1 Tunnel boring works of the MTR Kowloon Southern Link successfully completed
MTR Press Release, 17 March 2008
“Xiaolongnu”, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) used in MTR’s tunnelling works for the Kowloon Southern Link (KSL) project in Tsim Sha Tsui, successfully completed the two railway running tunnels between the future West Kowloon Station and the existing East Tsim Sha Tusi Station in mid March, marking a significant milestone for the Project.
At a ceremony held to mark the completion of the tunneling work, Mr Russell Black, Projects Director of the MTR Corporation, said, “This 1.1-km long TBM tunnelling section, though relatively short, posed unique engineering challenges during the construction of the KSL Project. The alignment is in close proximity to a number of structures that are highly sensitive to noise and vibration, including the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong Space Museum and hotels in Canton Road and Salisbury Road. Through detailed planning and careful implementation by the project team and the contractor, the work was completed successfully.”
“On the approach to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station, the TBM had to cross above the existing MTR Tsuen Wan Line tunnels at the junction of Nathan Road and Salisbury Road which are only less than two metres away. This in itself was a feat of precision engineering. Once again, with the excellent collaboration of the contractor’s experts and MTR’s own project team members, ‘Xiaolongnu’ proceeded without causing any impact on the Tsuen Wan
Line service,” Mr Black said.
Another challenge of this tunnelling work was to exercise strict control of the noise and vibration from the machine, particularly whilst passing close to Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Space Museum in order not to cause disruption to their activities.
Mr Black said, “The geotechnical environment also made the tunnelling works particularly challenging. The TBM tunnels had to pass through completely contrasting ground conditions ranging from very hard rock under Canton Road and the Former Marine Police Headquarters, to soft marine deposits in Haiphong Road and underneath Salisbury Road. The slurry type TBM has achieved its designed performance in successfully passing through these difficult ground conditions. ”
The 80-metre-long “Xiaolongnu” commenced its operation in October 2006 and completed the first tunnel in July 2007. With the experience gained in the first drive, “Xiaolongnu” completed the second drive in less than six months.
“Xiaolongnu” only required two areas of land, at the launching shaft and retrieval shaft for tunnelling, thus minimising the construction impacts on road traffic and pedestrians and on the surrounding community, as compared with the alternative cut-and-cover tunnelling method.
After the completion of the tunnel drives, “Xiaolongnu” is now being dismantled in the retrieval shaft for removal from the site.
The contract for the construction of the bored tunnels from Jordan Road to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station, in addition to the construction of West Kowloon Station, was awarded to Link 200 Joint Venture in July 2005.
Construction of the Kowloon Southern Link is on track for completion in 2009.
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Photo Caption:
(1) A moment of excitement when the 80-metre-long tunnel boring machine
“Xiaolongnu” successfully completes its second drive in March 2008.
(2) MTR project team members and working partners from contractor Link 200 Joint Venture celebrating the breakthrough of the TBM down-track tunnel of the Kowloon Southern Link.
(3) An interior view of a completed bored tunnel section which is seven metre in diameter.
(4) MTR Corporation’s Projects Director Mr Russell Black (centre), Deputy Projects Director Mr K K Lee (2nd from left), General Manager – KSL Mr Henry Lam (left), Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation’s Chief Officer Ir James Blake (2nd from right) and the contractor’s Project Manager Mr David Westwood (right) toasting for the completion of the TBM works.
