Soft ground tunneling in the vicinity of existing structures is a major challenge to tunneling engineers. Tunneling works cause inevitable ground movements that may lead to unrecoverable damages to adjacent structures. Tunneling rates significantly affect such risks. However, a guideline that determines appropriate tunneling rates and accounts for the effects of tunneling on the structures existing in the vicinity is not available. Tunneling records in terms of TBM advance speed (AS), utilization factor (U), and advance rate (AR) for tunnels constructed without causing significant risks on the existing structures are presented in the paper.These records are discussed for different types of existing structures.Ranges of these records for tunneling without causing detrimental effects on different types existing structures are recommended.Useful observations are also made on the variation of these records with the ground type and composition and the precautions to be adopted to mitigate the tunneling risks on existing structures.

Egypt has a large road network on which more than 3,000 bridges are in service. To provide for safe and functional bridges, periodic inspection and assessment of bridge condition is essential. This paper presents the results of a part of on-going research project in which seven RC bridges in Egypt were visually inspected in 2019 and 2020. The inspection results are used to survey the types and quantities of defects that are common in different elements of RC bridges. The defects that were surveyed in the current investigation include spalling of concrete with and without exposed rebar; wear and pothole in wearing surface; distortion and connection in metal railing; crack, delamination and spalling in median barrier; and wear, spalling and settlement in curbs and sidewalks. The inspection results are further used to determine the densities of these defects in the main elements of RC bridges. Discussion is also made on the evolution of defects with aging of bridges.