Experience gained from drilling the first tunnel tube T-1 on the S19 route
The rapid development of road infrastructure in Poland, including the construction of the Via Carpatia route, necessitates the construction of tunnel structures under complex geological and engineering conditions. A notable example is the T-1 tunnel on the S19 expressway. The structure is being built in Carpathian flysch, characterized by high lithological variability, the presence of tectonic disturbances, and complex hydrogeological conditions.
The presentation will analyze the formal and legal conditions for the project’s implementation in the context of the Geological and Mining Law and the Construction Law. These issues will be linked to the practical aspects of tunnel construction. The speaker will pay particular attention to the relationships between the assessment of geotechnical conditions, the identification of natural hazards, and the selection of tunneling technology using a TBM. The analysis will refer to the conditions of the Carpathian flysch in the vicinity of the T-1 tunnel.
The expert will discuss the problems encountered during the excavation of the T1 tunnel, taking into account, among other things, the variability of geological and engineering conditions, the impact of tectonics on the excavation process, and the wear of cutting tools. He will also present the necessity of continuously adapting the machine’s operational parameters. Natural hazards and their impact on work safety and the continuity of the tunneling process will be analyzed in the context of risk management in underground construction. Key lessons learned from the excavation of the T-1 tunnel will be identified. Based on this, recommendations will be formulated regarding the conduct of tunneling work in Carpathian flysch conditions.
His scientific and research interests include the application of numerical methods to issues of stability of engineering structures, slopes, tunnels, underground structures, and mining excavations. Former Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management at AGH University of Science and Technology (2016-24). Since 2016, he has been President of the International Organizing Committee of the World Mining Congress (IOC WMC). He is a member of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) and the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). Professor Marek Cała’s scientific achievements include over 200 publications, consisting of books, monographs, articles in journals, and conference materials. Marek Cała is also the author and co-author of over 400 studies, expert reports, and opinions commissioned by domestic and foreign companies.