The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) 1, known as Al Wugeisha 1, has completed over 80 per cent of its first drive between Union Square and Burjuman for the Dubai Metro project.

This was announced by the Rail Agency of the Roads and Transport Authority.

'TBM 1 is to tunnel a distance of 1,479 m towards Burjuman Station, which is currently under construction, and should breakthrough the Burjuman reinforced concrete wall sometime around mid-August. So far the TBM has completed over 1203 m of tunnelling with 802 out of 986 rings being placed,' said director of Rail Projects Construction Adnan Al Hammadi.

'TBM 2 is to tunnel a distance of 2261 m to City Centre via Al Rigga. Currently, TBM 2 is over 50 per cent on the way to Al Rigga (from Union Square) with 320 of the total 633 rings being placed to date making the tunnel 480 meters long,' he said.

Tunnel construction on the Green Line is yet to start. The tunnel section is over 6 km and runs between Salah Al Din and Burjuman passing through Union Square, Baniyas Square, Palm Deira, Al Ras and Al Gubaiba stations.- TradeArabia News Service