You’re invited to join ASCE Golden Gate Branch at our June 27 2024 meeting, featuring a presentation on BNSF Gateway Sub, Tunnel #4 Emergency Repair.

When: Thursday, June 27, 2024 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM PST

Where: EBMUD Training Room

375 11th Street

Oakland, CA 94612

Program Details:

The BNSF Gateway Sub Tunnel #4 is a 480-foot-long tunnel on an active

BNSF rail line near Quincy, California. The tunnel liner consisted of timber sets and lagging, concrete panels, and steel sets with steel lagging. As a result of the Dixie Fire that ravaged this area in July 2021, the tunnel collapsed and blocked the rail line after the 188 feet of timber liner at the tunnel center burned.

Delve Underground provided a conceptual repair design and bid documents within 5 days of the collapse. Drill Tech Drilling and Shoring, Inc. (Drill Tech) was the Contractor and mobilized to the site within 2 weeks of the collapse.

BNSF set up a command center to oversee this project, as well as other fire-related projects in the area. The Contractor and Delve Underground inspectors worked around the clock, 7 days per week until the tunnel was reopened. Construction began on the project before the fire was contained in the area, complicating access to the site because of road closures. The site was evacuated twice because of the threat of fire coming back into the area.

Despite the remote location, harsh working conditions in an active fire zone, and supply chain issues encountered nationwide, the tunnel reopened with no reportable injuries in October 2021, a little over 10 weeks after repairs began. Additional work inside and outside the tunnel continued under work windows until December 2021.

Join us for networking, dinner, and a presentation.

Speaker: Mr. Kush Chohan is a Senior Associate Engineer with Delve Underground in their Sacramento office. He is a California-registered professional engineer and geotechnical engineer with 18 years of hands-on civil and geotechnical engineering experience.

Location: EBMUD Training Room, 375 11th Street, Oakland, CA 94612

Networking: 5:30 – 6:30 PM

Dinner 6:30 – 7:10 PM

Program 7:10 – 8:00 PM

Contact us if you have any questions.

We will collect $20 for ASCE members; $30 for non-members. Government (federal, state, local) and EBMUD employees and students are free.

Bookings