Tunnels
- The giant tunnelling machine (The tunnel on the A86 West motorway)
- (© Socatop)
The history of tunnels
The sub-fluvial tunnel on the A86 East motorway
The tunnels on the A86 West motorway
(photos Reverdy, ASCO-TP, FNTP, ENPC).
It has always been more difficult to build a structure under the ground than in the open air. In spite of the difficulties, people have been creating remarkable underground structures since the remote past.
This was particularly true in ancient times when there were no pumps to empty the water which seeped or flowed into tunnels, or ventilators to refresh the air artificially, or powerful lighting or tunnel driving equipment. Finally at the time it was very difficult to keep the tunnel in the right direction as there was no surveying equipment (...)
Exploded view of the two tunnels passing through the bed of the River Marne (DDE 94-LREP) (DDE 94-LREP)
The A86 motorway: a sub-fluvial tunnel under the Marne. An engineering and design achievement.
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The tunnelling machine reaches the open air (Photo : Asco-TP)
This 10km tunnel that joins the two ends of the A86 motorway between Rueil et Pont Colbert features innovations in both design and technology: it will mark a milestone in the history of motorways in the 21st century.
14 October 2003 DIGGING OF THE TUNNEL CONNECTING RUEIL-MALMAISON TO THE A13 MOTORWAY IS COMPLETED:
THIS REPRESENTS THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL STAGE IN ONE OF THE LARGEST UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN EUROPE.
The 4.5 kilometre section of tunnel connecting Rueil-Malmaison to the A13 motorway (Vaucresson, Le (...)
The Fréjus tunnel
The Lioran Tunnel
View of the front of the Frejus tunnel (Photo : Reverdy)
The Fréjus railway tunnel. This famous tunnel is the oldest long Alpine tunnel. It was built between 1857 and 1871, and is incredibly long for the time - 12,820 metres!
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The old tunnel (Rights reserved)
The Lioran tunnel in the Cantal Département is the oldest of France’s major road tunnels. Completed in 1847, it was no longer suitable for today’s traffic. A new tunnel is currently being dug to replace it.
We would like to thank the Infrastructure Directorate of the Département of Cantal (DDE du Cantal) for its help in constructing this tour.
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