By Lynda Myer
In order to commencing the tunneling process on Oslo’s New Water Supply project by AF Ghella JV, in previous week the Herrenknecht TBM with 1350-tonne weight has been assembled in a mountain hall in Stubberud in the Norwegian capital and was named Laila in a ceremony. It is named after Laila Schou Nilsen, one of Norway’s most prominent and versatile athletes. Nilsen, who lived from 1919-1998, was a world-class speed skater, participated in car racing and was Norwegian champion in alpine skiing, tennis, and handball. She participated in the Rally Monte Carlo four times and won five unofficial Norwegian Championships in driving skills.
Responsibility of building an 11km tunnel to the water treatment plant at Huseby will be up to AF Ghella JV, while the E6 contract also includes the construction of four large rock caverns, two clean water basins, a pumping station and a ventilation station.
As the main artery for the distribution of reserve water to Oslo, the determined date for inauguration of this new facility is January 1, 2028.
Additionally, for excavating the 19km tunnel from Holsfjord to the new underground water treatment plant at Huseby, Skanska Norway, which has the E5 contract, commissioned two 5.2m diameter Herrenknecht TBMs in April 2023.
Providing water supply security through a new clean water tunnel from Holsfjord, west of the capital, and the underground treatment plant at Huseby, the water project is a major undertaking by the City of Oslo Municipality and currently a single water source and one treatment plant supply around 90% of the capital.
