Naples–Bari high-speed rail: Melito tunnel launches 4.4 km excavation

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 25, Webuild announced that excavation has officially begun on the Melito tunnel in the Apice–Hirpinia section of the Naples–Bari high-speed/high-capacity railway. The tunnel, approximately 4.4 km long, is the last of the three main tunnels in the section to enter the excavation phase, and is being built by Webuild on behalf of RFI, the Italian railway infrastructure manager.

Construction continues to use the "Aurora" tunnel boring machine. The equipment previously completed excavation of the approximately 2 km Grottaminarda tunnel, and was then dismantled to cross the Ufita River and reassembled for the Melito tunnel works. The Aurora cutterhead has a diameter of 12.5 meters; the complete machine is approximately 100 meters long and weighs 1,600 tonnes, is equipped with 18 motors with a total power of 6.3 MW, and has a maximum excavation depth of approximately 130 meters.

According to the construction plan, more than 22,200 precast concrete segments will be installed during boring to form the tunnel's permanent lining. More than 140 specialists will be deployed for equipment operation and maintenance, with round-the-clock shift construction. The Melito tunnel is the second-longest tunnel in the Apice–Hirpinia section, after the 6.5 km Rocchetta tunnel, which completed excavation in May this year.

The Apice–Hirpinia section is 18.7 km long and crosses the provinces of Avellino and Benevento, with approximately 13 km located inside tunnels, accounting for nearly 70% of the section's total length. In addition to the three tunnels—Melito, Grottaminarda and Rocchetta—the section also includes Hirpinia station. The station's main civil works have now been completed, while the related access roads, 4 roundabouts, 8 connecting roads and parking areas are still under construction.

The Naples–Bari high-speed/high-capacity railway will add approximately 145 km of new railway in the future. Webuild is currently involved in the construction of four sections: Naples–Cancello, Apice–Hirpinia, Hirpinia–Orsara and Orsara–Bovino. The Naples–Cancello section was opened in July this year and connects to Italy's national high-speed rail network via the Afragola high-speed station.