The tunnel boring machine looks fairly modern, but it is actually more than 35 years old. Rebuilt shortly after churning its way through the Second Avenue Subway in New York City, the 450-ft-long Robbins main-beam TBM is now taking a spin through subterranean Indianapolis as part of the Circle City's $1.6-billion, 20-year plan to control its combined sewer overflows.
"It's very unusual for a TBM to finish up and go right to another job," explains Stuart Lipofsky, project manager for S-K JV—a joint venture of Walnut, Calif.-based J.F. Shea Construction Co. Inc. and Omaha, Neb.-based Kiewit Corp.—and general contractor on the city's Deep Rock Tunnel Connector. "Usually, it sits in the yard and looks like junk."