Niagara Tunnel Project

The Niagara Tunnel Project is the most recent in a series of additions to the Sir Adam Beck hydroelectric generation complex in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

Niagara Tunnel Project near completion.

Background

First constructed in 1922, the initial Sir Adam Beck power generating station, now abbreviated as SAB 1, derived its water supply from a canal connected to the Welland River. However, due to increased power demand in later years, a second generating station, known as SAB 2, was constructed in 1954. It derives its water supply from two diversion tunnels, each about 9 kilometres in length. In 1958, a reservoir and the SAB Pump were constructed in order to make better use of available water by storing it during periods of low demand and using it in periods of greater demand in order to maximize the efficiency of the stations in regards to electricity supply and demand.

Between 1996 and 2005, Ontario Power Generation, which owns and operates the SAB complex, completed a series of major upgrades at the SAB 2 plant, increasing its potential generating capacity by 194 megawatts. Water delivered by the new Niagara Tunnel will complement this SAB 2 upgrade, and overall will increase the efficient use of the power of the Niagara River.

Construction

The Niagara Tunnel is being dug using a Tunnel Boring Machine, or TBM affectionately named "Big Becky" in honour of Sir Adam Beck. The machine will bore a hole about 10.4 kilometers long and about 14.4 meters in diameter under the City of Niagara Falls from the Niagara River to the SAB complex. This massive undertaking will create about 1.6 million cubic meters of rock and debris. The TBM operates about 140 meters below the ground, and as a result, the vibrations from the machine will not be felt on the surface. The design-build contractor for the project is Strabag AG, a large construction group with extensive experience in large tunnel construction.^[1] Due to slower than projected boring progress caused by constant tunnel roof over-break, the project completion date has been extended to at least 2013 with a total projected cost of $1.6B.^[2]

See also

• Ontario Power Generation
• Sir Adam Beck

References

1. ^ Ontario Power Generation
2. ^ Niagara Tunnel Project (2005-2013)

External links

• Official Niagara Tunnel web page
• Ontario Power Generation website
• Morrison Hershfield Lead Consulting Engineer for outside works

Coordinates: 43°04′19″N 79°04′41″W / 43.072°N 79.078°W / 43.072; -79.078