Service

Hand Mining

Services

Simplicity Is Sometimes Best

The simplest form of soil excavation — hand mining — is constructing a tunnel in reasonably stable ground conditions. The tunnel must be large enough for personnel entry, and the tunnel face is manually excavated with handheld tools. With this method, we can manually remove obstructions from the tunnel face.

A protective shield is usually required, which may have a forward projecting bib to provide additional face stability during soil excavation. Different types of shields may be necessary as well, including an articulated shield or a fixed shield, depending on the project.

The hand mining method’s advantages are its simple operation and how well it handles varying and challenging soil conditions. This method also requires minimal workspace and can be used to install linings as small as 42 inches in diameter.

Benefits of Hand Mining:

  • Can work through obstructions with relative ease
  • Works in all sorts of ground conditions
  • Simple operation with limited mechanical means to break down
  • Minimal work area

ORI Emergency Rehab

The ORI was originally constructed in 1958, with traditional hand-mining tunneling methods using steel ring beams and wood lagging. It runs through the heart of downtown Louisville, KY, in the business, entertainment, and hospitality district along historic Main Street. Detailed studies by MSD estimated that certain sections had significant concrete loss, approaching the full depth of the original 12” cross section. Despite the impact to downtown businesses, commuters, and tourists, MSD closed portions of Main Street to protect the public from any collapse, while simultaneously reaching out to the design and contracting community for immediate assistance.
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