Andrade Gutierrez, a contractor working on a Algeria drainage tunnel project, successfully constructed a 1,100-meter drainage tunnel system to combat urban flooding.
Facing challenges with traditional excavation methods in sensitive limestone terrain near the city, they adopted the innovative Drill & Split method using a Yamamoto YTB-1120 arm system and HRB-1000 splitter mounted on a modified CAT excavator. This hydraulic rock splitting technique achieved 10.5 meters of progress per week – more than double the productivity of conventional hydraulic rock breakers – while avoiding the complications of explosives in an urban environment.
The project demonstrates how specialized equipment selection can overcome geological and regulatory constraints in challenging infrastructure projects.
Watch the video to learn more!