А sod-turning ceremony by New Austrian Tunneling Method at underground station 18 in “Ovcha kupel” living area in Sofia

А sod-turning ceremony by New Austrian Tunneling Method at underground station 18 in “Ovcha kupel” living area in Sofia – part of Sofia third underground section, was done on 01.12.2018 by the team of “Trace Group Hold” Plc, managed by Dipl. Eng. Vladislav Petrov.
The ceremony was attended by Dipl. Eng. Dermendzhiev and Dipl. Eng. Angel Jorgov, Head of Investment activity, Metropolitan JSC, chairman of the Supervisory Board of “Trace Group Hold” Plc Prof. Nikolay Mihaylov, PhD (Econ), Dipl. Eng., CEO of the Holding company Dipl. Eng. Boyan Delchev, representatives of Trace's subsidiaries, designers, and supervisor’s representatives.

The entire central section of Sofia third metro diameter has been excavated through the so-called mechanized drive-in shields - it is suitable for long tunnels. But the tunnel at underground station 18 does not allow the usage of this method because of its specificity and length. Given this, the only method of underground implementation that can be performed is the New Austrian Tunneling Method. The method is much more labor-intensive and slower than other conventional methods. Its huge advantage is that it does not affect the adjoining infrastructure in any way. In this case, it goes under Sofia ring road and under a railway road - they both and the local engineering infrastructure remain intact, which saves considerable inconvenience for the citizens.

Meanwhile the works at the tunnel, the internal construction of the underground station 18 has been implemented. The work on the above-mentioned constructions goes on and should be completed in the spring of 2019.
A covered pedestrian crossing under the railway line (Sofia-Pernik-Radomir) and Sofia ring road connecting “Ovcha Kupel” living area with “Gorna Banya” district, the future railway station and underground station will be built. This solution is aimed at further facilitating the citizens.