Corrib Tunnel awarded
In the course of the Tunnelling Awards 2015, the International Tunnelling Association (ITA), with its head office in Geneva, awarded the Corrib Tunnel project the prize for best environmental initiative of the year.
Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau, Tunnelling Division, built the 4.9 kilometer long tunnel under Scruwaddacon Bay in Ireland together with BAM Contractors. The tunnel has an inner diameter of 3.5 meters and was built for Shell E&P Ireland Limited. A gas pipeline as well as further components for the regulation of gas extraction were built into this tunnel, following which the tunnel was backfilled.
Originally, it was planned to run the gas pipeline above ground along the edge of the bay. However, to minimize the impact both on the environment and on the inhabitants, Shell decided in favour of the tunnel solution. Even during site installation, greatest possible attention was paid to the protection of the environment; e.g. with regard to limited heights, colours chosen and especially measures for the protection of birds.
In the final round, Corrib managed to win against the projects “Eisack Underpass”, part of the Brenner Base Tunnel and the overground conveyor system of Metro Doha. Dr. Klaus Rieker, Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau, was handed the award in the experimental tunnel Hagerbach in Switzerland on November 19.
