Work on Sudół Dominikański has been completed – the underground river is already flowing with a new current. At the end of June, the waters of the stream were introduced into a chamber in the area of Miechowity Street, and then flowed through the entire length of the newly built canal, i.e. 388.65 m (including chambers approx. 400 meters). The reconstruction of Sudół Dominikański was one of the most difficult engineering tasks of the first stage of construction.
The project related to the construction of a tram line to Mistrzejowice assumed the liquidation of the existing fragment of the Sudół Dominikański stream on the section from the intersection of Młyńska Street and Macieja Miechowity Street to the connection with the canal running from the Młyńskie roundabout to the Prądnik River. At the end of June, Gülermak, the general contractor of the Tram to Mistrzejowice, reconnected the river current to a new riverbed. The reconstruction of this section of Sudole Dominikański cost about PLN 30 million.
The construction of a new underground channel is one of the biggest engineering challenges we have ever faced. Work in the city requires precise planning to disturb the daily life of residents as little as possible and at the same time ensure efficient organization on the construction site – says Lidia Śmierzchalska, construction works manager.
Sudół Dominikański will now run under some of the pavements and roadways. The river changed its location by about 8-10 meters to the west. It flows in a specially prepared riverbed, which consists of 189 prefabricated elements with a length of 2.0 m and an internal cross-section of 2.25 x 3.0 m. The weight of a single element is as much as 10.8 tons. Gülermak engineers chose the technology, using prefabricated elements that were joined directly on site. Thanks to this, it was possible to stage the works as part of the project and minimize the nuisance for residents.
Sudół Dominikański in the previous current ran exactly in the place where we are building the tunnel and the new road system. This work front is now available to us. Thanks to this, by the end of August, we will build the western part of the roadway by the new Sudole Dominikański canal. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be redirected from the eastern part to free up space for the construction of the tunnel. As a result, we will be constructing diaphragm walls on the section Młyńskie roundabout – Polsadu roundabout – says Krzysztof Dziobek, contract director.
Intensification of works on the Mistrzejowice terminus
Meanwhile, intensive work is underway on the final section of the 4.5-kilometer tram line. In the area of the Mistrzejowice terminus, the voltage in the overhead contact line has been switched off. The wires were removed and the poles were dismantled. From Monday, June 24, the loop has been out of use. Work is underway on the dismantling of the track, which involves, among others: cutting rails, dismantling sleepers, unfastening rails from sleepers. Work is underway to remove the entire track infrastructure from the Mistrzejowice loop in order to start troughing the track for the new track. All works are carried out under constant sapper supervision, which will last until the end of works in this area.