The danger of the salt under Cluj endangers the constructions in the IRA area! It is difficult to get tickets, and the subway will be more expensive

The salt vein on the Mărăști – IRA – CUG axis endangers any major project that would be built in the area. In order to make passages or tunnels for the metro, additional studies are needed and costs are 2-3 times higher, according to a study consulted by Știri de Cluj. The IRA area is the most problematic, according to the study seen, although nothing has been made public about the depth soundings made.

Cluj has been drilled by wells from Florești to Mărăști, IRA and Sopor, but so far no concrete information about the salt deposits in Cluj’s soil has been published. This can lead us to believe that things are actually much worse in reality.

The problems with the salt warehouses in the delays can also be seen from Bucharest

The Minister of European Investments and Projects, Adrian Câciu, said on Thursday that everyone is asking him about the metro in Cluj, and he would like to ask the mayor as well.

The minister specified that in September he will also go to Cluj to see if we have the construction site, if the works have started, because the PNRR is not waiting for us, the year 2026 is just around the corner.

The Minister of Investments was asked on Prima News if the subway will be built in Cluj. “Everyone asks me about the metro from Cluj, I would like them to ask the mayor too“, said Căciu.

“I can tell you that in September – now there is a situation with politics and not to be understood otherwise (ed. there are local elections) – I will also go to Cluj to see if we have the construction site, if the works have started. They had to start. PNRR is not waiting for us, the year 2026 is just around the corner, I want to see exceptional things in Cluj, I express my confidence that we will see them“, Adrian Câciu also pointed out.

Drilling indicates large salt veins in the Mărăști area

So far, the drillings carried out in the Cluj metro project have brought to light a surprising discovery: the presence of a massif of salt in the eastern area of ​​the highway, next to clay deposits. This finding requires the adoption of special technical solutions to deal with the situation. According to our sources, additional studies are required to prevent possible problems that could arise during and after the start of the works.

During the drilling carried out in the eastern and southern area of ​​the subway route, a massif of salt was identified at depths between 12.50 and 25.0 meters. This discovery was made from Piața Mărăști station and extends to Aurel Vlaicu, IRA, Gheorgheni, Sopor and towards CUG. This aspect constitutes a geotechnical risk factor for the metro infrastructure and requires finding appropriate technical solutions, according to the conclusions of a study carried out by the Geostud company.

In addition, in the area of ​​the Mănăștur neighborhood, the presence of various soils was found, including clays, sandy clays and clayey sands. Bringing the metro route closer to the Someșul Mic river or the Mill Canal could lead to the interception of carbonized wood remains from these deposits. This implies the need to demolish at least 15 existing buildings in this area, according to the mentioned study.

The Geostud company made a total of 42 boreholes to identify the type of soil and find the most suitable technical solutions for the construction of the subway. The repeated drilling results, carried out at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, confirm the presence of salt in an extensive area, starting from Mărăști and reaching Someșeni, including in the former industrial areas of Cluj, from Clujana to CUG and towards Sopor.

The history of salt under Cluj is well known, and the existence of the salt baths at Someșeni demonstrates the importance of the massive salt vein that stretches to Apahida and possibly even further. This discovery could significantly influence future subway planning and construction in this area.

In terms of cost, these underground salt deposits can even triple the cost of construction projects. We have the case of Porcelanului bridge, where after the discovery of the salt vein, the cost of the work jumped from 5 million lei to 15 million lei.

Construction or work in areas with large salt deposits is a big challenge

Construction specialists say that work on an underground salt storage can bring various challenges and problems, and these depend on the specific nature of the storage and the construction project itself. Here are some aspects that can be problematic in construction on such deposits:

• Ground stability: Salt is a water-soluble material, and with an underground salt deposit, there is a risk that it will dissolve or move over time, which can affect the stability of the ground above.
• Undermining structures: The dissolution or displacement of salt deposits can lead to the formation of underground voids, which in turn can lead to the collapse or undermining of structures on the surface.
• Collapse risk: In some cases, salt deposits may have collapsing or fracturing characteristics, which increases the risk of collapse of the land above them.
• Geotechnical risks: Designing and building on such land requires a thorough understanding of the specific geotechnical properties of the salt deposit. It is necessary to adopt appropriate technical solutions to manage the associated risks.
• Solubility issues: If water penetrates the salt deposit, it can dissolve and create a briny solution, which can affect built structures.
• Solutions to meet these challenges may include specific construction techniques, constant monitoring of the basement, proper waterproofing.