How To Build Metro Fast | English Russia

Later this month, they plan to open a new metro station ‘Vystavochny Tsentr’ in Kiev. Let’s go find out how they’ve managed to build it at a record speed, in less than a year!

In the concourse.

So, a 120-meter long rotary machine works in the tunnel. Parallel to it, a more up-to-date ‘Herrenknecht’ and ‘Wirth’ tunnel-boring machines build two more tunnels.

In the photo: the ‘Herrenknecht’ tunnel-boring machine.

These baffles prevent ground from collapsing. On the left, you can see hoisting jacks set against the last ring installed, pushing the shield as the tunnel is being driven.

This is a rear view of the hand machine.

The tunnel consists of rings and each of the rings consists of 7 elements. Round rings are preferable for tunnel construction, while ‘square’ ones are used in above ground metro construction.

Ring parts.

2500 people work in the tunnel on a twenty-four-hour basis. This is the legendary ZIL-130 and it looks impressing on those wheels. The three ZILs which work here are used for concrete transportation.

‘Kiev Metro’.

They load concrete from the surface through special holes.

One of the most trivial questions metro builders face sounds as following, “Have you ever come across anything strange or unusual while working undergound?” However, the most unusual thing they had to deal with was “obstacles like reinforced concrete slabs which broke the machine”.

The main secret of unbelievably fast pace of construction is the fact that they built the cross over road before the station, but not after it. Construction works began in February, 2011.

In the picture: the cross over road.

To complete the tunnel construction in time, they built the station simultaneously with the concourse. By the time they open the tunnel, just one side of the station will work. During the rush hour, trains will come every 50 sec.

In the picture: ventillation installations.

At the station, they laid special ‘concrete cushions’ under the rails.

Coating the tunnel with concrete to later install rails.

It’s 7 a.m. but an inspection has already come to check the work done.

First plans on the metro construction appeared back in 1983 but at that time it was impossible to do due to the complexity of the area, so the building was frozen. And only in 2011, the project will be fulfilled.

The metro should be located underground in order not to cross communications and road intercharges. Preferable deapth of driving a tunnel is 12 meters underground.