Eurasia Undersea Tunnel
SK Engineering & Construction announced on July 21 that its Eurasia Undersea Tunnel project, aimed at connecting Asia with Europe, was recognized as the Global Best Project in the tunnel and bridge sector in 2016 by the Engineering News Record, known as ENR.
It is the first Korean construction company to win the award from the world-renowned magazine. The ENR selects the best project in 17 areas of engineering and construction, including tunnels and bridges, every year.
The Eurasia Tunnel is the world’s first double-deck road tunnel across the Bosphorus strait of Istanbul, connecting Asian and European continents. SK E&C was recognized for completing a 3.34-kilometer part of the tunnel 110 meters below the sea with special technology to withstand extraordinary sea pressure equivalent to 11 times higher than atmospheric air pressure. The world’s largest tunnel boring machine, known as TBM, 13.7 meters in diameter, 120 meters in length and 3,300 tons in weight, was mobilized to pass through the strait for the past 16 months since August last year.
The Eurasia Tunnel is slated to open in April 2017 and SK E&C will be in charge of maintenance and operation until June 2041.