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 Back to Projects
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Project:
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Utilidor Tunnel Shafts, First Avenue Bridge
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Location:
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Seattle, Washington
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Client:
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Frank Coluccio Construction Company
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Description:
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Ground freezing was used for stabilization of two, 100-foot shafts on opposite banks of the
Duwamish River. A seven-foot diameter tunnel was then constructed for water utilities. The
loose, running sands, and absence of an impermeable base warranted a deep frozen earth wall,
penetrating one hundred feet below the invert of both shafts.
This project demonstrated the ability of ground freezing to be used in saline waters influenced
by tidal fluctuations. On this particular project, the tunnel construction finished ahead of
schedule and before the excavation and construction of the receiving shaft on the north side of
the river. To accommodate this unanticipated condition, several new techniques were implemented.
The freeze pipes within the tunnel alignment were warmed with boiling water and then pulled up
to permit the entry of the tunnel boring machine into the frozen earth shaft. Once the TBM was
inside the shaft, a series of freeze pipes were installed radially from inside the tunnel to seal
the frozen earth to the tunnel lining.Liquid nitrogen was used inside the tunnel to form this seal
within 12 hours. Shaft excavation then commenced, the TBM was removed, and the final concrete
liner installed.
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