Slipforming Madrid's metro

Premium Content

15 April 2008

The dragados and tecsa joint venture (JV) has used several Wirtgen SP 500 slipform pavers to construct 5 km of new metro line between Madrid's Atocha and 'Nuevos Ministerios' stations.

Construction of the slab track was influenced by several conditions. Firstly, the entire 5 km runs underground, which meant paving under extremely confined conditions. Secondly, a decision was made to use wireless control – two Leica TPS 1200 total stations – during construction. This accelerated completion of the project and reduced surveying costs. Lastly, paving could only take place during the night.

The new tunnel has a diameter of 8,43 m. To enable construction of the slab track, the tunnel floor was filled with a 1,5 m thick layer of concrete, leaving just 7,31 m for paving the tracks. The SP 500 paved the slab track in two separate 3,35 m wide track profiles at a maximum thickness of 450 mm.

Because the concrete profile reached right to the tunnel wall it was not possible to use the SP 500 on its four crawler tracks – there was simply no room for the rear right track. However, the SP 500's modular construction meant a three-tracked paver could complete the job. To compensate for the missing track a counterweight was mounted on the lifting column of the crawler unit on the diagonally opposite side.

With construction only taking place at night the J V was only able to work for 9 hours per shift. However, working for six weeks in each direction the work was finished ahead of schedule.

Latest News
Crane Institute of America appoints L.D. Stutes as GM
Stutes enters this newly created position with 37 years of experience.
Navigating new immigration policies in the construction industry
Joel Dandrea discusses what construction contractors need to know.
Link-Belt veteran William “Skeeter” Collins announces retirement
Collins, a cornerstone of Link-Belt Cranes’ sales team for over 50 years, will retire in February 2025