A method of providing an overall improvement to a tunneling operation is disclosed. A standard TBM has the extension fingers removed from the leading part of the TBM (the stabilizer). A series of steel angles are welded onto the exterior surface of the stabilizer to provide a series of receptacles axially extending along the stabilizer. A plurality of roof support members which have been previously inserted in the receptacles so formed on the stabilizer, are fed out of the receptacles as the TBM moves ahead. At predetermined intervals ribs are mounted on these roof support members. The rib members are installed in the tunnel roof as soon as possible behind the stabilizer.
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