7.2 km line in Narlıdere Metro laid its foundation by İZMİR Metropolitan Municipality to be covered by excavating 20 meters/day with 2 tunneling machines called “TBM”. Thanks to the giant vehicles having their installation last 40 day and 100 meters long and the deep tunneling technique to be implemented, city traffic and daily life will be affected by the minimum level of subway construction.

Izmir's rail network extending 180 kilometers continues to grow. İzmir Metropolitan municipality adds a new ring to its rail system investments continued for 14 years. The construction of the F. Altay-Narlıdere line, whose foundation was laid down in June, and the tender price was 1 billion 27 million TL, is in progress. 7.2 kilometer line to be covered with deep tunnel with 2 ea. TBM (tunnel boring machine). With thanks to TBMs, possible traffic, social life and infrastructure problems shall also be minimized. With the machines called “underground monster” in the industry daily 20 meters to be covered in Narlıdere tunnel. At the end of the construction process planned for 42 months, Narlıdere metro line shall compromise 7 stations Balçova, Çağdaş, Dokuz Eylül University Hospital, Faculty of Fine Arts (GSF), Narlıdere, Siteler and Kaymakamlık.

INSTALLATION LASTS 40 DAYS

Due to its ability to prevent unwanted underground movements, quieter, flicker-free and faster operation TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) as the choice of Narlıdere Metro is a 85 m long vehicle. TBM used for excavating gigantic tunnels on one hand excavates and on the other hand extracts stone and soil by separating with a conveyor band and at the same time places tunnel’s concrete slabs.

Each TBM with a weight of approximately 600 tons completed its installation in 40 days with a team of 15 people advances 10 meter/day in the tunnel. The 100-meter-long 6.6-meter-wide vehicle works as a full-surface excavator always moves forward. While excavating with the disc cutters in front of it, it continues its operation without leaving the direction it should dig with the laser system. In the meantime, the hydraulic system in the housing section of the machine supports the excavation with a system known as the ring and creates a temporary tunnel. While the cutting process continues for 360 degrees, excavated material is filled into a hopper and removed out of the body by the conveyor belt. Then the tunnel is stabilized by using techniques such as rock screw and shotcrete.

One of 2 TBMs to be used for Metrol construction in İzmir Metropolitan Municipality was brought to site and its installation studies began. It was reported that the other machine will be brought to city soon afterwards.

INITIAL TARGET 250 KILOMETERS FOR RAIL SYSTEM

As a result of investments made by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality İZBAN 136 reached to kilometers and İzmir Metro reached to 20 kilometers. The length of the rail system in İzmir, with a total of 23 kilometers of Karşıyaka and Konak trams commissioned, reached 179 kilometers.

İzmir Metropolitan Major Aziz Kocaoğlu reminding that they took the road with 11 kilometers rail system in 2004, reported that "With İzmir Metro and İZBAN’s new extension projects and tram investments our rail system line in İzmir will cruise in 250 kilometers with 120 station until 2020. By this way, rail systems in our City will grow 23 folds."

İZBAN's Bergama line, also by commissioning Buca and Narlıdere connections in Metro, total rail system network in İzmir would reach to 250 kilometers.

Source: Hürriyet – “underground monster” will excavate Narlıdere Metro