Surface Water Supply Project—Segment B3 Long Tunnel— Houston, TX - NAT2024

The Surface Water Supply Project Segment B3 is a 4 miles section of tunnel that will run East- West in Houston TX, from Hopper St to I-45. The tunnel will be mined by using a 128" Dia refurbished 1987 Lovat Tunnel Boring Machine capable of operating in Open or EPB mode. The tunnel will be temporarily supported with ribs and lagging and a 96" Dia pipe will be grouted into place. All four miles of this project are within Petroleum Pipeline Easements. The project includes seven shafts, 2000' of tunnel in potentially petroleum contaminated ground, crossing the Hardy Toll 􀀵d, I-45, the 􀀸nion Paci􀂿c 􀀵ailroad 􀀵ight of Way and multiple oil and gas pipeline crossings. This paper summarizes the planning and drive performed to date.