Use Case: Pipe Jacking

The Future in Real-time

KALVEBOD BRYGGE CLOUDBURST TUNNEL (COPENHAGEN)

Climate change is driving more frequent and severe weather conditions, including significantly more rain. Now and in the future, we will experience more cloudbursts, higher groundwater levels, and more storm surges. Therefore, it is essential to build climate protection solutions that help retain water when it pours down from above.
The Kalvebod Brygge Cloudburst Tunnel is a great example that will stand as a vital component protecting Copenhagen’s city centre from flooding during extreme weather events. The tunnel is one of several main waterways in the Copenhagen and Frederiksberg Municipalities’ cloudburst plan and will be able to collect cloudburst water from the neighbourhoods Frederiksberg and Vesterbro.
Once the tunnel is finished in 2027, it will be 1.3 km long and situated approximately 20 meters below ground in central Copenhagen. With pipes 2-3 meters in diameter and a storage capacity of 10,000 m³, the tunnel will serve as a buffer, temporarily holding cloudburst water inflow until it can be processed at the treatment plant.
Three temporary work shafts for the tunnelling were established in different locations in Copenhagen, and a permanent pumping station will be established at Kalvebod Brygge in order to enable controlled discharge into the harbour.
The Kalvebod Cloudburst Tunnel is owned by HOFOR A/S and Frederiksberg Forsyning A/S and was designed by NIRAS (shafts) and BabEng (tunnel). The tunnel and concrete were constructed by a joint venture between NCC Danmark A/S and Smet Group. NCC Danmark A/S constructed the three shafts via secant piling, excavation, and concrete work. In between these activities, Smet Group constructed the two tunnels between the shafts using closed-mode (slurry) technology. The Kalvebod Brygge Cloudburst Tunnel project exemplifies seamless tunnelling collaboration and technical precision.

Challenges
The tunnel alignment passes beneath dense urban infrastructure, including historic buildings and Copenhagen’s busiest railway hub, and runs within less than a meter of the Metro tunnel. This required not only precise engineering but also expert navigation of strict urban regulations, limited access restrictions, and specific health and safety requirements for compressed air works and heavy groundwater contaminations from former local gasworks. Continuous settlement monitoring in areas with active railway traffic and tunnelling under strict health and safety regulations – prohibiting personnel entry into the tunnel – made remote data access and real-time data integration imperative for project success.