PORR AG and its project partners achieved the breakthrough of the ElbX Tunnel for the SuedLink Elbe crossing on 22 June. This structure, which connects Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony over a distance of approximately 5.2 kilometres, represents an important section of the future power line that will transport renewable energy from northern to southern Germany. TenneT Germany commissioned the tunnelling work for this key section.
The undertaking was realised using mechanical tunnelling at depths of several tens of metres beneath the Elbe. The geological and hydrogeological conditions presented significant challenges for planning and execution. Despite these circumstances, the breakthrough was achieved earlier than originally planned, according to Karl-Heinz Strauss, CEO of PORR.
Especially over the last 400 metres of the project, the construction participants benefited from favourable ground conditions, which enabled exceptional tunnelling performance. New best values were achieved: a maximum daily advance of 32.6 metres, or 25 segment rings, and a weekly record of 158.7 metres were registered. These results underscore the technical precision and efficiency of the execution.
René Hallbauer, Project Manager for Tunnel Construction at PORR, emphasised that the successful completion was based on the interplay of modern tunnelling technology, extensive experience, and a coordinated project team. Planning and interdisciplinary collaboration were crucial. The tunnelling was characterised by variable and demanding ground conditions in the groundwater of the Elbe throughout the entire construction period.
With the breakthrough, work on the tunnel's interior fitting and technical equipment will now begin. Once completed, the Elbe crossing, as part of the SuedLink route, will make a significant contribution to Germany's security of supply. The "SuedLink Elbe Crossing ElbX" project enables high-performance high-voltage direct current cables to be laid under the Elbe to transport wind power from Wewelsfleth (Schleswig-Holstein) to Wischhafen (Lower Saxony) and further into the southern regions. The Elbe crossing is to be understood as a central key project of the German energy transition.
The early realisation of this technical structure confirms the capability of the participating construction companies and the effectiveness of detailed planning in the field of complex infrastructure projects.
