TBM gets ready for Singapore's Downtown Line
12 September 2012The first of six 6.65m diameter Robbins EPBs is set for a massive undertaking for Singapore's Downtown Line, excavating contract C927 running between Bedok Park and Bedok Reservoir. The 62t cutterhead for the machine was lowered in August and the TBM is scheduled to begin excavation this month, Robbins recently announced.
"Assembling the machine was a challenge due to the small shaft opening," said said Mark Passey, Robbins site manager. "This required assembling the shield in smaller sections than usual, and required the use of a purpose-built lifting adaptor to lower the cutterhead support and forward shield separately."
Two EPBs will excavate contract C927 for contractor CMC di Ravenna of Italy, which will bore parallel 1.35km tunnels through alluvium consisting of cemented sandstone and beach rock. Four more Robbins EPBs will excavate contracts C925 and C937 for contractor GS Engineering & Construction of Korea.
