Directly Connected to the City
The extension of the U5 provides a fast and high-capacity link between the Europaviertel and Frankfurt’s underground network.
Client
Stadtwerke Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt/Main (VGF)
Location
Frankfurt, Germany
Connect with an expert
Dr Kai Werkhäuser
Senior Project Manager
Connecting Frankfurt: CDM Smith Leads Tunnel Works to Europaviertel
A new district called "Europaviertel" is under construction in Frankfurt, Germany. Located on the former goods and marshalling station near the trade fair and banking district, the 145-hectare area is expected to create up to 32,000 jobs and provide around 3,800 new dwellings.
Challenging Ground Conditions
Tunnel construction passes through the geologically complex “Frankfurt Clay,” characterised by highly variable soil conditions.
The district Europaviertel will be connected to the metro network via the U5 line. This will result in the doubling of the track and an approximately 2.6 km extension on the existing metro line from “Platz der Republik”.
CDM Smith is responsible for object and structural design throughout all service phases for the tunnel section of the U5 line extension. The tunnel route is at the first section of the extension and runs underground and partly under existing buildings. Two separate 840 m long tunnel tubes will be constructed. The new 170 m long station “Güterplatz” will be part of this section. Three further stations will be built in open construction by third parties. Under our commercial leadership, our planning consortium ARGE SBEV also provides the planning services for all MEP and fit-out disciplines.
With the U5, the Europaviertel district is rapidly integrating with the rest of the city and is easily reachable by public transport.
Dr Kai Werkhäuser, Senior Project Manager
The project requires tunnelling expertise: the tunnels intersect the challenging ground conditions of the “Frankfurt Clay”. These clays are interbedded with sands that can extend into the excavation cross-section and into the tunnel floor. In the open cut portion the tunnel structures lie in Quaternary sands and gravels. Groundwater levels are between 3 m and 5 m below ground level and therefore the tunnel structures will be below the groundwater table.
Client
Stadtwerke Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt/Main (VGF)
Location
Frankfurt, Germany
Connect with an expert
Dr Kai Werkhäuser
Senior Project Manager
Fast Facts
1,680 m
mechanical tunnel boring
2,600 m
total train path