Immersed tube
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An Immersed tube is a kind of underwater tunnel constructed using segments built elsewhere, floated and sunk into place, then welded together to form the tunnel. This method can be considerably cheaper than excavating through rock, and is more resistant to earthquake damage. The tradeoff is that immersed tubes are more vulnerable to terrorist bombings than excavated tunnels, since less explosive force is necessary to breach their walls than would be required to penetrate the roof of a tunnel through rock.
Examples
- Hong Kong Harbour
- 63rd Street Tunnel, a four-bore rail tunnel under the East River in New York City
- Sydney Harbour Rail Tunnel - rail - announced 2005
- Sydney Harbour Tunnel - road
- Transbay Tube, a BART rail tunnel under San Francisco Bay
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