Convensa has completed the excavation of the Viator tunnel, on the Nijar-Río Andarax section, where the upper half has been excavated over a length of 878 metres. This is a key piece of infrastructure for the Mediterranean Corridor and the future Murcia-Almería high-speed rail line (LAV).

The Viator tunnel represents a technical and engineering challenge due to the characteristics of the terrain, as it has been excavated using the Belgian method from both ends almost simultaneously.

At the same time, work is continuing on the drilling of the lower section, with more than 624 metres already excavated, and the construction of the gables, which form part of the tunnel's final lining, is progressing at a good pace.

The tunnel is being constructed using the mine excavation or Belgian method, which is commonly used for underground passages under buildings and metro lines, but is virtually unheard of in high-speed rail. With this system, the tunnel is excavated in small sections without compromising the pace of progress, first tackling the vault and the upper half of the tunnel and then, once concreted, completing the lower half.

The construction of the Viator tunnel joins other unique structures already underway on the line, such as the Vera viaduct, which will accommodate four tracks (28.7 m wide) along its entire length; the Tercia viaduct (2.1 km), the longest on the line; the one crossing the Andarax River (1.4 km and 43 spans), the longest in the province of Almería; the Los Feos viaduct (906 m), with a mixed metal and concrete deck that is being built by “launching” it over the piers; and the Alcantarilla (996 m) and Rincón (928 m) tunnels.

The Níjar-Río Andarax section (25.5 km), whose platform is more than 85% complete, crosses the municipalities of Níjar, Viator, Huércal de Almería and Almería, overcoming a complicated terrain with 16 viaducts (13 of which are already completed) with a total length of more than 5 km, in addition to the Viator tunnel.

The section is completed by nine underpasses (already completed), three overpasses (whose deck will be built shortly) and cross-drainage works (practically completed) and longitudinal drainage works (in progress). In addition, numerous service, supply, sanitation and irrigation facilities are being replaced.