The utility tunnel at
NIH in Bethesda, Maryland consisted of a 237 meter
long by 4.2 x 3.2 meter cast in place concrete
tunnel that ran down the center of the main entrance
road off of Old Georgetown Road. The work required
excavation of the tunnel in a sheeted and shored
situation up to 11 meters below the roadway elevation,
relocation and management of utility crossings,
construction of the tunnel and two 12 meter by
5.2 meter valve vaults and an adjacent 2 meter
by 1.76 meter steam tunnel and trench. Shirley
redesigned the plans to provide for an on-line
shoring system with integral water proofing membrane
that allowed the project to be constructed faster
with less excavation and disruption to the traffic
patterns of the complex. Shirley self-performed
all aspects of the project from the excavation,
shoring, waterproofing, all concrete work, and
restoration of the roadways.
