APCOM

The boring of the Milanese underground's line 5, which will run for 6 kilometres from Bignami street to Garibaldi station, is proceeding at a daily speed of 10 metres thanks to a 90-metre long mechanical tunnelling machine. The latter started digging in Fulvio Testi avenue, where preliminary works began a year ago. The first stretch, from Bignami street to Zara avenue, will be inaugurated in 2011, while the extension to Garibaldi station will be in service in April 2012.

The machine will work 24 hours a day. After its completion, the tunnel will be ready to be fitted with tracks and all the necessary signalling and control equipment. The construction techniques being used have already been employed to build the most modern undergrounds worldwide, like that of Copenhagen and the new lines in Roma and Brescia.

The line 5 will be operated remotely and will not need a driver on board. Once completed, the new underground will help reduce road traffic by 26 million cars a year and cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by 9,500 tonnes. An overall 22.5 million passengers are expected to use the line every year, with the traffic peaking at 8,000 passengers during rush hours. As the town councillor for Transport Edoardo Croci pointed out, Milano's city council aims to double the underground network by 2015 both in terms of lines and length of the network.