The Beck tunnel boring machine (alternately Big Becky) was the largest tunnel boring machine in the world, when it was operated by Ontario Power Generation, from 2006 to 2011. [1] Hydro used it to bore a deep replacement tunnel to supply water from the upper Niagara River 10.2 kilometres (6.3 mi) to the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Plant. The tunnel it bored was 14.4 metres (47 ft) in diameter.
The tunnel was delayed when Beck encountered a bed of loose material, unsuitable for boring, that required a detour. [2]
According to Ontario Power Generation the TBM itself weighed 2000 tons. [3] However, when its task was complete, Western Mechanical, the firm that removed Beck, described it weighing 7000 tons. [4] [5]
The Ontario government finally gave the go-ahead in 2004; the billion-dollar design-build contract was awarded to Strabag in 2005; Big Becky was built from scratch in 12 months, and began tunnelling in September 2006. And then the trouble started.
The Beck tunnel boring machine (alternately Big Becky) was the largest tunnel boring machine in the world, when it was operated by Ontario Power Generation, from 2006 to 2011. [1] Hydro used it to bore a deep replacement tunnel to supply water from the upper Niagara River 10.2 kilometres (6.3 mi) to the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Plant. The tunnel it bored was 14.4 metres (47 ft) in diameter.
The tunnel was delayed when Beck encountered a bed of loose material, unsuitable for boring, that required a detour. [2]
According to Ontario Power Generation the TBM itself weighed 2000 tons. [3] However, when its task was complete, Western Mechanical, the firm that removed Beck, described it weighing 7000 tons. [4] [5]
The Ontario government finally gave the go-ahead in 2004; the billion-dollar design-build contract was awarded to Strabag in 2005; Big Becky was built from scratch in 12 months, and began tunnelling in September 2006. And then the trouble started.