Transportation Tunnels

With over 130 years of experience, WSP has unrivaled expertise in tunnels used for transportation, including tunnels for some of the most notable roadways and transit systems in the world.

With the growth of urban populations, the increase in number and size of mega cities, and reverse migration to cities, tunnels are more frequently the answer to congestion problems. WSP is the forerunner in transportation tunnels, whether they be road tunnels under cities for cars to bypass the ensnarement of the downtown core or rail and metro tunnels that offer commuters an alternative to cars.

Tunnel Experts at Work

At WSP, we are dedicated to helping our clients find the best solutions to improve the transportation options that they currently offer. When the answer is located underground, we back up our expertise with over 130 years of experience, dating back to the construction of the first segment of the New York Subway system in 1904. Ever since, we have been committed to working with our clients to identify the best methods for their specific project, to best meet their schedules, budgets and any other constraints the location might present. We are known globally for our innovative approaches and state-of-the-art, creative solutions to underground transportation projects in the rail, transit, roads and aviation sectors.

We provide comprehensive services for every aspect of underground construction, including site investigation, tunnel design, ground improvement, initial and final support, instrumentation and monitoring, tunnel systems and ventilation and fire/life safety.

We also provide support across the entire project life cycle, from design to construction management, to testing and commissioning. We are experienced in  condition assessment, rehabilitation, re-purposing and upgrading of tunnels and underground transportation facilities.

Technology-Driven Design

Our design team works extensively with the latest technology, such as numerical modeling of ground/structure interaction, as well as BIM and VDC, to perfect schematics in virtual reality, allowing problems to be rectified before ground is broken and reducing the likelihood of delays, extra costs or damage to surrounding structures.

Our wide-ranging expertise in rail, roads and aviation means that we understand transportation tunnels from all sides of the project, providing a holistic approach to their design and construction.

Rail and Transit Tunnels

WSP has managed large, complex tunneling projects, set records in designing TBM-driven tunnels and has engineered tunnels that are exceptionally deep, large in diameter and set in challenging ground conditions. We regularly advise transit agencies on the increasingly critical issues of tunnel safety and security, vulnerability assessment, durability, sustainability and risk management.

Road Tunnels

Whether threading roadway tunnels under busy city streets or boring through mountainous terrain, we are experienced in designing and managing a variety of construction techniques, including conventional drill-and-blast and excavation with tunnel boring machines.

We are also experienced in the use of specialized techniques like soft-ground or hard-rock sequential excavation, and immersed tunnel technology. Our projects have involved some of the most challenging ground conditions, high water pressures and seismic or environmental conditions.