Country's first river tunnel below Chao Phraya River is underway



BANGKOK: -- The ‘Blue Line’ subway train route which will extend the existing line from Sanam Chai – Tha Phra is making progress with now a tunnel is being bored underneath the Chao Phraya river.

The tunnel will run under the Chao Phraya river for a distance of 200 meters. It is the first time that such a river tunneling has been undertaken in the country.

Upon completion, commuters on the Thonburi side of Bangkok will find it more convenient to travel into the city.

The decision to construct the Blue Line electric train link, which is expected to be completed within the next two years, is a good news for residents living on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya river.

The line is an extension on the existing line and will run from Sanam Chai – Tha Phra. The digging of a tunnel which will stretch under the Chao Phraya has begun at the Issaraphap station on Soi 34 on Issaraphap road.

The depth at which the tunnel will be bored, which is part of the construction of the Issaraphap station, is comparable to the height of a ten story condominium.

From this station, the electric train will connect to the Tha Phra station further along the line.

The construction of the tunnel at this location is almost complete and will run a total distance of 300 meters and upon completion will allow residents of Thonburi to travel into the city in a matter of few minutes.

The total distance of the Blue Line extension line is approximately 2.6 kms and will include two underground stations at Sanam Chai and Issaraphap road.

The tunnel will be constructed with concrete strengthened with high tensile steel cables.

Manager of the Blue Line electric rail extension project Praphon Chanpradapfah said most of the tunneling will be through mostly sandy soil.

Most of the boring or tunneling that has been carried out in the country will encounter sandy soils and great care must be taken in the construction of the tunnel.

“What you must understand is that what is critical is not soil pressure but the pressure of water that will be pressing on the tunnel,” he said.

Chief executive officer of Ch Karnchang Plc Plew Trivisvavet said that when the project is completed, residents on both sides of the river whether from Bangkok city or those living on the Thonburi side will have an easier time travelling to and from.

He said passenger traffic on the Blue Line from Thonburi alone will amount to no less than 300,000 commuters per day.

Meanwhile construction of the ventilation tower located close to the Wat Kalayanamit Woramahawiharn temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya River is also underway.

This is also the location where the tunnel drilling rig for tunneling under the river will be based.

This the first time that such a task has been attempted in the country and the drilling process entails drilling 10 meters below the river bed with the depth of the river itself being 20 meters.

The Blue Line electric rail project is a major construction project that will have a significant impact on the transportation system in the capital.

The project will greatly reduce severe traffic congestion on the Thonburi side of Bangkok.

he extension of the line from Hua Lampong station to Bang Khae is expected to be completed by the year 2017 and will include four underground stations that will connect to seven elevated stations.

When completed, the entire Blue Line will connect Bang Sue and Tha Phra with a further eight stations and will allow residents of Bangkok and its periphery the use of a dedicated electric rail line which will reduce travel time significantly.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/countrys-first-river-tunnel-chao-phraya-river-underway/

-- Thai PBS 2014-08-26

who are the contractors?, not Thai I trust

knowing the safety standards of Thailand- good luck with this....

knowing the safety standards of Thailand- good luck with this....

Relax, statistically you're more likely to die from a car accident in the tunnel than the tunnel collapsing.

knowing the safety standards of Thailand- good luck with this....

Relax, statistically you're more likely to die from a car accident in the tunnel than the tunnel collapsing.

It's not maybe that it's the water that may come in from both ends, hope there is no floods. Was getting some pumps from Korea 2 years ago ??

who are the contractors?, not Thai I trust

has the mrt flooded at any time?

who are the contractors?, not Thai I trust

has the mrt flooded at any time?

I thought the Germans did that? Thai has a hard time laying a pavement properly or resurfacing a rural road that will last six months

Edited August 26, 201411 yr by jacky54

knowing the safety standards of Thailand- good luck with this....

Relax, statistically you're more likely to die from a car accident in the tunnel than the tunnel collapsing.

It's not maybe that it's the water that may come in from both ends, hope there is no floods. Was getting some pumps from Korea 2 years ago ??

no need for it- still can use the propellers from the ships.just hope they will fit in to the tunnel..

The trains above ground derail almost regularly. What happens in a derail under water?

All I can say is that it is going to take a S*@t load of bamboo to make all the tunnel supports and thousands of Burmese workers to mix that much cement. However I am confident that it will be completed on time and on budget with millions of baht left over for everyone to get their fair share.

The trains above ground derail almost regularly. What happens in a derail under water?

They will make a huge handle at each end of the tunnel so that they can flush all such problems down the drain and into the river! No problem.

Good luck to the ones who dare to use this tunnel...

"Manager of the Blue Line electric rail extension project Praphon Chanpradapfah said most of the tunneling will be through mostly sandy soil.

Most of the boring or tunneling that has been carried out in the country will encounter sandy soils and great care must be taken in the construction of the tunnel.

What you must understand is that what is critical is not soil pressure but the pressure of water that will be pressing on the tunnel, he said."

He obviously knows his subject well and he fills me with great confidence. He doesn't sound like he needs to ask a foreigner...

I really do wonder about the Thai haters who post on this site.

They must have had a very bad experience with their ladyboy on their one visit here to have developed such a hate.

well seeing how thais build things I think I would rather drive, maybe in a few years if it is still undamaged and operating ok. This will be the first one of its kind built here so I would rather not take any chances that they have used inferior materials to make a better profit, time will tell.

Edited August 26, 201411 yr by seajae

hahaha...this has ''disaster written allll over it''......

Interesting that they are tunneling under the Chao Praya. In San Francisco, maybe 40 years ago, they just laid the pipe on the bottom of the San Francisco Bay. Once all of the pipe was completed, they evacuated the water from the pipes, laid the track, and started running the subway to the East Bay cities. Works well. Scary though when the power is cut off, especially during an earthquake like in 1989. The methods used today must be greatly advanced. I would have no hesitation using this tunnel.

The hub of LEAKS!

I knew that submarine was for something !

3 words that should never be used in the same sentance.

Thailand - tunnel - river.

They had a test run in Phuket with the underpass there, and as you can see the results are outstanding ! A great feat of engineering to create Phuket's first outside swimming pool, made for cars !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP8r71xoWnU#t=24

I really do wonder about the Thai haters who post on this site.

They must have had a very bad experience with their ladyboy on their one visit here to have developed such a hate.

Experience does not equal 'hate' more like sceptical amusement.

slowly, slowly

knowing the safety standards of Thailand- good luck with this....

Relax, statistically you're more likely to die from a car accident in the tunnel than the tunnel collapsing.

Crikey, will this tunnel become a short cut for motorists???

There will be a set of snorkels next to the little hammer emergency thing

The hub of LEAKS!

I don't think this is a giant blue pipe and glue

I really do wonder about the Thai haters who post on this site.

They must have had a very bad experience with their ladyboy on their one visit here to have developed such a hate.

Try coming out of your ivory tower and spend a few weeks in industry and perhaps you may start to understand the apparent pessimism,derived from real life experience.

who are the contractors?, not Thai I trust

Wonder if the contractors have a cup of PG on their breaks

I post in jest , best wishes on the construction and remember, Safety First

knowing the safety standards of Thailand- good luck with this....

Relax, statistically you're more likely to die from a car accident in the tunnel than the tunnel collapsing.

Unless of course a few loads of cement or steel are substandard and got 'past inspevtors'

and the whole thing collapses in 6 years.

Motorcycles, no doubt, will be banned from using it.