Although this auger boring crossing is relatively short, its impact is far-reaching. The 30-metre-long structure will allow GRDF to expand its biomethane initiatives — turning organic waste into biofuel — and marks another important step in energy transition.
When the window to bore under a railway line is tight, having a specialised trenchless engineer onsite who TRULY understands the project is crucial. Geotechnical decisions can be made in real-time to minimise downtime, while ensuring compliance with SNCF requirements. GRDF, therefore, commissioned an OPTIMUM engineer to be present onsite day and night.
OPTIMUM has supported project owner GRDF at every step of this trenchless crossing beneath the Paris–Cherbourg railway line: not only feasibility studies and design engineering, but also supervising ground investigations, constitution and validation of the SNCF dossier, overseeing monitoring of the railway platform, and finally, supervising construction.
Crossing construction was completed according to schedule, with no impact on train traffic or disturbance to surrounding farmland.
