Design Aspects of the Underground Line U5 in Berlin: Closing the Gap Between the Stations Alexanderplatz and Brandenburger Tor

摘要

The existing U5 underground line in Berlin currently ends at Alexanderplatz station in Berlin-rnMitte. It is planned to close a gap of approximately 2.2km in the section between the existing tunnels at RotesrnRathaus and Brandenburger Tor station. The line is set to run through downtown from the new Rotes Rathausrnstation to be built below the Spree, underneath the future Berlin Palace and the Spree Canal, and along Unterrnden Linden to Brandenburger Tor. The line includes three new stations (Rotes Rathaus, Museumsinsel andrnUnter den Linden). Construction is scheduled to commence in summer 2012.rnTwo parallel tunnels each approximately 1.6km long are to be built using a slurry pressure balanced TBM.rnThe passage under the retaining walls of the banks of the river Spree, integration with the construction of thernfuture Berlin Palace, and the link to the existing Brandenburger Tor station present major challenges in termsrnof the design and execution of the shield tunneling.