On Friday, February 21, 2025, GeoAlliance project members conducted a technical visit to the construction sites of the future Tokyo and Gara Băneasa metro stations, part of the SOUTH Section of the Metro Line 6, a strategic project that will improve urban mobility and contribute to the transformation of Bucharest into a modern, SMART, and sustainable city. This opportunity allowed geology and geophysics specialists to closely analyze the application of construction solutions for the development of the capital’s underground infrastructure and to conduct a demonstrative test using geophysical equipment from the category of geoelectrical techniques.
The meeting began with a workplace and environmental safety briefing, mandatory for the GeoAlliance team’s access to an M6 construction site. The safety rules, required protective equipment, and specific risk prevention measures for the work area were presented.
Within this visit, the GeoAlliance team and the representatives of Alsim Alarko – Makyol Association, the constructor designated for the execution of the design and execution contract for the purpose of the “Bucharest International Airport Railway Connection 6. Metro Section Lot 1.1: Design and Construction works between May 1st and Otopeni” (Metro Line 6. 1 Mai-Otopeni” discussed the impact of geological and geophysical studies on the safety and sustainability of metro tunnels considering the local geological context.
Integrating high-precision geophysical surveys into the planning and execution of infrastructure works can increase the resilience of underground infrastructure and optimize construction costs. These investigations are essential for identifying in advance the types of rocks to be excavated, detecting any unstable formations, and preventing geotechnical risks, thus ensuring optimal project execution. Bucharest is located in an area with high seismic risk and has a complex geological substratum, so the construction project implementation team used advanced investigation and excavation technologies to guarantee the safety of the underground works.
Alsim Alarko Association specialists presented to the GeoAlliance project members the environmental protection measures implemented in the two visited locations. They also provided technical details on the drilling methodology, the geotechnical challenges encountered and the maximum excavation depths, underlining the importance of the solutions adopted to ensure the safety and sustainability of the project.
By developing Metro Line 6, which will connect Gara de Nord with Henri Coandă Airport, Bucharest is taking an important step towards an efficient and interconnected public transport system, reducing road congestion and environmental impact.
The project „Bucharest International Airport Railway Connection 6. Metro Section Lot 1.1: Design and Construction works between May 1st and Otopeni” is one of public utility and national interest, according to Government Decision No. 496/2017, with subsequent amendments and additions, which ensures the mobility needs of people through the development of the trans-European transport network.
The project “Driving Sustainable Urban Futures: A Romanian-Norwegian Innovation Geophysical Alliance for Green Transition and SMART City Development” is co-financed by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants Romania 2014-2021, in the frame of the SME Growth Programme Romania. Grant number: 2024/395080. The project is a collaborative initiative between the University of Bucharest’s Faculty of Geology and Geophysics and Pre Stack Solutions – Geo AS (PSS-GEO AS) (www.pss-geo.com).