long at an
elevation below the surface of 89 meters (292 feet).
The tunnel over-break is 3.4 meters (11.15 feet).
The Invert Concrete Bridge is at 3,475 meters (11,401 feet).
The Shotcrete Over-break Carrier is at 551 meters (1,808 feet).
A 300 meter section of the conveyor belt was torn causing
a shut down of TBM production. The conveyor section was damaged as a result of a
rock piercing the belt as it dropped onto the conveyor from the TBM. The damaged
conveyor belt section caused the TBM to remain idle until it was replaced.
January 13th 2010 -
The TBM resumes mining following a three day delay while a
section of conveyor belt was replaced.
January 27th 2010 -
The tunnel is 5,711 meters (18,737 feet) long at an elevation
below the surface of 89 meters (292 feet). The crown of the TBM cutter-head is
mining into the silt/sandy Power Glen rock strata.
There is no tunnel over-break. The TBM is currently averaging 18.5 meters per
day. The Invert Concrete Bridge is at 3,725 meters (12,221 feet).
The Overbreak Restoration Carrier is at 900 meters (2,953 feet)
February 4th 2010 -
The tunnel is 5,757.2 meters long at an elevation below the
surface of 89 meters. There is no tunnel over-break. The TBM averaging 18.5
meters per day.
The Concrete Invert Bridge is at 3,850 meters.
The Restoration Carrier: Grinding is at 1,040 meters/ Shotcrete is at 800 meters
The rock-pit at the base of the intake tunnel entrance is nearing
completion - July 7th 2009
The Niagara Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) will approach the
water intake at the International Water Control Dam in a line of approach that follows a path to the river
which differs from the existing tunnels (under Dufferin Islands and Rapids Drive).
The TBM will reach the Niagara River by following a path from
the Fallsview tourist district and under Niagara
Parks Commission land between the east of the Canadian Niagara Power Station and
west of the former Toronto Power Station
reaching the river west of Dufferin Islands.
The intake complex will consist of
a submerged bell-mouth structure in the Niagara River beneath gate #1 of the existing International Water Control Dam and an underwater approach channel
excavated in the riverbed. The intake structure will include a portal with
space for sectional gates (stop-blocks) for closure of the tunnel when the need to dewater the
tunnel is required. The existing weir of the ice acceleration channel extending
up river from the control dam will be removed from between gates
3 and 4 and moved further outwards from shore between gates 4 and 5.
The Grout Gallery is an underground tunnel that will
be blasted through the bedrock underneath the Water Control Dam Structure at Gate
#1 extending approximately 400 meters (1,312 feet) downriver ending near Dufferin
Islands. The tunnel will have a downward slope to end at a maximum depth of approximately 45
meters (147.6 feet). This tunnel will have a diameter of 7 meters (23 feet) in height
and 8 meters (26 feet) in width and 403 meters (1,322 feet) in length. The floor
and walls are straight (flat) with an arched ceiling. It is at this
terminus that the TBM will meet up to the Grout Gallery and end
its long journey.
The
Intake Grout Tunnel is the entrance portal for water flowing
into the new Niagara Tunnel after its completion. As the
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) concludes boring the tunnel it
will ascend to the surface along the Grout Tunnel. In a
sense, the Grout Tunnel acts as the glide path for
the emerging Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). The diagram on the
left gives the realistic perspective of the size of the
Grout Tunnel in comparison to the TBM.
The most important
aspect of the Grout Tunnel was to allow a 360° high pressure
grout injection into all the rock cracks and crevices to
form a 26 meter diameter waterproof curtain to protect the
tunnel from flooding from the river above as the TBM
surfaces.
The Grout Tunnel was built using the
drill and blast method. Four large 3
meter deep expansion holes were drilled
near the lower middle of the rock face.
The remainder of the rock face had 3
meter deep blast holes drilled
approximately every 80 centimeters
apart.
The holes with the exception of the
expansion holes were packed with
explosives and detonated in a diamond
pattern so that the blast would expand
toward the expansion holes
resulting in a controlled explosion.
Every blast would expand the tunnel
another 3 meters. The blasting was
restricted to day time hours only as not
to disturb nearby neighbourhoods.
September 2007 -
A large area 61 meters (200 feet) by 122 meters (400 feet) upriver surrounding gate #1 has been enclosed
by a cofferdam consisting of concrete, pile driven sheet of steel, grout and
rock. The area has been dewatered and is being prepared for rock blasting. The
blasting will enable the construction of a 45 meter (147 feet) deep shaft and shaping of
the
intake approach to be created in the bedrock. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) will
intersect this shaft and end at this location .
An intake structure will be created to allow water
to access the new tunnel at a flow rate of approximately 4-7 feet per second
(slow enough to prevent a surface vortex) and allow the flow of surface
water through the renewed functioning of gate #1.
January 2008 -
At
the intake area, blasting and excavating of the entrance channel is well underway.
To date, the access channel is approximately 122 meters (144 feet) long and
approximately 18 meters (60 feet) wide. It is located in the dewatered area
located upriver of the Water Control Dam Gate #1.
This channel has been blasted and carved into the
river bedrock consisting primarily of dolostone and limestone. Holes are drilled
into the bedrock and then packed with explosives. The area to be detonated is
covered with thick and heavy blast mats. After ensuring all workers and others
are at a safe distance, the explosives are detonated. The rock debris is then
removed by being loaded onto large trucks and taken a short distance where it is
dumped. The rock is then placed into an onsite rock crusher which reduces the
debris into highway grade stone. At night the crushed stone is trucked from the
construction site to the Queen Elizabeth Highway expansion project currently
underway between the cities of St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.
On average, there have been two explosive detonations daily followed by a
lengthy clearing period. The explosions occur only between the hours of 8 a.m.
and 6 p.m. during weekdays with few exceptions. Each explosion is strictly
controlled to ensure there is no collateral damage to the existing Water Control
Dam Structure and to any nearby residences. There are three seismic devices
strategically located surrounding the blast area to record the strength of each
blast to ensure each is within the acceptable limits set by project engineers.
The depth of this access channel is approximately 30
meters (100 feet) deep and has reached the location of the dam structure. At
this location, the access channel is below the level of the dam structure.
Work is now being done on the third blasting bench. The entrance hole that is
known as the "grout gallery" will not be commenced until later this year.
October
20th 2008 -
The construction of the Grout Gallery Tunnel
is well underway. It is approximately 47 metres (154 feet) long. Construction of this
tunnel is being done so by an old and proven method: with the use of controlled
explosives. Following an explosion that tears away a portion of the tunnel face,
the debris is removed and the tunnel prepared for the next blast. The rock
debris is being crushed on site and is being trucked from the site to other road
building construction sites in Niagara. The rock face of the tunnel is prepared
by drilling a series of holes
December 10th 2008 -
The intake Grout Gallery Tunnel is 120 meters (394 feet) in length.
January
25th 2009 -
The intake Grout Gallery Tunnel is 146 meters (479 feet) in length.
February
25th 2009 -
The intake Grout Gallery Tunnel is 197.3 meters (647.3 feet) in length.
March 23rd 2009 -
The intake Grout Gallery Tunnel is 245 meters (804 feet) in length.
April 11th 2009 -
The intake Grout Gallery Tunnel is 285 meters (935 feet) in length.
April 17th 2009 -
The intake Grout Gallery Tunnel is 298.3 meters (978.6 feet) in length. The
Grout Tunnel will not be extended beyond this length. No further
blasting is expected to take place. Strabag has determined that the Grout Tunnel
is currently of sufficient length and depth to satisfy their requirements.
April 30th 2009 -
Clean up of the site continues. Dufferin Construction is preparing to continue
construction on the entrance to the Grout Tunnel. This construction includes the
building the water intake and a rock trap (an area where rock debris will
collect before being drawn into the tunnel when water is flowing into it).
July 7th 2009 -
Dufferin Construction is nearing completion of the rock trap at the entrance of
the grout tunnel intake (where rock debris will
collect before being drawn into the tunnel when water is flowing into it). The
rock pit is located just below the main entrance to the grout tunnel as been
constructed from the drill and blast method followed by a mucking operation to
clear the site of rock. Only one more blasting operation was required to finish
this portion of the construction. Construction will soon begin on the structure
of the main tunnel entrance.
The concrete tunnel outlet structure will be located will
be located at the Sir Adam Beck Pump/Generating Station. The outlet canal will
be 350 meters (1148.28 feet) long - 23 meters (75.46 feet) wide and 35 meters
(114.83 feet) deep. This new outlet will be connected to the
current feeder canal leading to the water reservoir from the hydro feeder canal. A lift type closure gate
will permit the new tunnel to be closed in the event of an emergency.
August 2007 -
Cleanup
of the tunnel outlet has begun. The rock walls at starting point of the tunnel
boring machine near the tunnel entrance will be scaled and a bell shaped outlet
containing a hydraulic steel closure gate will be constructed. The gate will
allow the flow of the water to be stopped in the event of an emergency.
December 2008 -
The Invert Concrete Formwork Bridge has been walked into position. The first two
bays have been lined with the waterproofing membrane and the first concrete pour
is scheduled for Friday December 12th 2008. The finished inner concrete surface
will be 500 - 600 millimetres thick.
January 25th 2009 -
Work is in progressing in preparing the outlet for concrete pouring in order to
transition the round shaped tunnel into the rectangular outlet shape.
The Niagara River is 35 miles (59 km)
long and runs in a north-south direction from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It is
an International Boundary between Canada and USA. The average flow of the river
is estimated at 6,000 cubic meters per second (211,887 cubic feet per second).
The Niagara River Water Diversion Treaty between Canada
and the United States concerning the uses of the waters of the Niagara River was
signed on February 27th 1950 and came into force October 10th 1950. Its purpose is to preserve and enhance the scenic
beauty of Niagara Falls and the Niagara River, while providing for the most
beneficial use of the river waters.
Limitations on the amount of water diverted from the
Niagara River for power generation purposes initially established by the
Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 were terminated and replaced by the 1950 treaty.
Temporary diversion agreements for power generation in 1941 and 1948 agreements
between the two Governments were rescinded.
The Niagara River Water Treaty of 1950 established new
limitations of water diversion for power generation.
The amount of water available for diversion under the
provisions of the latest treaty was specified to include:
1. the total outflow from Lake Erie through the Welland
Canal
2. the total outflow from lake Erie through the Niagara
River (including the Black Rock Canal)
3. not to include the amount of water used and necessary
for domestic/sanitary purposes and for the canals for navigation purposes.
In order to preserve the scenic beauty of the Falls, the
Niagara River Water Diversion Treaty of 1950 stipulated that no water diversions
for power generation would be allowed that would reduce the flow of water over
Niagara Falls as follows:
no less than 100,000 cubic
feet of water per second (cf/s) From April 1st to September 15th
(inclusive) between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
no less than 100,000 cubic
feet of water per second (cf/s) from September 16th to October 31st
(inclusive) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
no less than 50,000 cubic
feet of water per second (cf/s) from November 1st to March 31st
(inclusive)
The specified rates of water flow over the
Falls (listed above) are mandatory minimums. All water specified in this Treaty in excess
of water reserved for scenic purposes may be diverted for power purposes.
On April 17th 1973, the governments agreed to use Eastern
Daylight Savings Time as the basis of interpreting the hours specified by
section IV of the treaty.
Under the terms of this treaty all excess waters available
for water diversion for power generation shall be divided equally between Canada
and the United States. An exception allows Canada to divert an additional 5,000
cubic feet of water per second from the Welland Canal or the Niagara River by a
1940 government agreement pertaining to the downstream use of waters from
Canada's Long Lac and Ogoki water diversions into the Great Lakes. These water
diversions are specifically excluded from the waters allocated in the Niagara
River Water Diversion Treaty of 1950.
The Niagara River Water Diversion Treaty
came into force upon the date of the exchange of ratifications [Oct. 10, 1950]
and continues in force for a period of fifty (50) years and thereafter until one
(1) year from the day on which either party shall give notice to the other party
of its intention of terminating the Treaty.
The 1950 Treaty stipulated: "Until such
time as there are facilities in the territory of one party to use its full share
of the diversions of water for power purposes agreed upon in this Treaty, the
other party may use the portion of that share for the use of which facilities
are not available".
In order to best utilize the water available for
diversion, the New York State Power Authority and Ontario Power Generation
signed an agreement on January 19th 1965 to share generation capacity. Both
power companies have rented available power generating capacity from each other
to maximize utilization of their respective shares of water available for power
production. Original ownership of the water shares has been maintained. This
agreement allows each company to minimize the costs of equipment outages and to
provide for the handling of ice problems. In simple terms, when Ontario Power
Generation (OPG) - Sir Adam Beck Power Stations (Canada) has surplus water
shares available for diversion and no extra generation capacity, they rent the
generation capacity available at New York State Power Authority (NYSPA) - Robert
Moses Power Station for power generation. The power generated is for the use of
Ontario Power Generation. This agreement is reciprocal and NYSPA does the same
with their surplus water share.
The power companies of both countries continue to upgrade
their power generators to increase power capacity however their respective
abilities to draw water are limited by not only the terms of this treaty but
their capacity to draw available waters (refer below).
POWER STATION
INTAKE CAPACITY
Power Station Name
Cubic Feet Per Second
Robert Moses Generating Station (NYSPA)
109,000
Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations (OPG)
64,400
DeCew Falls Generating Station (OPG)
8,000
Canadian Niagara Power (Fortis)- Rankine Generating
Station - not producing
35
Ontario Power Generation has a combined water drawing
capacity of 72,400 cubic feet per second (includes DeCew Falls Generating
Station). At present, New York State Power Authority - Robert Moses Generating
Station has a water drawing advantage of approximately 36,600 cubic feet per
second.
There are occasions when power generation is reduced below
actual capacity at times of low water flow rates in order to maintain the treaty
minimal flow over the Falls.
There are occasions when the amount of water in the
Niagara River available for diversion exceeds the ability of the power stations to draw this excess. Ontario
Power Generation and the Ontario Government are currently studying methods upon
which to increase their water share drawing capacity in order to increase power
generation capacity.
"...The
two countries share the water for power production as per Article
VI. This amount, of course, depends on the river flow which changes
constantly. When the level of Lake Erie, and its corresponding
outflow, is low, there may not be sufficient water available for
maximum power generation.....in either country. On the other hand,
when the opposite is true i.e. high lake levels and river flows the
amount of water available for power production exceeds
generation/diversion capacity and water will be "spilled" over the
Falls (in other words in amounts greater than the required Falls
flow minimum).
A
program of unit upgrades at both Ontario Power Generation's Sir Adam
Beck and the New York Power Authority's Robert Moses Niagara Power
Project, begun in the 1990s and due for completion in the next
couple of years has been increasing this generation/discharge
capacity. While the tunnels on the U.S. side are capable of
handling their diversions, in all but the most extreme case (short
term storm events which can result in very high flow conditions), a
new OPG tunnel or tunnels and additional generating station would
increase the frequency of maximum water diversion for power
generation on the Canadian side..."
Len Falkiner, Secretary, International Niagara Board
of Control (IJC)
ONTARIO POWER
GENERATION
SIR ADAM BECK HYDRO-ELECTRIC GENERATING STATIONS - NIAGARA GROUP
CAPACITY TABLE - NIAGARA RIVER
DIVERSION
The megawatt (symbol: MW) is a unit for measuring power equal to one
million (106) watts.
The gigawatt (symbol: GW) is a unit for measuring power equal to one
billion (109) watts.
Ontario Power Generation
Inc. (“OPG” or the “Company”) reported its financial and operating results for
the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2007. Net income for the
three months ended September 30, 2007 was $113 million compared to net income of
$167 million for the same period in 2006. For the nine months ended September
30, 2007, net income was $409 million compared to $509 million for the same
period last year.
The report stated in part:
Niagara Tunnel
The Niagara tunnel project
will increase the amount of water flowing to existing turbines at OPG’s Sir Adam
Beck generating stations in Niagara Falls, allowing the stations to utilize
available water more effectively. Upon the completion of the 10.4 km tunnel, the
average annual generation from the Sir Adam Beck generating stations is expected
to increase by approximately 1.6 TWh.
At September 30, 2007, the
tunnel boring machine had advanced 1,028 meters. The progress of the tunnel
boring machine by the design-build contractor through a fractured rock formation
has been slower than expected. As a result, the contractor’s forecast completion
date has been delayed from late 2009.
Considerable uncertainty
remains with respect to the schedule until the tunnel boring machine advances
sufficiently beyond the St. David’s Gorge to approximately 2,300 meters and
establishes consistent tunneling performance. Potential deviation from the
original project completion schedule approved by OPG’s Board of Directors of
June 2010 will be assessed at that point.
The contract structure puts
the onus on the contractor to mitigate schedule delays, including liquidated
damages provisions for failure to meet the contractual in-service date. The
project is still expected to be completed within the budgeted cost estimate of
$985 million.
The capital project
expenditures for the three months ended September 30, 2007 were $10 million and
life-to-date capital expenditures were $281 million. The project is debt
financed through the Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation (“OEFC”).
OPG negotiated an agreement
with the OEFC to finance the Niagara Tunnel project for up to $1 billion over
the duration of the project. The funding is advanced in the form of 10-year
notes, on commercial terms and conditions. Advances under this facility
commenced in October 2006, and amounted to $240 million as at September 30,
2007.
May 23rd 2008 -
Ontario Power Generation
Inc. (“OPG” or the “Company”) reported its financial and operating results for
the first quarter for the three months ended March 31st 2008. Net income for the
first quarter of 2008 was $162 million compared to net income of $171 million for the same period in 2007.
The report stated in part:
Niagara Tunnel
At March 31, 2008, the boring machine for the Niagara
tunnel had advanced 1,848 meters. Considerable uncertainty remains with respect
to the schedule until the tunnel boring machine has advanced beyond the St.
David’s gorge to
approximately 2,300 meters, and establishes consistent tunneling performance.
The project cost estimate of $985 million will be
reviewed in conjunction with any changes to the project completion schedule, and
a dispute resolution process to review, among other things, the actual
subsurface rock conditions compared to those that were anticipated as part of
the design-build contract.
At March 31, 2008, the tunnel boring machine had advanced 1,848 meters. The
progress of the tunnel boring machine by the design-build contractor continues
to be slower than expected through the rock conditions encountered under the St.
David’s gorge. Based on the information provided by the contractor, the
in-service date of the tunnel will be delayed.
To mitigate the impact of the schedule delay, the
contractor is investigating alternatives, including realignment of a portion of
the tunnel. The estimated in-service date will be dependent on the alternative
selected by the contractor. Considerable uncertainty remains with respect to the
schedule for any of the contractor’s alternatives until the tunnel boring
machine has advanced beyond the St. David’s gorge to approximately 2,300 meters,
and establishes
consistent tunneling performance.
The contract structure places the onus on the
contractor to mitigate schedule delays, and includes liquidated damages
provisions for failure to meet the contractual in-service date. There is a
potential that the schedule delay could impact the project cost. The project
cost estimate of $985 million will be reviewed in conjunction with any changes
to the project completion schedule and a dispute resolution process to review,
among other things, the actual subsurface rock conditions compared to those that
were anticipated as part of the design-build contract, which is scheduled for
June 2008.
The capital project expenditures for the three months
ended March 31, 2008 were $23 million and life-to date capital expenditures were
$326 million. The project is debt financed through the Ontario Electricity
Financial Corporation (“OEFC”).
OPG negotiated an agreement with the OEFC to finance the Niagara Tunnel
project for up to $1 billion over the duration of the project. The funding is
advanced in the form of 10-year notes, on commercial terms and conditions.
Advances under this facility commenced in October 2006, and amounted to $280
million as at March 31, 2008, including $40 million of new borrowing during the
first quarter of 2008.
August 22nd 2008 -
Ontario Power Generation
Inc. (“OPG” or the “Company”) reported its financial and operating results for
the second quarter for the three months ended June 30th 2008. Net income for the
second quarter of 2008 was $99 million compared to net income of $125 million for the same period in 2007. Net
income for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $261 million compared to $296
million for the same period in 2007.
The report stated in part:
Niagara Tunnel
At June 30, 2008, the boring machine for the Niagara tunnel had advanced 2,399
meters. The contractor previously advised OPG that due to excavation
difficulties under the St. David's gorge, the in-service date of the tunnel will
be delayed. To mitigate the impact of the schedule delay, the contractor
continues to pursue
alternatives including realignment of a portion of the tunnel. The project cost
estimate of $985 million will be reviewed in conjunction with any changes to the
project completion schedule and the issues being considered in the ongoing
dispute resolution process that is primarily focused on whether the actual
subsurface rock conditions differ from the baseline established within the
design-build contract.
November 21st 2008 -
Ontario Power Generation
Inc. (“OPG” or the “Company”) reported its financial and operating results for
the third quarter for the three months ended September 30th 2008. Net income
loss for the third quarter of 2008 was $142 million compared to net income loss of $113 million for the same period in 2007. Net
income loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $119 million compared to $409
million for the same period in 2007.
The report stated in part:
Niagara Tunnel
At September 30, 2008, the boring machine for the Niagara tunnel had advanced
3,124 metres. The contractor previously advised OPG that due to excavation
difficulties under the St. David’s gorge, the in-service date of the tunnel will
be delayed. The contractor continues to pursue alternatives, including
realignment of a portion of the tunnel. A dispute review hearing process was
initiated to review, among other things, the actual subsurface conditions
compared to those that were anticipated as part of the design build contract.
OPG and the contractor are using
the recommendations from the Dispute Review Board as a basis for negotiating
revisions to the contract, which are expected to have a significant impact on
project cost and schedule. The negotiations are expected to be completed in the
first quarter of 2009.
February 13th 2009 -
Ontario Power Generation Inc. ("OPG" or the "Company")
today reported its financial and operating results for the year ended December
31, 2008. Net income for the year was $88 million compared to net income of $528
million for the year ended December 31, 2007.
The report stated in part:
Niagara Tunnel
At December 31, 2008, the boring machine for the Niagara
tunnel had advanced to 3,306 metres. Progress continues to be slower than
expected in the Queenston shale formation, primarily due to excessive over-break
in the tunnel crown. To minimize further excavation in the Queenston shale, a
change in the vertical alignment has been initiated. Non-binding recommendations
issued by the Dispute Review Board in August 2008 are the basis of current
negotiations between OPG and the contractor to revise the design build contract.
The negotiations are targeted for completion in the first quarter of 2009, and
are expected to have a significant impact on the project cost estimate and the
completion schedule. These revisions are expected to have a significant impact
on the project completion schedule and the cost estimate. The negotiations are
underway and are targeted for completion in the first quarter of 2009.
Uncertainties will continue with respect to cost and schedule.
The capital project expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $132
million and life-to-date capital expenditures were $435 million. The project is
debt financed through the OEFC.
May 22nd 2009 -
Ontario Power Generation
Inc. (“OPG” or the “Company”) reported its financial and operating results for
the first quarter for the three months ended March 31st 2009. Net loss
for the first quarter of 2009 was $9 million compared to net income of $162
million for the same period in 2008.
The report stated in part:
Niagara Tunnel
With respect to the Niagara tunnel project, at March
31, 2009, the tunnel boring machine had advanced to 3,794 metres, which
represents 37 percent of the tunnel length. It is now operating on a revised
alignment that will minimize remaining excavation in the Queenston shale
formation. OPG and the contractor are renegotiating the design build contract
with a revised target cost and schedule. The contract includes incentives
related to achieving the target cost and schedule. The original project cost was
estimated at $985 million with a scheduled completion of June 2010, as approved
by OPG’s Board of Directors. The revised project cost is estimated at $1.6
billion and the revised schedule targets completion by December 2013. This
contract is expected to be finalized during the second quarter of 2009.
August 14th 2009 -
Ontario Power Generation
Inc. (“OPG” or the “Company”) reported its financial and operating results for
the second quarter for the three months ended June 30th 2009. Net profits
for the second quarter of 2009 was $306 million compared to net income of $99
million for the same period in 2008.
The report stated in part:
Niagara Tunnel
With respect to the Niagara tunnel project, at June
30, 2009, the tunnel boring machine had advanced to 4,568 metres, which
represents 45 percent of the tunnel length. Progress of the tunnel boring
machine has improved following realignment of the tunnel to reduce over-break
and minimize the remaining excavation in the Queenston shale formation. The
installation of the tunnel concrete lining is progressing well and is ahead of
the revised schedule. OPG and the contractor renegotiated the design-build
contract with a revised target cost and schedule. The target cost and schedule
take into account the difficult rock conditions encountered and the concurrent
tunnel excavation and liner installation work required for completion of the
tunnel. The contract includes incentives and disincentives related to achieving
the target cost and schedule. The original project cost was estimated at $985
million with a scheduled completion of June 2010. The revised project cost
estimate is $1.6 billion and the revised schedule completion date is December
2013.
November 20th 2009 -
Ontario Power Generation
Inc. (“OPG” or the “Company”) reported its financial and operating results for
the third quarter for the three months ended Septembe 30th 2009. Net income for
the third quarter of 2009 was $259 million compared to a net loss of $142
million in the third quarter of 2008. Net income for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009 was $556 million compared to $119 million for the same period
in 2008.
The report stated in part:
Niagara Tunnel
The Niagara
tunnel boring machine (“TBM”) had advanced 5,418 metres as of September 30,
2009. The TBM reached the milestone of completing 50 percent of the tunnel
excavation on August 4, 2009. The advancement of the TBM has been temporarily
interrupted since September 11, 2009 to reinforce a short section of the
temporary tunnel liner that failed about 1,800 metres behind the current
location of the TBM. Installation of the permanent tunnel concrete lining is
progressing well and is ahead of the revised schedule. Restoration of the
circular cross-section of the tunnel before installation of the upper two-thirds
of the concrete lining began, as planned, in September 2009.
