A passion for tunnel construction

Can you describe a typical working day for us?

We work three shifts of eight hours each. So depending on the week, I can work at night, in the morning or in the afternoon. Each shift starts with a handover from the previous team: we discuss the progress of the work, give each other instructions and then descend into the tunnel with our personal protective equipment.

The individual tasks then follow: Drilling and loading explosives, blasting and securing, clearing out, rinsing and reprofiling, spraying concrete, setting anchor bolts.
It's a sequence of technical tasks in which you have to be efficient but also very alert. It is a physically demanding job that requires courage, attention and motivation.

You talk about vigilance. Have you ever experienced a particularly impressive situation?

Yes, during a concrete spraying operation, a large stone came loose from the wall. It bounced off the robot's arm. I reflexively swerved to the side - it hit me on the arm, but fortunately not hard. I've been even more careful since then. Incidents like this are a reminder that you should never let your guard down.

Which machines do you operate every day?

The spraying robot, of course, but also the gondola, the Manitou or the excavator. These are machines that require precision, experience and a lot of foresight.

And how is the atmosphere in the team?

There is real solidarity and good team spirit. You always work as a team in a tunnel. Communication and trust are essential to ensure that everything runs smoothly, both from a technical and human point of view.

How do you see your development opportunities in this profession?

I've learned a lot since I started. I've become more skilled and dexterous. And I'm still learning every day. In the short term, I would like to complete the training as a forklift driver, which I still need, and become even more independent in all stages of tunnel construction. I feel at home at Implenia and within the consortium. I would like to continue.