The Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) has issued tenders for the design and construction of tunnels and associated facilities as a part of Singapore’s completion of the high-speed rail project connecting to Kuala Lumpur.
Construction is scheduled to start out next 12 months.
“On April 6, we announced tenders for the design and construction of twin-bored tunnels and associated facilities, and on April 11 for the design and construction of bored and cover tunnels leading to Jurong East Terminal Station,” an LTA spokesman said.
Tunnels are constructed using tunnel boring machines, that are preferred for longer sections of underground excavation because they cause less disruption to utilities, buildings and structures.
In comparison, bored and canopy tunnels are constructed using retaining structures after which excavated in stages.
This method is preferred over shorter distances and in open areas with fewer surface utilities, buildings and structures.
Excavated and covered tunnels are also more suitable for larger underground structures, resembling the tunnel resulting in the Jurong East terminus.
The LTA said the remaining civil tenders could be announced in the approaching months and construction work would begin next 12 months.
Late last 12 months, the governments of Malaysia and Singapore signed an agreement to launch the project. Under the bilateral agreement, the HSR service is scheduled to be operational by December 31, 2026, reducing travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to only 1.5 hours from about 4 hours by automobile.
Source: The Straits Times
