No. 01.

09 - January 2009 Infrastructure Projects

Sika at Work

Photo: AlpTransit Gotthard AG

Gotthard Railway Base Tunnel

Sections Bodio / Faido and Sedrun
Switzerland
Railway Tunnel
by Jürg Schlumpf, Sika Services AG

AlpTransit Gotthard is creating a flat rail link for future travel through the Alps. At the heart of the new transalpine rail route
is Gotthard Base Tunnel. With a length of 57 km, the world’s longest tunnel should become operational at the end of 2016.

Sika is involved in this project since more than 15 years. Already during
the design phase Sika’s engineers could provide valuable consultancy
services for the concrete and sprayed concrete systems as well as for
the complete waterproofing concept. Through an extremely complex
pre qualification procedure, Sika qualified for the supply of material
to the Gotthard project. Sika system solutions have been used since
1994 during the construction of the sounding tunnel and since the end
of 2002, Sika concrete admixtures, Sika-PM shotcrete systems, Aliva-
TBM robots and SikaPlan waterproofing concepts are being supplied to
numerous construction lots.
Sika Solutions
Sika® ViscoCrete® Superplasticiser
Sigunit® Shotcrete Accelerator
SikaTard® Long Time Retarder
Sika®-PM Shotcrete Spraying System
Aliva® TBM-Robotor
SikaPlan® Waterproofing Membrane
Sikacrete® Fire Protection Mortar

The high requirements from project and AlpTransit Gotthard Prequalification System
contractors have again and again lead 60
Flow table spread cm
to new innovative solutions, especially
Superplasticiser (HRWR)
Minimales Ausbreitmass
in the field of Sika ® ViscoCrete ® Guaranteed workabilityzur
forPumpbarkeit über (w/c
actual mix design
Durchmesser 100 mm
100 mratio)

technology to reach the required long 50

open times in combination with very

Hardening Accelerator (HBE) In Situ Concrete
high early strength requirements. Guaranteed early strength (5 N/mm 2 after 12 hours)
40
Setting Accelerator Sprayed Concrete
Guaranteed early strength (3 N/mm 2 after 4 hours)

30 Frühester Abbindebeginn
Stabilizer (ST)
für sicheres Pumpen nach Retarders (Ret)
6 Stunden Guaranteed Workability (pumpability) Guaranteed workability time (6 to 8 hours)

20

hours

10
0h

6h

12 h

18 h

24 h
1

10

14

16

20

22
Section 360 Sedrun
Characteristics and main Dimensions:
Two single-track tunnels at 40m centre distance
Diameter up to 13m
Length 2 x 7.5km
Emergency stop station Sedrun
Logistic shaft 800m deep

Tunnelling method:
Drill and Blast

Sections 554 Bodio & 452 Faido

Characteristics and main Dimensions:
Two single-track tunnels at 40m centre distance
Diameter 8.8m resp. 9.4m
Length 2 x 14.4km resp. 2 x 11.1km
Emergency stop station Faido

Tunnelling method:
2 rock TBM’s type Herrenknecht
 Picture: AlpTransit Gotthard AG

Section 360 Sedrun Sections 554 Bodio & 452 Faido

Main Contractor: Consortium ARGE TRANSCO
Implenia Bau AG, Aarau Switzerland
Frutiger AG, Thun Switzerland
Bilfinger Berger AG, Germany
Pizzarotti SA, Italy
Main Contractor: Consortio TAT:
Implenia Bau AG, Aarau Switzerland
Alpine Mayreder GmbH, Salzburg Austria
CSC Impresa Construzioni SA, Lugano Switzerland
Impregilo S.p.a. Sest S. Giovanni, Italiy
Hochtief AG, Essen Germany
© Sika Services AG / BU Concrete / Sika at Work / Infrastructure Projects / 07.10 / gho

Engineering Contractor:
EWE Electrowatt Engineering AG, Zürich Switzerland
Lombardi SA Ingegneri Consulenzi, Minusio Switzerland
Amberg Ingenieurbüro AG, Switzerland
Client:
AlpTransit Gotthard AG, Luzern Switzerland
Engineering Contractor:
EWE Electrowatt Engineering AG, Zürich Switzerland
Lombardi SA Ingegneri Consulenzi, Minusio Switzerland
Amberg Ingenieurbüro AG, Switzerland
Client:
AlpTransit Gotthard AG, Luzern Switzerland

Sika Services AG
Corporate Business Unit Concrete
Tüffenwies 16
CH-8048 Zürich
Switzerland
Phone +41 58 436 40 40
Fax +41 58 436 47 29
www.sika.com