A MILESTONE IN TUNNELING - ROTTERDAM MAAS TUNNEL CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Built 1937-42 in Rotterdam, Holland, the Maas River Tunnel was the fir st immersed road tunnel in the world with a rectangular cross-section, constructed in reinforced concrete. On the occasion of the 50-year an niversary of this milestone in Tunnelling, T&UST is devoting this corn memorative article to the subsequent development of the immersed tube technique. Based on their personal experience, the authors recall the innovative design and execution process, and the dramatic circumstanc es during World War II that characterized the Mass Tunnel project. A b rief review is given on the further, worldwide development of immersed tunneling that resulted from the achievements on the Mass Tunnel pilo t project.