Ep 6. Monster Tunnel

In Building Giants season 1 episode 6, titled "Monster Tunnel," viewers are taken on an exciting journey through the construction of a massive tunnel in Switzerland. The episode showcases the team tasked with building one of the country's largest infrastructure projects and their quest to complete it within a tight deadline.

The tunnel, called the Gotthard Base Tunnel, is a remarkable feat of engineering, measuring 57.1 kilometers long and 2.3 kilometers deep. It is designed to cut travel time between two major cities in Switzerland, Zurich and Lugano, by more than an hour. This tunnel is not only a commuting vessel but also serves as an economic artery for trade and future energy development projects.

The episode begins with a quick overview of the tunnel project's scope. Then it dives right into the construction process, showcasing some of the colossal machines and tools used to excavate the tunnel. Viewers get a glimpse of how the team bored through solid rock using state-of-the-art machinery, explosives, and high-pressure water jets to form the tunnel.

Viewers also get a sense of how the team had to overcome significant obstacles that come with a project this size. The most significant challenge for the builders was digging through the Gotthard mountain, which is made of granite. The rock was so hard they had to develop new techniques and machines to do it effectively. It was a risky undertaking, and any significant miscalculation could have disastrous consequences.

As the episode progresses, viewers get a sense of the complexities involved in building this tunnel. They learn that the tunnel had to be designed to withstand significant pressure changes, temperatures, and traffic, all while maintaining a smooth and safe flow of people, goods, and equipment. The tunnel is designed to accommodate high-speed trains traveling up to 250 kilometers per hour, meaning it must be built with precision and accuracy.

However, the team didn't just face technical challenges. The builders were also confronted with difficult working conditions as they worked deep underground with limited air supply and light. The episode explores how the workers dealt with these issues and the efforts made to keep them safe.

Finally, in the last half of the show, viewers get to witness the final touches as the tunnel is prepared to open. They highlight the final construction phases, such as paving the lower tunnel floor, installing lighting, and laying out the train tracks. They showcase the testing stages necessary to ensure the tunnel is entirely safe, such as simulating a fire to test the ventilation systems.

The episode concludes with the grand opening of the tunnel. In this grand finale, viewers get to see people excitedly boarding the train to experience a feat of engineering that will change the face of transportation in Europe and make traveling more efficient. The team's hard work and dedication have paid off as the tunnel is now officially open for public use safely.

In conclusion, the Building Giants season 1 episode 6 episode "Monster Tunnel" takes viewers on an emotional journey through one of Europe's most significant infrastructure projects. It showcases builders' resilience and dedication in overcoming daunting challenges to build a tunnel that will benefit generations to come. The episode is educational in providing insights on how this incredible engineering feat was accomplished, which is exhilarating to watch.