Durable and efficient solutions for underground tunnels

Tunnel pipes are an essential solution for underground passageways, offering a highly durable and efficient structure for various infrastructure applications. These tunnel pipes are widely used in drainage, pedestrian underpasses, and buried tunnel systems, ensuring high load-bearing capacity while maintaining structural integrity. Their optimized design allows for easy installation, cost-effectiveness, and long-term reliability.

Reduced maintenance costs

Our tunnel pipes offer a set-in-place construction process, eliminating the need for extensive formwork or scaffolding. Installation is highly efficient, with around 10-15 elements (12 meters) assembled per day. Compared to traditional on-site cast tunnels, which may take months to complete, a tunnel pipe system can be fully installed in just a few weeks, significantly reducing construction time and associated costs.

Optimal shape

The tunnel pipe design features a cross-section that enhances both structural efficiency and hydraulic performance. The curved geometry improves load distribution while allowing for better water flow management and clearance optimization.

Customizable design

In addition to the standard tunnel pipe structures, customization options such as footings, headwalls, and wingwalls are available to meet specific project requirements. These enhancements provide greater versatility in underground infrastructure planning.

Fast and simple installation

Tunnel pipes are designed for rapid and hassle-free assembly. The set-in-place system enables swift construction with minimal labor requirements. Approximately 20-25 meters of tunnel can be installed within 2-4 weeks, drastically reducing project timelines compared to traditional cast-in-place solutions.

Minimal social disturbance

The quick installation process of tunnel pipe systems reduces the need for long road closures and minimizes disruptions to traffic and surrounding environments. The streamlined construction approach helps decrease accident risks while ensuring a safer and more efficient urban infrastructure.

Environmentally friendly

Tunnel pipes contribute to sustainable construction practices by utilizing locally sourced backfill materials, such as on-site gravel, reducing the need for excess transportation. Additionally, when used in drainage applications, the three-sided design allows for natural streambed preservation, enabling unobstructed aquatic life movement and reducing environmental impact.

Applications:

  • Bridges
  • Overpasses
  • Pedestrian tunnels
  • Ecological crossings
  • Underpasses

Steel: The smarter choice

The strength and sustainability of steel provides durability and lifespan advantages for construction projects.

Find out more

Value engineering

With consultative problem solving and the versatility of steel, value engineering ensures adaptable, cost-effective solutions.

Find out more

Case studies

Discover the full range of real-world implementations and sustainability benefits of ViaCon solutions and expertise.

Find out more

Welcome to the ViaCon design toolkit

We have put together a selection of useful tools, calculators, information and downloadable resources to help you find what you need quickly and get the most out of your ViaCon system.

Design toolkit Contact us
* Contact us if you don’t have an account.

A Tunnel Pipe is a highly durable and efficient pre-fabricated structure used to create underground passageways. It is engineered to handle high loads while maintaining structural integrity, making it an ideal solution for applications like drainage systems, pedestrian tunnels, and ecological crossings.

Tunnel Pipes offer several significant advantages over traditional construction methods:

  • Fast installation: A system can be installed in just a few weeks, compared to months for on-site cast tunnels, drastically reducing project timelines.

  • Cost-effectiveness: The rapid, set-in-place installation process reduces construction time, labor needs, and associated costs.

  • Minimal disruption: Quick construction minimizes the need for long road closures, reducing disturbances to traffic and the local community.

  • Durability: The optimized curved shape enhances load distribution and structural efficiency, ensuring long-term reliability with low maintenance costs.

The installation process is exceptionally fast. Approximately 10-15 elements can be assembled per day, allowing for 20-25 meters of tunnel to be fully installed within just 2-4 weeks. This is a significant time-saving compared to traditional cast-in-place methods.

They support sustainable construction in two key ways:

  1. Reduced transportation: They are designed to be used with locally sourced backfill materials (like on-site gravel), which minimizes transport emissions.

  2. Habitat preservation: When used for drainage, the three-sided design allows for the preservation of the natural streambed, enabling fish and other aquatic life to move without obstruction.

Yes. In addition to the standard structures, we offer customization options such as footings, headwalls, and wingwalls to ensure the solution meets your project’s specific requirements and integrates perfectly with the surrounding infrastructure.

Tunnel Pipes are versatile and can be used for a variety of infrastructure projects, including:

  • Bridges and Underpasses

  • Overpasses

  • Pedestrian Tunnels

  • Ecological Crossings (Wildlife Passages)

  • Drainage Culverts