cut-and-cover

Dig then bury

Cut-and-cover is a tunnel construction method where workers dig a trench from the surface, build the tunnel structure within it, then cover it back over.

The technique works well for shallow tunnels in urban areas—subway lines, utility corridors—where digging from above is more practical than boring through from the side.

The new metro line was built using cut-and-cover construction.

method

trench

Long narrow excavation

shallowWithout much depth
top-downDirected from highest level
excavationAct of unearthing

backfill · sequential · staged · decking · shoring · underpinning · lagging · bracing · strutting · dewatering

transit

subway

Underground transit passage

metroUrban rail transit
undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
stationFixed stopping point

platform · tunnel · underpass · tramway · tube · BART · U-Bahn · concourse · mezzanine

construction

concrete

Solid building mixture

reinforcementAdding support or encouragement
formworkMold for poured concrete
rebarSteel strengthening concrete

waterproofing · shotcrete · segment · lining · portal · headwall · abutment · foundation · slab · culvert

urban-impact

detour

Alternate path around obstruction

noiseUnwanted auditory disturbance
dustFine settled particles
vibrationRapid oscillating movement

hoarding · barriers · timeline · cost

Categories

tunnelstunnel exit, portal, bore, TBM, tunnel boring
tunnelingTBM, tunnel boring, grouting, excavation, boring machine
tunnel termsChannel Tunnel, subway tunnels, bore, TBM, portals

Opposites

tunneling method

cut-and-covertunnel boring

Digging horizontal underground passages

Family

cover, cuts, cutting, cutter, cutters, covers, covered, covering, coverings

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G