The deepest point of the Tram Tunnel has been passed

By Maaike Oppier

The deepest point of the Tram Tunnel has been completed under the Voldersgracht with a view to the end of the Grote Markt. (photograph: Robert van Stuyvenberg)

THE HAGUE | Following Henri Vergouwen, Project Manager for Tunnels in the City Centre of the Municipality of The Hague, a number of council members, officials, reporters and alderman B. Bruins of Transport and City Centre matters descend down the stairway of the tunnel at the Kalvermarkt. Aside from the Hague stork, the Tram Tunnel has become the next most famous thing in The Hague. Vergouwen is faster than his guests in the making of jokes about not having brought along flippers and snorkels at the last minute. He frowns at those who have shoes which are open at the front, sneakers and sturdy loafers: "I’m not sure if those are the right shoes. There’s quite a bit of mud in the tunnel."

Impressive

The construction under the ground is impressive. The idea alone, since the mid 1990’s when the first spade went into the ground, to be able to walk underneath Grote Marktstraat on one or two building levels, is impressive. The upper level which, after the opening of the tunnel on 19th October 2004, will be used as a parking area with 375 parking bays, and the lower level where the tram rail tracks will be located.

Vergouwen indicates empty spots along the bare concrete walls where the HTM will have areas for staff members and on the left hand side, the outstretched walls where there will be space for posters on a high cultural level. From here the deepest point of the tunnel situated at the Voldersgracht can also be seen: 12.5 metres. Down the stairs at the lowest floor, the width from wall to wall is 25 metres. Along the rough concrete walls there is water trickling down at various places. "We are still continuously busy with the water", says Vergouwen, referring to 1998 when a huge leak came about under the ground. In 2000 there was also a flood, after a temporary sheet pile wall collapsed due to the water pressure under the Kalvermarkt. "The tunnel was then fitted out under increased air pressure to be able to prevent similar incidents", says Vergouwen. The lock for the air pressure was removed mid April, and since this week the drainage has also been halted whereby the water pressure against the tunnel walls can get back to strength. "Some pouring joints are leaking, we’ll seal those with a fluid under high pressure".

Distinguished

Through to the end of the long tunnel measuring 1,250 metres. Slightly sloping concrete along the way to Grote Markt. Are we there yet? It certainly goes fast when you’re not being distracted by rushing cyclists, trams and crossing pedestrians. Only the sounds of trams and an ambulance siren can be heard. Marieke Bolle of the PvdA thinks that the tunnel walls, by comparison to those in the metro of Paris, are 'so distinguished for a tunnel which is merely for a tram'. Vergouwen doesn’t see it as distinguished. "It is rough concrete which will not be finished off. Except maybe graffiti". The contours of a platform, view to the heavens, special supporting beams and other architectural solutions 'for the fire safety requirements which became more and more demanding during the construction process'.

Arriving above ground level at the Grote Markt, at the feet of those sitting on the terraces. "There will be a stairwell here", indicates Vergouwen and a ramp more to the right. For the emergency services amongst others. "It could also become a great place for skating ", Vergouwen says about the end of the tunnel which, it is estimated, will cost 242 million euro. At the start of the construction it was budgeted at 127 million euro.