Now that is has passed the FAT the 4.27m diameter Earth Pressure Balance Tunnel Boring Machine (EPBM) is destined for the Klong Saen Saeb Drainage tunnel project in Thailand.
Representatives of the Department of Drainage and Sewerage BMA, and contractors Summit Grade and PCE Joint Venture, attended the event.
The new TBM will construct a 3.7km drainage tunnel east of Bangkok, connecting the Saen Saep and Lat Phrao canals to the Chao Phraya River. The project’s tight alignment necessitates a TBM with active articulation, allowing it to negotiate a minimum radius curve of 40 meters.
The TBM’s cutterhead is designed for the soft ground conditions, featuring a spoke design with a 70% opening ratio and copy cutters to handle the clay, stiff clay, and clayey sand expected along the route.
The tunnel will be lined with 250mm thick, 1200mm wide, Universal reinforced concrete segments (5 + 1), installed as the TBM advances. Muck removal, segment transport and supply of consumables will be handled by rail-bound equipment using battery locomotives.
The Klong Saen Saeb Drainage Tunnel Project is one of several tunnelling projects undertaken by the BMA to mitigate the annual flooding problem in Bangkok, especially during the rainy season. The project presents unique challenges due to the tunnel’s location under a small canal with limited access for shaft construction and excavation, as well as the launch shaft’s proximity to densely populated areas. These factors necessitate careful site management and efficient production.
Excavation is expected to commence by the end of the year with project completion anticipated in 2026.
