References
Thu Thiem Tunnel
VIETNAM, 2005-2006
Construction of two cut and cover approaches on both sides of a tunnel under the Saigon river.
The Thu Thiem Tunnel is part of the important Saigon East-West Highway Project and is located on both side of the Saigon River, with the approaches being in West (District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City) and East (Thu Thiem). The diaphragm wall and barrette works for the two approaches were carried out by Bachy Soletanche Group Limited and Bachy Soletanche Vietnam, both Solétanche Bachy subsidiaries. The contract consisted of the construction of more than 7,000m2 of diaphragm wall and barrettes, both going down to approximately 33m.
In order to maintain traffic flow and allow the realisation of adjacent works on the Ben Nghe Canal, the project was carried out in 3 stages, on a night and day shift basis.
- Stage 1: The diaphragm wall and barrettes works were started on the Ho Chi Minh side, to allow the necessary diversions of the roads and bridges.
- Stage 2: All the equipment was transferred by barge over the Saigon river to the Thu Thiem side to carry out the diaphragm wall and barrettes works.
- Stage 3: The equipment was transferred back to Ho Chi Minh side to finish the works started during the first phase.
The diaphragm wall and barrettes were constructed together with the guide walls and over 8,000 tonnes of reinforcement cut, bend and fix, leading at one time during the project to a collective workforce of over 400. A KS grab was equipped with 5.0 x 0.8m jaw specially constructed for this job, to permit the excavation of 5m barrettes in one bite.
Techniques
A diaphragm wall is a reinforced concrete wall that is made in situ. The trench is prevented from collapsing during excavation, reinforcing and casting by the use of supporting bentonite slurry. The slurry forms a thick deposit (the cake) on the walls of the trench which balances the inward hydraulic forces and prevents water flow into the trench. A slurry made of polymers can also be used.
Ouvrages
Soletanche Bachy has developed a number of techniques for use in road structures; cut and cover tunnels, viaduct etc.
In the tunnelling field, Soletanche Bachy’s subsidiaries Soletanche Bachy Tunnels and CSM Bessac specialise in management of tunnel sites and also, for the latter, the design and construction of tunnel boring machines.
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