Now I'm getting the impression that what they were tunneling through is not monolithic rock, but dirt with rocks in it. I.e., if you remove a segment of tunnel liner behind the machine, the roof will cave in, and the dirt will keep pouring in until the tunnel fills or until the resulting cavity reaches the surface. Dangerous, indeed.
Also, because it's the largest such machine ever built, they can't just buy a used one, or parts of one, from somewhere else.
I wonder if they could leave it where it is, buy two (used?) TBMs of ~half the size, and drive two smaller tunnels instead of one big one?
Doesn't matter, really. It smells like the dispute over cost overruns, from estimates based entirely on fantasy, with local and state politicians trying so hard to screw each other, will spend decades in court.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA