Samsung and Taisei are the recent winners on Singapore’s Kallang/Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) after being awarded contracts to build over 5.5km of tunnels.
The US$209M contract 423 was awarded to Samsung Corporation to design and construct 2.96km of tunnels from Pan-Island Expressway to Ubi Road 2. The Taisei Corporation has won the US$146M, Contract 424 to design and construct 2.6km of tunnel from Ubi Road 2 to Defu lane 3.
The tunnels will be constructed using cut and cover, and both contracts include the construction of a road interchange and two ventilation buildings. The box culvert varies from 35.4m to 43.9m wide, and 8.63m to 9.33m high, depending on the sections.
The 12km long KPE, due to be completed in 2007, is the largest road project undertaken in Singapore, incorporating the longest road tunnel in South East Asia at 9km. It will link the East Coast Parkway in the south to the Tampines Expressway in the north-east.
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has also invited tunnelling companies to pre-qualify for further construction contracts on the US$747M third stage of the Circle Line.
Contracts 852 and 853 involve the design and construction of 6km of twin bored tunnels. Also included in the contract is the construction of two underground stations. Open tenders will be invited separately for a further three stations.
The project which runs from the city to the harbour front forms the eastern regional line within the overall Circle Line scheme and is due to be fully operational in 2006.
