Works on the construction of the ceiling of the “Tram to Mistrzejowice” tunnel at Polsadu Roundabout are entering the next stage. A team of engineers from Gülermak, the general contractor of the tram line, has completed the construction of the ceiling in the area of Młyńska Street and under the flyover of the bypass.
July on the construction site of the “Tram to Mistrzejowice” project marked the completion of concreting three sections of roof slabs under the viaduct, directly adjacent to its foundations and supports. Moving the work to the northern edge of Polsadu Roundabout is the next phase within the KST IV investment.
Earlier, in May and June, intense work took place at Młyński Roundabout, where the roof slab above the tunnel exit was completed, enabling the final channeling of the Sudoł Dominikański stream.
“As the Municipality, we cooperate with our Private Partner to ensure the project progresses as quickly as possible and to respond to all signals coming from residents. I am pleased that during construction meetings with the participation of residents’ representatives, we can create a space to exchange information about the progress and expectations of the locals. Thanks to this, the project evolves according to the expectations of Krakow’s residents, while construction moves forward, as best demonstrated by the progress in tunnel construction,” said Stanisław Kracik, Deputy Mayor of Krakow.
This is yet another complex technical challenge in the realization of the tram line to Mistrzejowice. Due to the limited space available for construction machinery, the work required great precision. Throughout the project, traffic over the viaduct had to continue without interruptions. In addition to engineers, a special geodetic monitoring system ensured the safety of the structure. This system, consisting of dozens of measurement devices, monitored the state of the viaduct in real time with an accuracy of 0.1 mm, 24 hours a day. Additionally, due to summer heat, most concreting works lasting over 5 hours were carried out at night.
“We have embedded nearly 3,000 cubic meters of structural concrete into the roof slabs. These structures, though temporarily covered, will soon give way to a new roadway and its accompanying infrastructure,” emphasized Krzysztof Dziobek, Contract Director from Gülermak.
Currently, on the southern part of Polsadu Roundabout, the final geometry of the underground station is visible. The top-down construction method used here involves excavating material from beneath the concreted roof slab once it has reached the necessary strength. Although this process is time-consuming, thanks to the involvement of appropriate equipment and coordination, the excavation rate reached several hundred cubic meters per day by the end of June.
North of the viaduct, waterproofing work on the roof slab is underway, which will allow for the restoration of the original road layout and the beginning of trench wall excavation at the site of the temporary road and pedestrian crossing. This will make it possible to connect the existing tunnel sections. The phased methodology of the work is crucial in the dense urban environment, allowing the project to proceed smoothly while minimizing inconvenience for residents.
