With a diameter of 15.08 meters, a length of 182 meters, and weighing 3900 tons, the world's largest tunnel boring machine for drilling super hard rock made a 9 km tunnel in Georgia and impresses with its excavation power.

With a diameter of 15.08 meters, a length of 182 meters, and weighing 3900 tons, the world’s largest tunnel boring machine for drilling super hard rock made a 9 km tunnel in Georgia and impresses with its excavation power.

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 16/05/2026 at 09:45

197 people reacted to this.

With 15.08 meters in diameter, 182 meters in length, and 3900 tons, the Caucasus tunnel boring machine completed the excavation of the 9 km tunnel that integrates the Kvesheti-Kobi highway in Georgia

The Caucasus tunnel boring machine, manufactured by CREG, completed the excavation of the 9 km tunnel between Kvesheti and Kobiin on May 23, 2024, a central stage of the Kvesheti-Kobi highway in Georgia. It is considered the largest of its kind in the world and impresses with its capacity.

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Caucasus tunnel boring machine opened 8,860 m without intermediate accesses

The single shield hard rock machine finished drilling in Lot 1 of the project, which includes a 23 km highway with two lanes, connecting Kvesheti to Kobiin.

The equipment completed 8,860 m of excavation without intermediate accesses, in a work of long distance, depth, and complex geological conditions. The maximum overburden reached 1121 m.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Machine was adapted for hard rock

The geology crossed is composed of tuff and marl. The rock resistance reached 130 MPa, requiring a specific configuration to face adverse terrains and maintain productivity.

For this scenario, the tunnel boring machine received an active articulation system, a bidirectional rotation cutting head, and a dual-speed reducer. These features allow precise adjustment of the machine’s inclination.

The structure was also prepared to excavate quickly in difficult terrains and drill efficiently when the surrounding rocks are of good quality. The maximum thrust is 22,600 tons, with a total power of 9,900 kW.

9 km tunnel will be the longest in Georgia

After the completion of the excavation, the final works on the 9 km tunnel should begin soon. This stage includes excavation, installation of electrical and engineering systems, as well as paving.

The tunnel is considered the longest in Georgia. The construction is part of the Kvesheti-Kobi connection and is expected to strengthen the connection in a region where harsh winters cause frequent interruptions.

Tunnel Boring Machine, Largest tunnel boring machine in the world — Image: Reproduction

Project aims to reduce travel and expand access to Gudauri

The Kvesheti-Kobi project plans the construction of a 5 km road to connect the city to Gudauri. The road will meet the necessary safety standards and reduce travel time.

With the new road, the Gudauri resort will be ready to welcome more visitors. The proposal is part of the goal to develop Georgia as a tourist hub, using a safer connection in the stretch.

Construction will have bridges, tunnels, and completion in stages

The total investment is 400.37 million euros, equivalent to 1.2 billion GEL. The execution is supported financially by the Asian Development Bank, the ADB.

Part of the tunnel construction is co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the EBRD. The complete package includes 5 bridges, 5 tunnels, and the rehabilitation of 1 bridge.

The construction will be completed in stages between 2024 and 2025. The road functions as a link between Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and other countries, maintaining continuous traffic in winter and ensuring the transport of local products and essential items.

With information from Tunnelbuilder.

3 Comments

most recent

older Most voted

Chris

#243037

18/05/2026 09:54

Total joke. 20m per day. Meanwhile the deep state doing 7km daily on their dumbs using plasma tech

-1

Respond

Kumar Sumit

#243096

Reply to Chris

22/05/2026 03:39

Abe chutiya…. school Jane ke sath thoda padhayi bhi kiya kr

Respond

David

#243032

18/05/2026 01:57

It’s rather boring.

Respond

With a diameter of 15.08 meters, a length of 182 meters, and weighing 3900 tons, the world’s largest tunnel boring machine for drilling super hard rock made a 9 km tunnel in Georgia and impresses with its excavation power.

With 15.08 meters in diameter, 182 meters in length, and 3900 tons, the Caucasus tunnel boring machine completed the excavation of the 9 km tunnel that integrates the Kvesheti-Kobi highway in Georgia

Caucasus tunnel boring machine opened 8,860 m without intermediate accesses

Machine was adapted for hard rock

9 km tunnel will be the longest in Georgia

Project aims to reduce travel and expand access to Gudauri

Construction will have bridges, tunnels, and completion in stages

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With a diameter of 15.08 meters, a length of 182 meters, and weighing 3900 tons, the world’s largest tunnel boring machine for drilling super hard rock made a 9 km tunnel in Georgia and impresses with its excavation power.

With 15.08 meters in diameter, 182 meters in length, and 3900 tons, the Caucasus tunnel boring machine completed the excavation of the 9 km tunnel that integrates the Kvesheti-Kobi highway in Georgia

Caucasus tunnel boring machine opened 8,860 m without intermediate accesses

Machine was adapted for hard rock

9 km tunnel will be the longest in Georgia

Project aims to reduce travel and expand access to Gudauri

Construction will have bridges, tunnels, and completion in stages

Dissatisfied with seeing people sleeping on the street, a man named Ryan Donais started building small mobile homes so that homeless people can escape the cold, each equipped with a bed, running water, electricity, and heating.

Workers were opening a modern road in Dover when they found, 6 meters below the asphalt, a 3,500-year-old boat made of stitched oak and plant fibers.

A giant brown band visible from space, approximately 8,850 kilometers long, connected Africa to America in the Atlantic Ocean, and satellites revealed that it is neither land nor pollution, but the largest accumulation of seaweed in the world, which broke records in 2025.

Engineers want to carve through Africa with a giant canal to bring water from the world’s second-largest river to a dying lake on the edge of the Sahara Desert that has already lost 90% of its water.

Two 17-year-old Kenyans use coconut shells, corn cobs, and recycled materials to create an exhaust filter that reduces 93.3% of pollutant particles and wins an environmental award in Africa.

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