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Balfour Beatty JV wins HK$2.6bn Hong Kong tunnel contract

Balfour Beatty’s 50:50 Far East joint venture, Gammon Construction, has been awarded the "Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL)- Northern Connection Tunnel Buildings, Electrical and Mechanical Works" contract, worth HK$2.6bn (US$331m; £249m) by Hong Kong’s Highways Department.

A major subsea infrastructure, the TM-CLKL links Hong Kong’s Northwest New Territories to the new Boundary Crossing Facilities constructed on an artificial island that is connected to Chek Lap Kok airport, and onward to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and North Lantau.

Gammon will provide electrical and mechanical (E&M) facilitation for the new 5km tunnel from Tuen Mun to Boundary Crossing Facilities Island and will include the tunnel’s ventilation, road lighting, central monitoring and control systems.

The contract also requires the provision of civil and building works for the construction of a number of tunnel buildings including the Administration, Toll Control, Maintenance Depot and Satellite Control buildings, as well as the landscaping works on the landfall at either end of the tunnel.

The works have already commenced with completion expected in late 2020. A workforce of 1,700 will be engaged at construction peak.

Balfour Beatty said offsite methods and digital project delivery will be used "to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of the contract".

At least 70% of the E&M works will be of modular construction and drone photogrammetry for 3D mapping and surveying will be used for accuracy.

Other techniques include a "flying factory" (a local offsite production facility), tailor-made cable laying trucks and off site construction of the toll booths.

Gammon chief executive Thomas Ho said: "Gammon is currently undertaking the design and build of the Southern Connection Viaduct Section of Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link project and we are delighted for another opportunity to play a key role in this important infrastructure project for Hong Kong."

Image: The TM-CLKL links Hong Kong’s Northwest New Territories to the new Boundary Crossing Facilities constructed on an artificial island that is connected to Chek Lap Kok airport (Government of Hong Kong)

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