February 2010
Halcrow has been awarded the detailed design of the two sections of tunnel which form part of the Hong Kong's MTR Corporation’s new £10 billion Shatin to Central link (SCL).
The SCL is a strategic railway line that runs through multiple districts in Hong Kong. It comprises two sections. The first section will extend the existing Ma On Shan Line from Tai Wai to the West Rail Line through East Kowloon. The second section will bring East Rail Line across the harbour to Hong Kong Island. The SCL will strengthen the current railway networks by connecting several railway lines through a number of interchange stations. It will save travelling time and provide the community with faster and more convenient railway services.
The present design focuses on the line to the existing station at Hung Hom. The section of the route Halcrow is to design - known as Lion Rock and Diamond Hill approach tunnels - comprises 4.7km of twin tunnels, to be formed in two sections by drill and blast and tunnel boring machine. The commission also incorporates the design of associated ventilation structures.
Particular design challenges include accommodating the twin tunnel boring machine tunnels within a narrow road corridor that is confined by high-rise building foundations and seeking to raise the currently proposed alignment to reduce the pressures on the tunnel during construction.
The win re-establishes Halcrow's reputation as a major tunnelling consultant in Hong Kong, having previously designed tunnels for MTR on their Airport Railway and Tsueng Kwan O Extension.
Halcrow’s Hong Kong-based managing director and the project director Gerry Daughton said: “Within our technical proposal, we focused on providing innovative ideas to solve some of the difficult construction aspects of the design, and it is particularly pleasing that the MTR has complimented us on this aspect of our submission. This win has put Halcrow back on the map in Hong Kong as a major infrastructure designer and is an important milestone as we seek to expand our business in East Asia.”