Excavation of longest tunnel complete

Halcrow has announced that UAE's largest rock tunnel has been dug between Sharjah's part of Diftah and Diftah in the central region. The Shis highway will link Khor Fakkan port on the East Coast of Sharjah to Diftah.

"The project team achieved their first of two tunnel breakthroughs – and in turn created the UAE's longest rock tunnel," said a statement from the consultant for the tunnel.

The project passes through some of the highest and steepest ranges of the Hajar Mountains and forms a strategic road link – enabling goods shipped to the port of Khor Fakkan to be distributed throughout the UAE.

Halcrow, as consultant to the Government of Sharjah, Directorate of Public Works, is responsible for the design and supervision of the road tunnel – involving the construction of about nine kilometres of dual two-lane carriageway mountain road, 1.3km twin bore tunnel and a 1km link road.

The tunnel has been blasted through the rocks using explosives, and using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, which involves stabilisation of the tunnel with rock bolts and spray concrete (shotcrete), before being lined with a waterproof membrane and permanent concrete inner shell. A second tunnel breakthrough is scheduled for November.

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