A JV between Zen Pacific Civil Contractors and Dragages et Travaux Publics has just started work on the second drive on the 1.7km long Ha Kwai Chung tunnel on part of Hong Kong’s US$5.9bn West Rail project.
The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation said the TBM, ‘Mulan’, is expected to hole through in September. The Ha Kwai Chung link is one of three tunnel sections that together form the US$244M, 3.6km long Kwai Tsing tunnels being built by Zen Pacific-Dragages near Hong Kong’s Kwai Chung container port.
The two other tunnels are the 1.8km long Tsing Tsuen tunnel and the 120m long Tsing Tsuen cut and cover link.
The KCRC confirmed that the US$230M, 5.5km Tai Lam tunnel, being built by JV Dragages/ Nishimatsu is due to breakthrough in April. "Excavation has already advanced more than 5km and is over 90% complete," said a KCRC spokesman.
Dragages-Nishimatsu are building a single tunnel and installing a concrete wall to create two self contained bores.
KCRC is hoping all tunnelling work on the 30.5km long first phase of the West Rail scheme can be completed by the end of October when the installation of mechanical and electrical services will begin in earnest.
