August Tunnel Progress

Tunnelling for DTL3 is on track of wrapping up with the further confirmation of 3 more completed tunnels between the Stadium shaft and Tampines West station, and Mattar and Macpherson station in the last quarter. These 2 TBMs will relaunch at the stadium shaft eastwards to Tampines Central station. The expo bound machine has just launched last night (Aug 30), while the new shields of the Bukit Panjang bound machine can be seeing at the top of the shaft.

Over at the prison shaft, there was a slowdown in tunnel progress due to management issues within CMC the past year. With the issued resolved, tunnelling progress has hasten with an average of 4-5 rings per day. The expo machine is now at ring 586 out of 818 rings (~72% completed). The BP machine is at 433 out of 836 rings (52% completed). Both machines will breakthrough in 3 to 4 months, before re launching back at prison shaft for the drives to Tampines West station. The final TBM launch for the entire Downtown Line will be undertaken by these 2 machines, estimated in January 2015.

Over at Tampines East, GS is doing up its final preparations for the re launch of its TBM that will bore the Bukit Panjang bound tunnel from Tampines East to Tampines Central. The tunnel works will pose a slight challenge this time round as the TBM tunnels right beneath the foundation of the existing Tampines Regional Library. The machine will launch in 2 weeks and breakthrough at TPC in January 2015.

DTL3 Tunnel Chart - August 2014

Overview of Stadium Shaft

C926

Entry to Prison Shaft which is isolated within a forest

(Aug 30) Daily progress of Prison Shaft TBMs towards Bedok Reservoir

Close up of Prison shaft, with the new BP TBM shields (white cylinders in the background)

C925 TPE-TPC

Lowering of middle shield

Lowering of front shield

Cutterhead is dismantled into halves to be re fitted onto the new machine

TBM ready to launch