The Amsterdam North/SouthlineBuilding a subway in a challenging environment

Peter Dijk NETLIPSE Network meetingOctober 20th, 2008

Introduction

Amsterdam

• 750.000 residents• 220 km2• Divided in 15 boroughs• 4.457 residents per km2• 2.275 residencies per km2• 1 out of 3 residents owns a car• 253 mln. public transport users in 2006• 987 mln. kilometers travelled by public transport

(2006)

The North/Southline• Length: 9.5 km

– 9 km new infrastructure– 6 km underground– 8 stations– 4 deep stations

• 2 x 3.8 km bored twin tunnels• Budget: € 2.25 bn.• Commissioning date 2015• Financers:

• Dutch Government • Amsterdam City Council

• Journey time North/South: 17 minutes• Journey time same route by present public transport: 35

minutes

Bird’s eye overview of the project

Stations of the North/Southline

Building techniques

South City centre North

Bored tunnel (4.2km)

In situ tunnel (traditional) Above ground

Cut and cover method + immersion tunnel

In-situ tunnels (Caissons) In-situ tunnel

(traditional)

Reasons for the North/Southline

• Accessibility city centre• Connection to the region • No damage to cultural inheritance• Tourism• More efficiënt form of public transport• Incentive for economic development• Reduction of motorised transport• Improving the quality of life

The environment

• Social environment (residents in the immediate surroundings of the building activities)

• Political environment• (geo)physical environment:

– Geological conditions demand special techniques– Construction sites at very close range to existing

residential area (down to less than 2 metres!)

Multiple challenges

• Scale• Complexity

– Technology– Political environment: Central vs decentralized

decision-making processes– Long-term planning (time & costs)

• Communication • Diversity of context factors:

Context factors:

• History (Oostlijn)• Various conflicting interests

– Stakeholders– Politicians– Residents– Constructors– And many more..

• Technology• Rules and legislation

Boundary conditions & constraints

• Historical buildings in Amsterdam• Inhabitants are proud of their city• Many permits & licenses required• Decisionmaking processes on different jurisdictional

levels (municipality versus local boroughs)• No demolition of buildings• As little disruption as possible• Prevent damage of buildings• Liveability• Accessibility of city, shops & houses

Surrounding aspects (1)

• Minimal disruptions during construction:– no vibrations and no lowering of groundwater level

= use of slurry walls– no damage to houses = strengthening the piles– logistic disruption = mainly use of transport by water– accessibility = continuity of traffic– economical damage = compensation

Surrounding aspects (2)

• optimal definite situation:– maintain the city = no demolition– fit in surrounding = involvement in design of

station entrances– opportunities and threats = optimal station locations– transport system = good transfer facilities to trams and

sufficient parking facilities for bicycles– more space on the street = refurnising the

CS surroundings

Environmental projects

• CAN-area• Project “Overhoeks”• Central Station• Rode Loper• Europaplein• Amsterdam Station Zuid

Managing the environment

• BLVC-plan: accessibility, liveability, safety, communication

• Cooperation between:– Constructors– Supervisors– BLV- Coordinators– Local Districts– Community Liaison Officers– Project Management

Liveability• The Community Liaison Officer

– Guards the liveability of the community – Is responsible for all communication about the construction

site– Solves problems and deals with complaints

• Liveability Fund– Often individual measures:

• Double windows• Housing exchange• Hotel accommodation• Substitute workplace• Compensation for additional moving costs• Cleaning activities in vicinity of building site• Extra help for the elderly

Safety is the number one priority

• On the construction site

• Around the construction site:– Monitoring– Loading/unloading– Fencing– Fire alarm– Compensation grouting– On call duty (24/7)

Communication

• 1st level = community communication

• 2nd level = project communication

• Arts & cultural applications

So much for theory

Questions?