PROJECT | SUSTAINABILITY - HAMBURG METRO LINE U5
Right, figure 3:
First construction section of the U5 between Bramfeld and City Nord (Stadtpark)
2 INITIAL CONSTRUCTION WORK AND CURRENT PLANNING The U5 consortium (Arge U5), consisting of Ed. Züblin AG (technical lead) and Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG is in charge of constructing Line 5. Construction work on the first section, Lot 1, of Line U5 began in December 2022 and in August 2023 works then started on Lot 2 (see Figure 3). Here, four stations and six emergency exits will be built using the cut-and-cover method and one existing stop will be converted. A trial run between City Nord and Sengelmannstraße
is planned for 2027 with passenger service starting in 2029. Completion of the entire first construction section of Line U5 is scheduled for 2033.
2.1 Construction Method for Lot 1 The first construction phase began at City Nord station with a cut-and-cover tunnel. This is followed to the north by the double-track reversing and stabling facility in the direction of the existing above-ground Sengelmannstraße subway station. This will be modernised and converted for a platform-level transfer between the existing U1 line and the new U5. The U5 line will continue in the direction of Bramfeld with two steel bridges over Sengelmannstraße to the so-called wye, the transition to construction lot 2. The wye includes the tunnel structure east of Sengelmannstraße and the launch shaft for the TBM.
2.1.1 Underpass Structure east of Sengelmannstraße The Sengelmannstraße subway station is the only above-ground station on the U5 line. With a tunnel trough east of Sengelmannstraße, the line is lowered and leads into the tunnel. Here, the approximately 325m-long tunnel trough ends at the future launch shaft of the TBM shortly before passing under the S-Bahn line. The trough will be constructed in sections using the cut-and-cover method. A diaphragm wall will be built
12 | September 2025
and the floor will be concreted (see Figure 4). Work on creating the excavation pit began in October 2023. The U5 trough section is divided into five docks. The individual docks will be built partially offset to
each other. The shell of the tunnel trough is due to be completed by 2027.
2.2 Construction Lot 2 Lot 2 begins in the west with the launch shaft in the wye area and ends in the east at the target shaft, the later Heukoppel emergency exit. It includes the Barmbek Nord, Steilshoop and Bramfeld stations as well as five emergency exits. The underground stops, each approx. 200m-long, the starting shaft and the emergency exits will be built using the diaphragm wall/cut-and-cover or diaphragm wall construction method. The TBM bored tunnel will be excavated at a depths of up to 30m.
2.2.1 TBM Excavation The approx. 3.4km-long tunnel will be excavated by a slurry shield TBM with an outer diameter of 11.70m. The tunnel will be bored in four standard drives (lengths of 636m; 1,011m; 1,402m, and 317m). The TBM will drive through the four backfilled
excavation pits of the emergency exit structures. When the TBM reaches one of the three later stations, it enters into the completed excavation pit, is pulled through and then exits to begin the next standard drive, for the stretch of tunnel beyond. In its final state, the target shaft is converted into the Heukoppel emergency exit. To drive the TBM safely through the diaphragm walls
of the launch shaft, the stations, the emergency exits and the target shaft, the construction solution is to install artificial soil blocks, as single-phase walls, in the transition area between the diaphragm wall and the subsoil. Shield cradles and back-up cradles will be installed
for the TBM’s approach and passage through the excavation pits of the stations.
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