Quality Control of Deep Bedrock Tunneling in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Louisville MSD’s Ohio River Tunnel - NAT2024

In June 2022, Louisville MSD completed a 6.5-km (4.0-mi), 6.1-m (20-ft.) diameter CSO conveyance and storage tunnel system located along the Ohio River in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. For large diameter shaft and tunnel construction, drill-and-blast operations among other methodologies were used in close proximity to federal, commercial, and residential properties with no impact to stakeholder infrastructure. 􀀤s one of the 􀂿rst ma􀁍or tunneling pro􀁍ects in Louisville􀂶s metropolitan area, this paper explores Black & Veatch􀂶s rigorous geotechnical instrumentation monitoring program that provided 􀁔uality assurance for local stakeholders and af􀂿rmed innovative tunneling solutions can be successfully executed in an urban setting.