BASF delivers admixtures and equipment for new railway tunnel in Slovakia 

BASF, the leading supplier of underground construction chemicals in Slovakia, has contributed to an important milestone for the country – the first new railway tunnel to be built since 1966. The 1.8 km long Turecky tunnel and its 245 meter long emergency escape tunnel are part of the Trans-European transport corridor which connects Slovakia with the Baltic Sea. Once completed, the track speed will double from 80 km/h to 160 km/h.

Three companies were responsible for the excavation of the 8 meter diameter tunnel, and BASF was the principal supplier of all the admixtures for the sprayed concrete and the cast concrete for the final permanent lining. The biggest challenge of the project was the preservation of the nature reserve through which the tunnel passes. A great deal of importance was also placed on safety at work during the construction of the tunnel.

The complete portfolio of products for sprayed concrete included the accelerator MEYCO SA 183, the superplasticizer Glenium SKY 508, and the pumping aid MEYCO Lube 1 for the concrete pump hoses and pipelines. BASF also provided the spraying machines – the MEYCO Potenza was used for the application of the sprayed concrete. To complete the project, the superplasticizer Glenium SKY 641 was chosen for the casting of concrete for the second lining.

Today, the principal part of the construction work has been completed. All that remains is to install the electric lines and the railway track. The tunnel is set to begin operation in early 2013.