Mine Development With Heavy Roadheaders

Heavy (exceeding 35 tons) roadheaders have not seen much use in the United States, but are used extensively in Europe to excavate many types of underground openings in civil and mining applications. Early models of roadheaders were light and suitable only for utility excavation such as drift enlargement or chamber excavation, unless the ground was very soft and easily cuttable. Frontier-Kemper Constructors, Inc. is now using a 45-ton roadheader to excavate two mine slopes in Kentucky and a 70-ton roadheader to excavate a long decline at a new mine in Utah. Results to date indicate that heavy roadhead machines are an effective alternative to both conventional excavation and full-face boring machines in many cases; and where circumstances are favorable are a superior choice. This paper concentrates on applications in the mine development construction industry, but the conclusions are no less valid for civil construction.