SNC Lavalin Group member Atkins has won the 2020 Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Innovation Award for a world first cofferdam design approach on the Tuen Mun-Check Lap Kok Link project in Hong Kong. Due to the complex ground conditions, Atkins, who are supporting Dragages-Bouygues JV on the project, designed the world’s longest and largest caterpillar-shaped cofferdam in which TM-CLKL’s cut and cover tunnel is constructed. At 500 meters in length and 43 meters in depth, the 15 cell cofferdam design approach could save HKD 0.5-1 billion and 6-10 months in construction time.
TM-CLKL is a 5 kilometer sub-sea road link which will provide the most direct route between Hong Kong’s Northwest Territories and Hong Kong Island. It forms part of the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge project which was officially opened in late 2018. The world’s longest sea crossing reduces freight and passenger travel time between the three cities to within an hour and plays an important role in promoting the integration of the Greater Bay area.