Italy's 1,764-ton tunnel borer 'Aurora' begins final Naples-Bari tunnel after river crossing
The 1,764-ton tunnel boring machine 'Aurora' has begun excavating the 4.4-kilometer Melito Tunnel, the final underground segment of the Apice-Hirpinia section on Italy's new Naples-Bari high-speed rail line. After completing the 2-kilometer Grottaminarda Tunnel, the machine was dismantled, transported across the Ufita River via a temporary steel bridge, and reassembled to start this new drive. Powered by 18 motors generating 6.3 megawatts, Aurora will operate at depths up to 130 meters, installing over 22,200 concrete segments. This move marks a critical milestone for the project, which aims to connect Campania and Puglia regions and forms part of the European TEN-T network.