Hong Kong’s MTR has announced yet another contract award on its US$5bn, 26km long twin-tube XRL rail tunnel, with the CRCC/Hsin Chong/CRCC 15th Bureau winning C826 for the 3.2km long section between Huanggang and Mai Po.
Starting on the China side of the border at Huanggang Park, some 2km south of the line’s first station at Futian, the cross border 3.2km long tunnel extends 1.5km into the Hong Kong side finishing at Mai Po.
The JV will use two 9.9m excavation diameter slurry TBMs to construct the twin bores, slightly larger than the rest of the line as the mainland walkway requirements are wider due to different fire codes.
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Construction has already begun on the China side for XRL, although the TBMs are yet to be ordered for the main drives.
The announcement follows hot on the heels of last week’s award of the US$417M, 7.6km long twin-tube C822 to Leighton Asia between Tse Uk Tsuen and Shek Yam, by drill and blast, and January’s announcement that Penta-Ocean Construction had won the US$217M Contract 825, for the TBM construction of 2.19km of twin tube tunnel from Mai Po to Ngau Tam Mei.
There a further 6 tunnel contracts scheduled for award by summer this year: C820 – Mei Lai Road to Hoi Ting Road; C823A – Kam Ting Tunnels; C821 – Shek Yam to Mei Lai Road; C823B – SSS and ERS; C824 – Ngau Tam Mei to Tai Kong Po; C827 – supply and installation of cross passage doors.
When completed in 2015 the XRL will allow commuters from Hong Kong to reach Shanghai in eight hours and Beijing in 10hrs, halving the present 20hr journey.
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