Current repair plans aim to resume train services between Lybidska and Demiivska metro stations in Kyiv by early June, Kyiv City councilman charged with overseeing the process, Taras Kozak, reported via Facebook on Jan. 26.
He explained that the surface above the compromised tunnel is currently being reinforced to support heavy machinery. Excavation and additional ground conditions assessment will follow. There is a preliminary plan to replace a 27-meter section of the concrete tunnel, reinforce it with external chemical soil stabilization and an internal metal frame.
Kozak stated that the Demiivska station is the only one in Kyiv built on highly waterlogged soil, with the Lybid and Sovka subterranean rivers nearby. He mentioned that ideally, the station and tunnels should have been constructed "much deeper" in solid ground.
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“A special tunneling shield was ordered from abroad for constructing the tunnel from the Demiivska side towards Lybidska,” Kozak explained the original construction process.
“Unfortunately, an accident occurred during the tunneling, resulting in fatalities, and the shield was lost. The remainder was built with manual labor. There are concerns about the construction quality and the tunnel's reinforcement.”
According to him, technical issues with the tunnel section began months after it was finished in 2011. In November 2023, the situation deteriorated sharply, with sand entering the tunnel along with water.
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“We will investigate what contributed to the acceleration of the tunnel's decay,” the councilman said.
“Might the construction of a high-rise building a few dozen meters from the accident site be related? We are preparing to request a halt to all construction work near the tunnel section.”
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Kozak added that an ongoing investigation is probing which Kyiv officials approved the construction project at the time, despite the risks and drawbacks being obvious even without hindsight.
Due to urgent repair needs, a part of Kyiv Metro’s Blue Line between Lybidska and Teremki stations was closed on Dec. 8, 2023. Additional overground public transport services were deployed to accommodate the passenger flow.
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