COWI won the contract in competition with the British-based consulting companies Hyder and a joint venture of Arup and Symonds. "This contract fits perfectly with our strategy of being an international service leader in the tunnel market," says Torsten Moelgaard, head of COWI's tunnel department.

The immersed tunnel forms part of the new Metro line Sha Tin to Central Link, which is foreseen to open for traffic in year 2009 after an investment of 4.5 billion Euro.
 
The tunnel contains two tubes for the Metro and it includes a 'cut&cover' section on the Kowloon side, in an already densely built-up area.

From here the Metro crosses the busy Victoria harbour in the immersed tunnel section. On the Hong Kong Island side the immersed tunnel connects to a bored tunnel.
 
Manoeuvring of the floating tunnel elements in the busy harbour area and the connection to the bored tunnel section will require advanced technical skills.

Published 14.03.2003