19th WORLD CONFERENCE OF THE ASSOCIATED RESEARCH CENTRES FOR THE URBAN UNDERGROUND SPACE, Belgrade, Serbia, November 4-7, 2025. (Paper No: 2.6.50, pp. 318-329)
АУТОР(И) / AUTHOR(S): Vojkan Jovičić, Mitja Pečovnik, Samo Medved, Željko Vukelić, Elvir Muhić, Marko Kosovel
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DOI: 10.46793/ACUUS2025.2.6.50
САЖЕТАК / ABSTRACT:
Innovative technologies for construction of underground infrastructure can significantly enhance sustainability and contribute to environmental protection in urban areas. This paper illustrates an example of the planned construction of the Maribor City Tunnel, designed to alleviate traffic congestion in the historic city centre. Planned as a single-tube, two-way tunnel approximately 980 meters in length, the project planning required comprehensive research to evaluate its feasibility and potential impacts on the urban environment.
The study presented in the paper examines how the tunnel can be effectively integrated with the existing traffic infrastructure. Attention is given to the architectural design of the tunnel entrances, considering both aesthetic and functional aspects. The research also considers the geological and geomechanical conditions for tunnel construction, as well as the need to protect groundwater. The study further evaluates strategies for safeguarding existing structures in the city centre by selecting appropriate excavation and construction methods. Structural elements foreseen for construction, such as diaphragm walls at the tunnel portal and the tunnel’s inner lining, offer significant potential for exploiting geothermal energy. Upgrading structural elements could enable effective heat exchange between the ground and the structure at short distances. Urban underground structures are particularly well-suited for this due to their proximity to buildings, ensuring short and efficient connections between energy producers and consumers.
Six critical conditions were identified as key to the project feasibility: traffic integration, geological and geomechanical factors, groundwater protection, excavation methods, safeguarding of existing structures and utilisation of geothermal potential. Given the central location of the construction site in the city of Maribor, there is a need for comprehensive monitoring of parameters such as groundwater levels, noise, dust, and impacts on natural and cultural heritage. The intricate interplay of technical, environmental, and urban planning factors, required for the successful execution of a large-scale urban infrastructure project, is presented in the paper.
КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ / KEYWORDS:
underground urbanisation, tunnelling, geothermal energy, feasibility, environmental impact
ПРОЈЕКАТ / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
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