Vision: Riverside 2

[UrbanSG]

I'm all for brainstorming but this is just plain funny, I actually couldn't stop laughing at one point as I kept reading through this thread

Brainstorming within a rough budget and something that is at least slightly possible would help. Otherwise this is just more Shuz fantasy material.

[dbl96]

Just out of intrest, how deep would rail tunnels for a city loop need to be bored under the railway station to get under the buildings foundations? And how much would it cost?

[mattblack]

Just out of intrest, how deep would rail tunnels for a city loop need to be bored under the railway station to get under the buildings foundations? And how much would it cost?

Wheres Aidan when you need him.

[[Shuz]]

Ahahahah, thanks for reviving this thread. I have to admit, it gave me the shits and giggles. One really does have to wonder what I was on 3 years ago!

[Aidan]

Just out of intrest, how deep would rail tunnels for a city loop need to be bored under the railway station to get under the buildings foundations? And how much would it cost?

Wheres Aidan when you need him.

I'm here but my computer isn't, so apologies in advance for tiPos and double spaces.

As for how deep the tunnels would need go be to avoid foundations, it's an interesting question. I don't have the actual figures, but I can give you some background information:

Not all buildings have piled foundations. Even some quite big ones, such as the Gallerie, only have shallow foundations. But most tall buildings do, so I'd be very surprised if the ASER buildings didn't.

Adelaide's geology complicates the issue a bit because there is a limestone layer under the CBD. This has advantages and disadvantages for tunnelling. Even those foundations that penetrate below it don't reach far below it, and no tunnel route below it is totally impractical from a geotechnical POV (unlike in cities such as London which don't have a rock layer). However the need to dig through it makes stations much more expensive, so it's still better to tunnel above it if possible, which is why I'm so keen for tunnel provision to be incorporated into the basements of 51 Pirie and 20 Flinders.

Adelaide station was originally built on the site of a quarry, so I don't know how much of the rock layer is left there or how far down it is.