Post date: Oct 15, 2010 11:29:2 AM
Construction teams are expected to reach a breakthrough point of the world's longest rail tunnel to be opened in 2017 in Switzerland.
SEDRUN, SWITZERLAND (OCTOBER 15, 2010) REUTERS - The breakthrough of the longest rail tunnel in the world is planned for the afternoon of Friday (October 15) in Switzerland.
At 14:30 local time, a boring machine will connect the two sides of the 57 km long Gotthard base tunnel setting a new world record.
"For the miners and the tunnelling engineers it's the greatest day in their life. If you have this moment of the breakthrough of the longest tunnel in the world, it's very special. But there is also a quiet moment as well because we lost 8 lives during the construction, we will also have the moment of silence on this day," said chief construction officer, Heinz Ehrbar.
The tunnel will open in 2017 and promises to improve public transport as well as freight movement in central Europe. Travel time between Zurich and Milan will be reduced by almost an hour.
A day-long celebration is planned with politicians, local residents and almost 3,500 of the miners, engineers and other construction workers in attendance, and live coverage by Swiss Television.