TBM Xihe has broken through to complete the second of two tunnels extending from the existing Tung Chung Station to the future Tung Chung West Station.
The variable density TBM, which has a diameter of approximately 7.3m, was launched early last year. It finished excavation of the first 1.3km tunnel in just under a year.
Hong Kong’s public transport operator, MTR Corporation, said that after completion of the first drive, construction teams overcame the space constraints at the Tung Chung West Station worksite to carry out MTR’s first in situ TBM U-turn operation. This reduced the need for large-scale lifting and ground transport before commencing excavation of the tunnel back towards Tung Chung Station.
MTR chief executive officer Jeny Yeung said TBM Xihe had negotiated complex and variable geological conditions, boring through mountains and beneath the sea to establish the underground railway corridor for the Tung Chung West section.
Also on the project, major track diversion works on the Tung Chung East section are under way. The Hong Kong-bound track is expected to be diverted in the third quarter of this year, allowing trains to operate on the new track section. Subsequently, a section of the existing tracks will be removed to make way for the Tung Chung-bound track diversion works, including the remaining two critical turnout installations to be carried out later this year and next year.
The Tung Chung Line extension is due to be completed in 2029.
