The Beck tunnel boring machine (alternately Big Becky) was the largest tunnel boring machine in the world, when it was operated by Ontario Power Generation, from 2006 to 2011.[1] Hydro used it to bore a deep replacement tunnel to supply water from the upper Niagara River 10.2 kilometres (6.3 mi) to the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Plant. The tunnel it bored was 14.4 metres (47 ft) in diameter.
The tunnel was delayed when Beck encountered a bed of loose material, unsuitable for boring, that required a detour.[2]
According to Ontario Power Generation the TBM itself weighed 2000 tons.[3] However, when its task was complete, Western Mechanical, the firm that removed Beck, described it weighing 7000 tons.[4][5]
References
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Alex Hutchinson (April 2012). "New energy in Niagara: How a giant hole will help Ontario's shift away from fossil fuels". Canadian Geographic. Archived from the original on 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
The Ontario government finally gave the go-ahead in 2004; the billion-dollar design-build contract was awarded to Strabag in 2005; Big Becky was built from scratch in 12 months, and began tunnelling in September 2006. And then the trouble started.
- ^ John Spears (2011-05-13). "Massive boring machine 'Big Becky' emerges from under Niagara Falls". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
- ^ "Niagara Tunnel Project: Technical facts". Ontario Power Generation. 2012-11-21. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
- ^ "Project: Niagara Tunnel Boring Machine Removal (Big Becky)". Western Mechanical. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
- ^ "Niagara Tunnel Boring Machine Removal (Big Becky), Heavy Rigging". 2018-02-28. Archived from the original on 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2023-01-12.