By rosebell
The 6.39m-diameter machine has passed the future Gara Băneasa station as it progresses on the 6.6km twin-tunnel section between 1 Mai and Tokyo.
The southern section is being delivered for Metrorex by the Alsim Alarko–Makyol JV, which was awarded the contract in March 2022. It includes six stations at 1 Mai, Pajura, Expoziției, Băneasa, Washington and Tokyo.Line 6 will eventually comprise 14.2km of twin tunnels and 12 new stations, extending from Gara de Nord to Henri Coandă International Airport.
Since launching in April 2025, the TERRATEC machine has encountered mixed sand, clay, silt and gravel, together with a shallow groundwater table and overburden reducing to around 10m in places.
One of the more challenging sections took the TBM beneath Herăstrău Lake, passing within 2.5m of an adjacent tunnel and close to the foundations of a bridge dating from the 1930s. Face pressure was closely controlled during the crossing to minimise ground movement.
TERRATEC field engineers have supported the TBM during the drive, including a cutterhead inspection and tool change. Disc cutters were replaced with rippers to accommodate changing ground conditions.
The JV is preparing for increased groundwater flows during the remaining tunnelling, with additional pressurised air introduced at the cutterhead to help control water ingress.Towards the end of the drive, the TBM will pass within approximately 3.5m of the existing M4 tunnels as it approaches 1 Mai station, with ground improvement planned for the close-proximity crossing.
Civil works on the southern section are scheduled for completion in 2027, while the complete Line 6 route to Henri Coandă International Airport is targeted to open in 2028.
