Drilling completed in key Dubai Metro tunnel for Expo 2020

The massive tunnelling machine, dubbed Al Wugeisha Expo 2020, started work in October

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A key stage in extending Dubai Metro to the Expo 2020 site has been completed, creating a 3.2-kilometre long tunnel.

A massive tunnelling machine broke through near the Green Community, after already boring under Discovery Gardens and reaching the underground station being built at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The machine, dubbed Al Wugeisha Expo 2020, started work in October after being launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the digger: "Can crush stones and penetrate through sandy layers or any other soil components encountered during the drilling process."

The machine was: "Environment-friendly and has no negative effects on land layers nearby the drilling area. Moreover, the tunnels it produces have symmetrical dimensions, which facilitates construction works and reduces the expenses of tunnel wall installation,” he said.

The underground section of the metro will connect to 11.8km of elevated track. Tunnelling will continue up to Dubai Investment Park and all railway works related to the project are scheduled to be completed by July 2019. The RTA plans to begin test-runs for the metro in February 2020.

Five stations above ground, two underground stations, an interchange area and an Expo station will also be built to serve passengers travelling to the site.

The new route is expected to handle 20 per cent of people coming to Dubai Expo 2020, with trains ferrying 35,000 commuters daily during the week, expected to rise to 47,000 passengers on weekends.

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