By rosebell
Bouygues Travaux Publics and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) have been awarded the contract to build the Hong Kong East Drainage Tunnel by the Drainage Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
The project forms part of the government’s efforts to strengthen flood prevention infrastructure and improve resilience to extreme weather events.
3.6km tunnel to improve flood protection
The approximately 5m-diameter tunnel will connect Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan on the eastern coast of Hong Kong Island to Pak Sha Wan, where collected rainwater will be discharged into the sea.
The system will intercept surface runoff from upstream catchment areas before it reaches densely developed urban districts. By diverting stormwater away from the existing downstream drainage network, the project aims to reduce flooding risks in the Eastern District, where dense development and extensive impermeable surfaces increase runoff.
TBM, drill-and-blast and pipe-jacking methods
The construction programme includes the 3.6km drainage tunnel, seven intake structures to collect surface runoff, six connection adits and an outfall structure for discharging water into the sea.
The tunnel will be excavated using a combination of tunnel boring machine (TBM) excavation, drill-and-blast techniques and pipe jacking.
The intake structures will capture stormwater before it reaches built-up areas, while the connecting passages and outfall will form part of the integrated drainage system.
Completion scheduled for 2030
The project is scheduled for completion in 2030.
Bertrand Burtschell, deputy CEO of Bouygues Construction responsible for civil works, highlighted the company’s previous experience in Hong Kong, including its completion of the Hong Kong West Drainage Tunnel around two decades ago.
The new project builds on that experience, with the consortium tasked with delivering infrastructure designed to improve flood protection and strengthen the city’s resilience to increasingly severe weather events.
