MRT Sg Buloh line 30% done

Tunnel plan: Amiruddin (middle), MMC-Gamuda project manager Vincent Neng Kha Looi (left) and MMC-Gamuda project director Param Sivalingam checking the MRT SSP tunnelling plan at the project site. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA: The MRT Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) line was close to 30% complete as at early July and is on schedule to move on to its next phase of construction, says Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp).

MRT Corp SSP Line project director Datuk Amiruddin Ma’aris said the long span viaduct crossover along Jalan Kuala Selangor had already started, adding that the commencement of track laying works on the main line will start by December.

“With construction progressing rapidly and on track along the northern elevated alignment, we are confident of completing the viaduct works in time to achieve this milestone,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He said increased construction work can also be seen at the southern and Putrajaya elevated sections of the line.

“Mined tunnel works at the first section of the southern elevated alignment in Taman Universiti just began in June 2018. The section, which is going over high ground at the Mardi area, is the only mined tunnel section of the entire 38.7km of elevated tracks.

“The tunnel consists of a mined tunnel and cut and cover tunnel with a total length of 540m.”

Bored piling works, pile caps and pier head works are also taking place along the southern and Putrajaya sections, with certain locations such as Equine Park and Cyberjaya already gearing up for segmental box girder launches by end-July.

Additionally, Amiruddin said the underground section of the MRT SSP line was progressing well, with 33.3% of work completed.

“Currently, there are two tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) operating along the underground section from Bandar Malaysia to Jalan Chan Sow Lin and six TBMs are scheduled to be launched between October and November 2018.

“Four of the TBMs will be launched from Titiwangsa with two going towards Sentul and another two towards the HKL Crossover. In addition to this, another two TBMs will be launched at the crossover towards Ampang Park.”

Providing an update on the procurement status of the MRT SSP Line, Amiruddin said that to date 48 tenders have been awarded consisting of all civil, station and systems work packages. The remaining 20 tenders that are still ongoing are for the construction of multi-storey park and rides and designated contractors/suppliers.

The MRT SSP Line is the second line of the Klang Valley MRT project that began construction in 2015. It will serve a corridor with a population of two million people stretching from Sungai Buloh to Serdang and ending in Putrajaya.

With a total length of 52.2km, consisting of 38.7km of elevated tracks and 13.5km of underground tunnels, the line connects 35 stations. Phase one of the line is set to be launched by July 2021, while the entire line will be fully operational by July 2022.