Development of underground construction engineering in the Czech Republic / Entwicklung des unterirdischen Ingenieurbaus in der Tschechischen Republik

The following paper is divided into three parts. The first part recounts the history of tunnelling in the Czech Republic (CR). There is mention of the extensive underground spaces below several historic towns, the unique Rudolf's gallery constructed in 1582 to 1593 on the direct order of Hapsburg Emperor Rudolf II, and the first sewerage system in Prague with a sewage treatment plant completed in 1907, designed by the English engineer W.H. Lindley. More than 16 railway tunnels older than 150 years are still in operation in the CR, the oldest being the three Nelahozeves Tunnels from 1848 (two older tunnels, Trebovický and Slavíc, were closed). The second part of the paper is devoted to tunnelling technologies used in the CR. Major technologies are mentioned - e.g. the ring method connected with Prague metro construction and the NATM - the prevailing tunnelling method in the CR since the 1990s. The last part of the paper presents some important non-transport underground structures in the CR (i.e. structures for water, power and utility purposes).