We work through two portals
In the Primorsky Territory, between the settlements of Shkotovo and Smolyaninovo, large underground construction continues. Two new railway tunnels with a length of 1,420 and 1,450 linear meters will make it possible to bypass the existing Shkotovsky Pass and eliminate the need to use additional traction on this section of the Far Eastern Railway. The work is being carried out by MMC International, a subsidiary of Mosmetrostroy JSC.
The workers and specialists are behind the preparatory stage - arrangement of construction and industrial sites, removal of utilities from the local area and construction of access roads. Also, more than 80% of the portal excavations have been developed and sections of tunnels have been completed using open-pit mining.
Due to short deadlines, the construction of tunnels is carried out simultaneously from the western and eastern portals. At the moment, about 500 linear meters have been completed on both sides. Due to difficult engineering and geological conditions, excavation is carried out under the protection of advanced support (pipe screens) in three ledges.
In parallel with the excavation, with a lag behind the face, work is being carried out on the construction of a permanent finishing lining. To construct it on the vault and tunnels, self-propelled mechanized formwork is used, designed and manufactured specifically for this project. The design itself and the outline of the internal protection are unique. They were chosen because of the complex geology of the mountain range. At the end of January, more than 300 linear meters of permanent lining of the base and 50 meters of the roof and walls had been completed.
In essence, builders create a layer cake from a variety of materials: adhesive waterproofing polyvinyl chloride membrane, reinforcement frame and concrete.
The progress of work is greatly influenced by the weather. In winter, the Shkotovsky Pass is often covered by typhoons, when, in addition to sub-zero temperatures, there are also freezing rains and snowfalls. In such conditions, to ensure the proper quality of reinforced concrete structures, it is extremely important to comply with the temperature and humidity conditions, therefore all concrete work is carried out in heated greenhouses. In addition, bad weather has a negative impact on logistics and complicates the delivery of necessary materials and structures to the site.
Today, more than 750 people are involved in the creation of tunnels. Workers drawn from many regions of Russia work on a rotational basis. The drivers are local, knowledgeable about the features of the pass. The builders' arsenal includes mining excavators, tunnel boring machines, mixers, mobile hydraulic hammers, loading self-propelled guns and other “heavy” equipment.
This facility is part of a large-scale investment project: “Modernization of the railway infrastructure of the Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian railways with the development of throughput and carrying capacity,” which is under the control of the federal government and its head Mikhail Mishustin.