Tunnelling at Levantkaj

Skills

Construction Crane Facility Groundwater Tunneling

Main contract

Builder:

HOFOR A/S
Nordhavn

Period:

2019-2022


796 m of concrete drainage pipeline

The old U4 Levantkaj outfall pipeline was relocated in 2022, and as part of this, we installed a 796 m concrete drainage pipeline. This was achieved using our “MTS” slurry tunnelling machine, which has an internal diameter of 1,600 mm. The tunnelling was executed beneath the road and container terminal area in Nordhavn.

Additionally, we installed a 70 m outfall pipeline at Sundkrogsgade in a reinforced excavation pit at a depth of 8.5 m. The two tunnelled sections were constructed perpendicular to each other, with the smaller section discharging into the canal. We also built a pumping station and a valve chamber at a depth of 14 m.

Facts

Pumping station: 650 m³ of concrete, 94 tonnes of reinforcement and 9 m in height
Valve chamber: 250 m³ concrete, 55 tonnes of reinforcement and 13 m in height
796 m of concrete drainage pipeline
180 m of excavation pit for outfall pipelin
13 m high ventilation shaft
Installation of 1,600 mm diameter PE bend
Detailed design and construction of three shafts as press and receiving pits


Complex tunnelling task

We also carried out groundwater lowering and dewatering, primarily in greensand deposits. Our crane department assisted with lifting the tunnelling machine’s components in and out of the excavation pit and lowering all concrete elements for the stormwater tunnel into the start and intermediate pits.

Additionally, we installed an overflow system with pump sumps to drain groundwater from relief wells. We monitored groundwater levels in the Levantkaj area using online data loggers and weekly manual measurements installed in existing monitoring wells.

Read more about the groundwater lowering department here