Rail, highway and transit tunnels all feature in Sandwell's tunnel engineering portfolio. We have provided feasibility studies, conceptual, preliminary and detailed design for immersed tube and cut-and-cover tunnels in British Columbia, Ontario and Baltimore, Maryland.
Our industrial assignments have included coal conveyor tunnels in Canada and Colombia, and designs for projects as diverse as a particle accelerator and submerged oil storage facilities. Infrastructure projects include storm and sanitary sewers, water intake/outfall and watermain projects. For rapid transit, Sandwell has designed stations, pedestrian subways, elevated guideways, substations and underground services.
Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Vancouver, British Columbia
Cut-and-cover highway tunnel
For this intersection of the Trans Canada Highway, Sandwell designed a six-lane tunnel 720 meters long. We provided civil and structural engineering of the main tunnel section, portals and control buildings, internal and external finishes, ventilation and other mechanical systems, and lighting and controls.
B.C. Transit, Vancouver, British Columbia
Transit tunnel realignment
The downtown section of the Vancouver regional rapid transit system uses a single-line rail tunnel built in 1931. Lowering the tunnel invert to increase the height enabled the inbound and outbound ALRT lines to be stacked one above the other. A realignment of the tunnel at the eastern end required a complete, underground break-out section, twin-bored tunnels and a twin reinforced concrete box tunnel section.
Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto, Ontario
Cut-and-cover transit tunnels
Sandwell designed two sections of the Spadina Subway York University extension project. Computerized modeling assisted in evaluating the suitability of several possible construction techniques and methodologies in meeting particular project needs.
