The first TBM for the Grand Paris Express heading to its worksite
In connection with the works on section T3C of Line 15 South of the Grand Paris Express – awarded to VINCI Construction (VINCI Construction Grands Projets, leader, VINCI Construction France, Dodin Campenon Bernard and Botte Fondations) and Spie Batignolles – the first S-1119 earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine (external diameter: about 10 m) is to leave the plant of manufacturer Herrenknecht, in Germany, and head for the worksite.
The first component will arrive in mid-September 2018, and the tunnelling westwards, starting out from the Parc Robespierre shaft (92), should begin early in 2019. A second TBM will be needed to drive the 8.2 km of tunnel of the same works package between the Fort d’Issy – Vanves – Clamart and Villejuif – Louis Aragon stations.