SCL Hong Kong: DSI Austria supplies Ground Support Products for Modern Transportation System

The Shatin to Central Link (SCL) is a new 17km railway connection that runs through several districts of Hong Kong. Once completed, the SCL will significantly shorten travel time between East Kowloon, the eastern, western and northern New Territories and the North of Hong Kong Island. The project consists of two parts – the East- West Corridor and the North-South Corridor.

As the SCL runs through existing districts along the entire planned route, the major part of the line will be underground. In the East-West Corridor in section SCL1103, several tunnels were built that will connect Hing Keng and Diamond Hill stations. Diamond Hill will be the future main traffic hub for East Kowloon. Section 1103 has a total length of 3,877m and is built by VINCI Construction Grands Projets, Hong Kong. The two parallel tunnel tubes in this area were advanced using a 7.4m diameter Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) along a 1,695m long section. The second, 2,182m long part of the section was built using the drill and blast method. As the responsible engineering office, Ove ARUP and Partners supported the General Contractor with services including engineering, design and project management. DSI Austria supplied a comprehensive range of ground support products for tunneling in section 1103. The fact that comprehensive certifications and quality demonstration records had to be provided once again for each individual product in Hong Kong represented a major challenge. Many products that had already established themselves many years ago on international markets had to undergo comprehensive quality tests at accredited universities in order to obtain permission for use in Hong Kong. In addition to DSI Anchors, which were used as a self-drilling ground control solution, DSI Glass Fiber Anchors and POWER SET Self- Drilling Friction Bolts were used for rock stabilization. Lattice Girders were used as passive support system for the excavated cross section. As a pre-support measure used in weak ground conditions, DSI Austria also supplied the Type AT – 114 Pipe Umbrella System with nipple connections. The pipe umbrellas increase the stability in the working area by transferring loads in the longitudinal direction and decrease excavation induced deformations. Experienced DSI Austria employees supervised the installation of the products and systems on site, ensuring smooth and efficient working procedures.