- After this new breakthrough, the machine will continue boring, passing through six more stations before reaching its final destination, the future São Joaquim station.
The southern tunnel boring machine - named Maria Leopoldina - working on the construction of Line 6 of the São Paulo metro, in Brazil, reached its fourth stop on the route, Perdizes station, on Friday, September 29.
The work of this tunnel boring machine, with a diameter of 10.6 meters and a weight of 2,000 tons, will connect the Perdizes station with other ventilation shafts and future stations on the metro line. The machine will now continue its journey along the southern section to the next station, PUC-Cardoso de Almeida.
The TBM is operated by a team of 50 workers, divided into three shifts. It is equipped with a canteen, a nurse’s cabin, a control cabin, auxiliary equipment and a conveyor belt for the more efficient and sustainable removal of excavated material.
“We have reached another important milestone in this project, which is considered the largest infrastructure and urban mobility project in Latin America. This major project is progressing successfully thanks to the commitment of a dedicated team with experience in works of this magnitude,” said Jaime Juraszek, CEO of Lihna Uni.
To reach the Perdizes station, the TBM has already advanced 3,500 meters underground and installed approximately 1,650 rings. Maria Leopoldina will continue boring, passing through six more stations before reaching its final destination, the future São Joaquim station.
São Paulo Metro Line 6
Line 6 of the São Paulo Metro will connect the Brasilândia neighborhoods in the north with São Joaquim station in the center of the city, serving more than 630,000 passengers per day.
With the opening of this new line, the travel time on this route, which today takes about one and a half hours by bus, will be reduced to just 23 minutes.
This initiative, which represents an investment of more than 1.285 billion euros, is the largest infrastructure initiative currently underway in Latin America.
The project is being developed as a public-private partnership (PPP) between the Government of the State of São Paulo and the concessionaire, Linha Universidade (Linha Uni). The work is being carried out by ACCIONA and currently generates around 9,000 jobs. Once completed, the line will be operated by Linha Uni for 19 years.