Research Article
Nov 1971
Sixty Years of Rock Tunneling in Chicago
Publication: Journal of the Construction Division
Volume 97, Issue 2
Abstract
For more than 60 years Chicago has been constructing tunnels in rock, clay and glacial drift for its underground utilities including water supply, distribution and sewage. Of the city's 72.3 miles of water tunnels in service, or available for service in 1971, 57.6 miles were constructed on rock. The history and methods of rock tunneling, such as mole-mining, are reviewed. The Combined Underfloe-Storage Plan, which calls for construction of large rock tunnels under the surface waterways to collect and store spillages from combined sewers, is analyzed. These large tunnels would have the dual purpose of storage and conveyance. The plan also would meet Illinois's standards for water quality and provide flood control benefits with much less capital expenditure than by separation of sanitary and storm sewers, or any other method yet proposed. The writer forsees great progress in rock tunneling economics and technology as Chicago implements construction of planned improvements in the 1970's.
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Information
Published In
Journal of the Construction Division
Volume 97 • Issue 2 • November 1971
Pages: 189 - 210
Copyright
© 1971 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published in print: Nov 1971
Published online: Feb 11, 2021
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Authors
Affiliations
Milton Pikarsky, F.ASCE
Commissioner of Public Works; City of Chicago, illinois.
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ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.
Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.