Vítkov Tunnels, New Connection Project

12.11.2008

Vítkov Tunnels, “New Connection” Project

Prague Railway Network Innovation Including Related Investments

Investor:
České dráhy, s.o., Divize dopravních cest, o. z.
Stavební správa Praha

Contractor:
Association of Companies: Skanska CZ a.s., SSŽ a.s., Metrostav a.s., Subterra, a.s.
Tunnels: Metrostav a.s., Subterra a.s.

Designer:
SUDOP Praha, a.s.

Term of Construction:
Complete project: 2004 - 2009
Tunnels: 2004 – 2008 
Tunnels are in operation since September, 2008.

Technical Data:
New Connection is a transport line structure located in the urban area of the Capital City of Prague. The New Connection connects Prague Central Railway Station, Masaryk’s Railway Station, Libeň, Vysočany, and Holešovice Railway Stations (hereinafter referred to only as the New Connection). It is used for long-distance, suburban, and municipal passenger railway transport. The structure comprises railways, tunnels, bridges, roads, underground structures, noise control measures, traction lines, security equipment, demolitions, and utility networks.
The two Vítkov tunnels are double-track tunnels located under the ridge of Vítkov hill. The tunnels are 1,316 and 1,364 meters long respectively. From the total length of 2,680 meters, 280 meters have been designed as excavated tunnels. The tunnels were driven with horizontal division and with stope area varying between 95 and 110 square meters depending on actual technological classes. Tunnels were driven in Ordovician rocks which are characterized by fissured dark grey silty shales and local occurrence of quartzites and siliceous sandstones with tabular arrangement. No major sources of underground water were found. Final lining is made from monolithic reinforced concrete with the thickness between 30 and 35 cm (in the areas with invert); spacing of niches is 25 meters.