Caldecott Tunnel

Some pics of my recent trip over to Caldecott. Some people ask what I do, aside from regulating explosives, I also inspect underground mines and tunnels for safety violations. Not too many people get to go underground, and even less get to see a huge tunneling project from inside the underground workings. The pic of me standing is the center of the the tunnel ~2400' from each opening. There is about 140' of mountain over my head. The tunnel is holed through, and the lining operation is now underway. There are some state of the art processes and machines used to do this, and very few have ever seen the process outside of the industry. Thought some of you may enjoy the pics.

Interesting job you got there Rich!

Rey

gets you out from behind a desk, that's for sure
nice

That's pretty cool, Rich.

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Way cool, Rich - so the first picture - (number 8 on the attach) looks like new concrete in the foreground with what: a mobile slip-form crawler in the back ground? Is the crete pumped in or shot on with gunnite? Id love to hear some more about it!

John

Sure, the tunnel was carved out with a continuous mining machine, and then shotcrete was sprayed on, in 2 inch flash coat, then 6" shell, during excavation. Now that the tunnel is through the mountain, they have a trolley system on rail, and they apply the yellow waterproofing. Then a gantry follows on the rail and the rebar is placed. Then, a specially designed final liner machine rolls in on rail. It forms in a segment, and pressurized injection of concrete fills the form. Then, the next step is utilities, and then pavement. 2014, you will have four tunnels through on hwy 24, that will do nothing for commute traffic, what-so-ever. If there happens to be heavy reverse commute traffic, it will help that, but will do nothing for commuters going to Oakland.

dude some of you guys here got kickass jobs,on the other hand my job kicks my ass

You're an MSHA inspector?