The sanitary trunk sewer was installed in variable soft ground and mixed face conditions under significant groundwater pressures and with high content of cobbles and boulders.

Technicore designed and manufactured a unique EPB MTBM with pipe jacking capabilities in order to provide continuous support to the tunnel face while maintaining provisions for access to the cutter head from inside the tunnel if required for maintenance, cutter replacement, or emergency repairs. Technicore elected to use the EPB method, in lieu of a slurry spoil removal system, to allow for pressures to be controlled without affecting the rate and efficiency of soil removal from the cutting chamber. The TBM was equipped with a sealed variable speed auger which could control the rate of spoil removal and aid in maintaining target face pressures. The design of the EPB TBM allowed for use in low cover applications or projects where frac-outs are of concern. The ability to change between EPB and open face excavation mode, combined with the cutter head design and tooling, provided the TBM with additional capabilities to tunnel under nearly all soils conditions which can be encountered in the local geology. This is an additional advantage which could prove extremely valuable to the Project and Client in the event that unforeseen ground conditions were encountered and can be offered at no additional premium as compared to some other risk aversion methods.