Jobsite visit Grand Paris Express - line 17 - ACTIVITY REPORT

On Friday 14 October, 20 ABTUS-BVOTS members made the trip to Gonesse (suburban area of Paris). We were invited by one of the 4 project partners of the Avenir temporary association (Demathieu-Bard, Implenia, Pizzarrotti, BAM / W&F) for a comprehensive visit to the works for GPEX of metroline 17.

Line 17 includes six metro stations and consists of two tunnel sections at the ends. The route is intersected by an above-ground section that will be realised mainly as a viaduct. These stations are Le Bourget Aéroport, Triangle de Gonesse, Parc des Expositions, Aéroport Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2 and Le Mesnil-Amelot. Parc des Expositions is an above-ground station. The listed stations will be the eye-catchers of the new transport network. They will meet the highest requirements in terms of experience, comfort, punctuality and communication.

Employees of W&F (a member of ABTUS-BVOTS) gave us a very detailed theoretical insight into the project, including the problems they encountered during implementation. It became clear once again that building in the underground remains a challenge every time. Next, we were given ample time to visit the gigantic construction site of Triangle de Gonesse (one of the later stations). A unique sight as the TBM (called Florence) stood almost fully assembled ready in open construction pit for the start of a new section.

After a very nice lunch buffet, in the presence of project director Georges Azar (Directeur de projet de la ligne 17 lot 1), we could start the second part. We visited the site "Puits Flandres", where the first tunnel boring was made until July 2022 The TBM was dismantled 3,4 km to the south and send to the site we visited earlier in the day. https://www.societedugrandparis.fr/gpe/puits-de-tunnelier/puits-flandres-2379

Following this, another visit was made possible with a select group to an operational VSM (vertical shaft sinking machine) currently in full operation on the same line.

A well-filled programme made this trip to Paris more than valuable for to 20 participants. We naturally thank our chairman Johan Mignon and his colleagues from W&F (Philippe Patret and Simon Brion) & project director Georges Azar for the welcome and for openly exchanging views with us on the specific nature of this project.