Steinbach / Bad Liebenstein - In the Bad Liebenstein district of Steinbach in the Wartburgkreis, the LMBV Lausitzer und Mitteldeutsche Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH is planning to permanently drain the Steinbach pit of the Trusetal mine to avert danger. This is to be ensured by a new water tunnel, the excavation of which has been entrusted to ARGE Steinbachstollen, consisting of SCHACHTBAU NORDHAUSEN GmbH and BSI BERGSICHERUNG ILFELD GmbH & Co. KG. On September 29, the Anke tunnel was opened to the public in a ceremonial act. During the driving work, the tunnel bears the name of the godmother, Anke Thäle from the LMBV. 

During inspection tours of the Spat mine, which was closed in 1991, the LMBV discovered that the Steinbach tunnel could become blocked by floating wood. The new Steinbach tunnel is therefore to be excavated in order to avoid the danger of uncontrolled escape of mine water. The project also includes a connection to the existing surface drainage system for the Steinbach mine. In the future, the mine water emerging from the Steinbach tunnel and the new Steinbach tunnel will be discharged into the Grumbach, as it has been in the past.

The preparatory work has been underway since May, so that work can begin in the fall on the construction of the mine water drainage system. This means that work can begin in the fall on the construction of the mine water drainage system by means of the "Neuer Steinbachstollen" adit drivage system, including crosscuts, niches and water flushes. The tunnelling work will initially begin mechanically by means of excavators and will be carried out in the continued in the interior of the mountain in the good "gneiss" by means of blasting.

The new Steinbach tunnel will be excavated almost parallel to the old one. At around 1,200 meters, it will be somewhat longer than the existing tunnel and at 12 m² it will also have a larger cross-section. The public showed great interest in the 2022 Visitors' Day. Many Thuringians took the opportunity to find out about the planned work. By May 2024, the drilling works is to be completed.