OREANDA-NEWS. Tunnelling has begun on Tunnel 1 of the S11D branch railway line (learn more about the project), which will also be the North System's first, responsible for the transport and loading of Carajas' and the state of Para's mineral production. The commencement of tunnelling represents the first challenge overcome by the team responsible for the construction work.

In this type of work the locations of the entrance (mouth) and exit to the tunnel, called porticos, are demarcated. These take the shape similar to that of an inverted “U”. In the first stage soil and earth are removed until the rock layer is reached which is removed through detonations and means the work progresses at the rate of one metre a day.

The construction of four tunnels is part of the overall project scope, one which will connect the future S11D mine to the Carajas Railway. This will allow material to be transported to the North Port.