Gammon Construction, Hong Kong’s largest contractor jointly owned by Sweden’s Skanska and Jardine Pacific, is set to secure a raft of tunnelling contracts in Hong Kong that is believed to be worth US$400M.

The deals cover most of the underground construction for a 1km extension of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation’s (KCRC) East Rail network from the existing terminus at Hung Hom to a new station at Tsim Sha Tsui East.

Industry insiders said Gammon Construction is well placed for all three jobs, although a funding row with local legislators on at least one of the contracts could cause delays.

The largest contract, HCC-301 involves the construction of running tunnels covering the 1km between Hung Hom and Tsim Sha Tsui East which Gammon has bid alone against competition from six contractors, including Nishimatsu, Amec, Kier and Dragages.

Gammon has partnered Nishimatsu for the second job, a US$148M scheme to build pedestrian tunnels in Tsim Sha Tsui to link the KCRC Tsim Sha Tsui terminus with the existing Mass Transit Railway Corporation station.

Gammon-Nishimatsu is competing against eight other individual contractors or joint ventures for the order, HCC-302.

Gammon-Nishimatsu have also tied up for the last job, HCC-300, involving the construction of Tsim Sha Tsui East underground station.

The KCRC has also awarded feasibility study contracts for a new US$4.5bn, 11.4km underground railway between the Central business district on Hong Kong Island and Sha Tin in the New Territories. The largest slice has been awarded to a team led by Mott Connell and Babtie BMT Harris & Sutherland, which will study plans for the northern section from Sha Tin to Hung Hom on the Kowloon waterfront.

Another team led by Atkins China and including Scott Wilson (Hong Kong) will prepare a similar study for a massive transportation interchange at Hung Hom.

Australian consultant Meinhardt, again with support from Scott Wilson (Hong Kong) will investigate the southern section from Hung Hom to Central and Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island. This section includes a fourth rail tunnel under Victoria Harbour that is likely to be built as an immersed tube.

These awards coincide with a formal invitation by the Hong Kong government to the KCRC and Mass Transit Railway Corporation to submit tenders for the development of the Central-Sha Tin line.