Progetti

The new drainage network in Malta consists of a main tunnel running under the city of Zebbug that is included in Marsa catchment.  This project is necessary because flash rainstorms that generally occur between September 2003 and January 2004 have become more frequent and intense. As a result, flooding problems afflict various basins in Malta and Gozo islands, endangering lives and properties, resulting in economic losses and disruption to both traffic and people’s lives and activities.

The tunnel has a total length of approximately 2 km divided in 2 trunks. The profiles of the tunnels have been calculated so as to have always a minimum cover of approx. 5 m in order to not interfere with the subservices (electricity, telephone, sewage network,…) and the foundation structures of the nearby constructions; the max cover is about 17 m.

The main  cross section will be about 3.3 m wide and 3.0 m high. The excavated soil will be 95% rock globigerina, a

limestone typical in Malta Island. The lining of the  excavated surfaces will be shotcrete and some trunks in  the tunnel will be reinforced with steel ribs.

Sering developed the construction design  consisting of:

• Critical elaboration of the experimental data with on-site investigations and laboratory tests, to examine the physical-mechanical properties of foundation soils and rocks;
• Geotechnical and geo-mechanical characterization of soils and rocks
• Research, geotechnical and structural terms, the best solutions for the tunnel
• Structural and geotechnical design of the tunnels
• Technical assistance to the Contractor during construction