SEAL AND GASKET CONTRACT WIN FOR SWEDISH IMMERSED ROAD TUNNEL

By Andre de Graaf, Sales Manager Infrastructure for Trelleborg’s engineered products operation

I am delighted to reveal that we have been awarded the contract to supply gaskets and seals for the construction of the new Marieholmstunneln – a road tunnel in Göteborg, Sweden, which will use immersed and cut-and-cover techniques.

At nearly 500 meters long and 20 meters deep, the tunnel will run under the Göta Älv River. We were specified by Züblin Scandinavia AB and dredging and marine experts, Boskalis B.V, due to our previous successful collaboration and the proven high stability, flexibility and low aging behavior of our tunnel seal.

Our Gina and Omega seals will be used between the sectional elements of the immersed tunnel and waterstops at the construction joints, to prevent water ingress due to external water pressure. The seals provide the highest level of sealing performance while also transferring any hydrostatic loads and movements between the tunnel ends due to soil settlement, creep of concrete, temperature effects.

The tunnel is being constructed for Trafikverket, the Swedish traffic authority and aims to improve traffic congestion in Göteborg by bypassing the motorway tunnel for the E6, E45 and E20 routes. The road tunnel will have three lanes in each direction and will be constructed with two ‘tubes’ for traffic in and out of the tunnel, and a separate service tunnel that will be accessible from both ways.

Construction began in the first half of 2016 and is due for completion in October 2020.