Ben Mellors
August 2025
Published in the SCL Journal: Summer 2025
The paper considers tunnelling and underground construction work and the significant recent developments in contracting practice with the FIDIC Emerald Book 2019; the 2023 guidance on Geotechnical Baseline Reports by both CIRIA in the UK and ASCE in the US; and the third edition of the International Code of Practice for Risk Management of Tunnel Works in 2023. The paper sets out the unique set of challenges that distinguish tunnelling and underground works from above-ground construction and the historical perspective to contracting practices today. The author identifies common themes in three principal areas: the choice of contract form; the allocation of ground risk and the use of GBRs; and risk management and insurance.
Introduction – (Why) is tunnelling and underground work different? – Factors affecting the success of a project – Role of the construction contract – Historical perspective – Procurement options in tunnelling and underground works – Forms of contract used for tunnelling projects internationally – Management and the allocation of subsurface risk – Geotechnical Baseline Reports (GBRs) – Risk management and insurance – Conclusion
The author: Ben Mellors is a partner at Hawkswell Kilvington
Text: 42 pages