Construction of the S-69 express road: LALIKI Tunnel (Poland)2007-2009

Construction of the S69 Bielsko-Biała - Żywiec - Zwardoń express road, section C2: SZARE LALIKI, km 38 + 4.7 to km 43 + 155.74 (Poland).

Initially, two stretches with the lengths of 2.68 km and 1.996 were integrated to form a single continuous stretch, S69 Laliki - Szare, with a length of 4.676 km. It was built in the half profile and includes the tunnel in Laliki. Section 1 of two km approximately was put into service on 5 December 2008.

The tunnel crosses the ridge of the Sobczak Hillside (the elevation of 766.3 m). Classified as a single-aisle, shallow road tunnel of cast-in-place reinforced concrete, it was executed by mining and excavating methods. The project also involved a parallel escape gallery linked with the main tunnel in four cross passages (connecting sections). Considering the unfavourable geological conditions and the deadline for completion, the driving work started from both of the portals (four working faces). In most cases, the tunnels were driven uphill from the south to the north because of the drainage during the tunnelling work. The shape of the cross section is a horseshoe, resulting from the nature of the construction work. The route axis in the tunnel stretch has a constant longitudinal decline of 4.0% toward the south portal of the tunnel. Both the road tunnel and the evacuation tunnel were under construction using a classical mining method employing NRTM principles, according to which the massif represents the tunnel’s supporting structure.