Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link Project

Project Type: Design & Construct

Owner: Highways Department of Hong Kong

Construction Cost: HKD 18.2 Billion

Contractor: Dragages-Bouygues JV

Client: Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong

Design Period: 2013 – Ongoing

Construction Period: 2013 – 2018

 

The Project

The project includes the design and construction of two sub-sea tunnels, each approximately 13.5m in external diameter and 4.5km long with up to 50m below sea level. The tunnels run between Tuen Mun in the western New Territories and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities at Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island. To fulfil emergency and fire life safety requirements, both sub-sea tunnels are connected by 42 mined cross passages arranged at 100m intervals (total 52 cross passages). Ground-freezing technology will be used to provide a watertight environment to enable these passages to be constructed.

In the north, 16.5 hectares of land are reclaimed for the construction of a ventilation building, an approx. 600m long bored approach tunnel and a launch chamber. One of the bored tunnels increases in size to accommodate 3-lanes to provide a climbing lane. That requirements results in the largest bored tunnel in the world with an excavation diameter of 17.6m to be constructed up to now. In the south, another ventilation building, a 670m long cut-and-cover approach tunnel, and a TBM retrieval chamber is provided.

Key Aspects

• 2 x 4.5km plus 2 x 600m of twin segmentally lined bored tunnels (13.5m and 17m OD)
• Geology comprises of variable ground consisting of marine clay, alluvium (sand, Clay and silt), highly weathered granite to very competent granite
• Excavation by two slurry TBMs
• Pre-cast concrete lining segment consisting of:
• 8 segments, inner diameter 12.4m, 550mm segment thickness, 2.2m segment width
• 10 segments, inner diameter 15.6m, 700mm segment thickness, 1.7m segment width
• Mined cross passages every 100m
• 2 ventilation shafts at both ends of the reclaimed landfalls
• 3-cell caterpillar launch shaft a Northern Landfall using diaphragm walls (100m x 50m x 22m deep) including 2 struts at the top level
• Approach ramp at Northern Landfall using diaphragm walls
• Cut & cover structure at Southern Landfall using diaphragm walls

Scope of Works

NOMA Consulting is engaged by Arup to lead the detailed design of all mined and bored tunnel design aspects.

• Detailed design of segmental lining for Northern Landfall and Sub-sea tunnel
• Detailed design of temporary works for mined cross passages and opening support of segments at Northern Approach
• Detailed design of permanent works for cross passages at Northern Approach
• Detailed design of temporary works for mined cross passages and opening support of segments at subsea tunnel using ground freezing
• Detailed design of permanent works for cross passages at sub-sea tunnel
• Design support for bored tunnel internal structures
• Coordination of interfaces between bored tunnels and cut & cover structures such as launch & retrieval shaft as well as ventilation shafts
• Design coordination with contractor’s design team