SYNOPSIS

Hong Kong has six cross-harbour tunnels constructed using the immersed tube tunnel technique. The first, the Cross Harbour Tunnel, was built in 1972 and features a dual 2-lane road tunnel. This tunnel utilised the circular steel shell technique developed in the USA. Subsequent immersed tube tunnels include the MTR Tsuen Wan Line Contract 103 (completed in 1979), the Eastern Harbour Crossing (1989), the Western Harbour Crossing (1997), and the MTR Airport Express Railway tunnel (1998). The most recent is the MTR Shatin to Central Link Cross Harbour Tunnel, completed in 2022. In this presentation, Mr Aikawa will first provide an overview of the immersed tube tunnel technique, discussing its advantages and disadvantages. He will then describe the unique technologies used in past immersed tunnel projects in Hong Kong, with a detailed focus on the technical challenges faced during the construction of the Shatin to Central Link. Finally, he will briefly present recent technological advancements in Japan and China


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Fumihiro Aikawa has 40 years of experience in the civil engineering field, out of which, 32 years in Hong Kong, 6 years in Australia and 1.5 year in Sri Lanka.  He worked for Japanese contractor, Kumagai Gumi in his first career and was engaged in 3 immersed tube tunnel projects, namely, Eastern Harbour Crossing, Western Harbour Crossing and MTR Airport Railway Cross Harbour Tunnels.  In Western Harbour Crossing and Airport Railway projects, he acted as the contractor’s design manager.  In 2013, he joined MTR Corporation as Construction Manager for Shatin to Central Link Contract 1121 – Cross Harbour Tunnels.  He lead the project team and managed the contractor Joint Venture well to achieve successful completion.  After MTR Corporation, he joined AECOM in 2020 as Vice President looking after major projects in Asia.