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The Section 19 Long Tunnel project is part of an integrated water delivery transmission system in the Dallas area, designed to support regional growth by providing 350 million gallons per day (MGD) of raw water to over 4.1 million residents served by the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) and the City of Dallas Water Utilities. The overall pipeline spans 150 miles and includes three new lake pump stations and three booster pump stations.
The Section 19 project includes two EPB TBM tunnels totaling 10,944 linear feet; two microtunneling runs of 1,727 linear feet; 191 linear feet of hand-mined tunnel; and the installation of 84-inch-diameter carrier pipe. Significant progress has been made with two major TBM hole throughs achieved so far.
The first milestone was reached in December 2023 with the completion of the 5,100-foot Cedar Creek Tunnel. After mining was completed, the TBM was retrieved and transported to the Hollywood Lake site for its next drive. In March 2024, the TBM was relaunched, and in September 2024, the team celebrated its second breakthrough after completing the 5,846-foot Hollywood Lake Tunnel. This drive was particularly challenging, navigating through variable ground conditions, including silty sandy clays, dense and abrasive sands, and two steep vertical curves with 3% grades. Ballard Marine Construction assisted with two interventions during mining to ensure progress.
Next steps on the project include retrieving the TBM, cleaning the tunnel, and installing 84-inch welded steel carrier pipe. Once complete, the tunnel will be backfilled with cellular grout, marking another critical step toward completing this vital water infrastructure project.
