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VSL News 2013 Issue 2

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VSL News 2013 Issue 2 VSL THE VSL NEWS MAGAZINEnews • ISSUE TWO 2013 TECHNICAL CENTRES Global expertise for local projects Elevated segmental road bridges Second Penang Bridge 14 bUsiNess iMproVeMeNt sUSTAINable Sustainable development at heart coNstrUCTION 4 16 facts&treNDs iNfrastrUCTUre PROTECTION 7 Infrastructure protection: Police shield 8 coVer storY technical centres: Global expertise for local projects 16 site iNsiGHts Australia: Revamping an icon Vietnam: Bank HQ Poland: Two for Torun Ethiopia: Bridge recovery 26 FOCUs Elevated segmental road bridges 29 r&D polymeric ducts PT-PLUS® - for enhanced durability tecHNICAL ceNtres 8 30 tecHNICAL report Mitigating vibrations: Disk brakes or rubber pads? 32 tecH sHoW second penang bridge teNDoNs 23 A landmark link DUCTS 26 PEFC/10-31-1238 PROMOUVOIR LA GESTION DURABLE DE LA FORÊT briDGe 32 NEWS, magazine published by VSL International Ltd. • Köniz, Switzerland Director of Publication: VSL Communications • Jane Rousseau • [email protected] Editor in chief: Elisabeth Lichter-Rodriguez • [email protected] Co-ordinators: Christine Mueller-Sinz, Carlos Such, Doris Tong. Distribution: Anne-Marie Thevenin • [email protected] Design: Red Line Photos: Derek Allan, Hervé Gouband, Philippe Guignard, VSL staff, others Copyright: VSL 2013 • Cover photo: Second Penang Bridge VSLnews ISSUE TWO • 2013 Optimised solutions for complex projects With its highly regarded experts in the Technical Centers, VSL can tackle Daniel rigout, even the most difficult of engineering challenges and provide what is Chairman and really best for the project. Their technical expertise coupled with practical Chief Executive Officer know-how allows them to provide advice and consultancy to both internal and external clients, optimising solutions in terms of constructability and the costs involved, no matter how complex the project. The centralised teams of the technical centres support decentralised teams in 35 countries. They assist in finding alternatives when required and come up with new solutions wherever appropriate. Their excellent reputation, built on long-term experience, ensures invaluable support to the local teams when addressing complex projects requiring extensive preparation. Such exchange of knowledge within VSL’s global network enables the group’s vast pool of experience to be fully exploited and applied across a wide variety of engineering fields. Encouragement of lateral thought processes provides the ideal environment in which to nurture novel - and often remarkably simple - solutions to demanding problems. This is how we like to serve our clients. business improvement ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Sustainable construction VSL, in a joint venture with China Harbour and Dragages Hong Kong, is building a 9.4km section of the Hong Kong- Zhuhai-Macao Bridge project. Environmental protection is at the heart of the work, which involves the design and construction of a viaduct over the deep waters to the west of Hong Kong. ustain- and Hong Kong waters, with Hong The dolphins are protected and the ability Kong’s highest density found in the 9.4km Hong Kong Link Road (HKLR) S is high waters west of Lantau Island. has been carefully aligned to avoid on the agenda for work on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai- Macao Bridge (HZMB) projects. All operations have to adhere to strict environmental policies regarding air, water and sediment quality, ecol- ogy, cultural heritage, waste man- agement, noise and the impact on fisheries. Reducing vehicle CO2 emissions The HZMB will provide the first direct road connection between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao. The new route will help minimise CO2 emissions from vehicles as it will significantly shorten journey times in the region. From Zhuhai to Kwai Chung Container Port, the distance and time will be reduced from today’s 200km and 3.5 hours to about 65km and 75 minutes. Similarly, the journey between Zhuhai and Hong Kong International Airport will be cut from over 200km taking approxi- mately four hours to about 40km and 45 minutes. Protecting the Chinese White Dolphin There are approximately 1,500 Chinese White Dolphins in the east- ern part of the Pearl River Estuary 4 Vsl news magazine No 2-2013 the main areas where the species Minimising the RENEWABLE ENERGY is found. In addition, extensive miti- environmental impact Bouygues construction BETTER LIFE LOGO BOUYGUES CMJN DRAGON 100% gation measures are being put in Various alignment options for the link C 0 M 80 - - J 100 - - Solar powerN 0 place to minimise the impact of road were considered and extensive - - - - - - - - - - construction. public consultation took place before for geotechR1-28/02/12 There will be also constant observa- Hong Kong’s Administration decided tion for any sign of dolphins while to locate the boundary crossing facili- Laboratories has work is taking place. Perimeter silt ties (HKBCF) northeast of the Airport introduced renewable ‘curtains’ will be set up at a distance Island. The HKLR will run along the FTenergy options to power of 250m around the working areas to Airport Channel at the southern side its range of equipment. Monitoring create a dolphin exclusion zone and of the island, away from ecologically systems can now be fitted with operations will be suspended until sensitive areas such as the San Tau solar arrays or wind turbines to any dolphin within the zone has left. Site of Special Scientific Interest, as provide power without installation All underwater percussive piling is well as seagrass and horseshoe crab of electrical supply. This option is banned and the formation of rock nursery sites. sockets for bored piles will be sus- pended from May to June, which is A tunnel-cum-at-grade road the peak calving season. Construction scheme was adopted in lieu of a vessels are limited to a speed of viaduct option for the section from 10 knots and must use designated Scenic Hill on the Airport Island to navigation channels. The project will the HKBCF to minimise visual im- also adopt best practice measures pacts. The HZM Bridge being built that minimise sediment dispersal by the Dragages-China Harbour- during dredging operations. VSL Joint Venture will straddle the headland between San Shek Wan particularly useful for installing and Sha Lo Wan without affecting monitoring systems in remote areas the natural shorelines of Lantau or where an electrical supply is Island. Hydrodynamic impacts on not readily available. It is also ideal the Airport Channel will be mini- for meeting client requirements mised by sinking the viaduct’s pile for more environmentally friendly caps to below seabed level in that alternatives. n section. Comprehensive environmental WORKING METHODS monitoring A comprehensive environmental VSL grouting monitoring and audit programme is being implemented during construc- in a bag tion to check for any environmental impacts on the nearby sensitive ar- SL Australia has recently eas that may be affected by work on added several bulk bag the HZMB projects. V cement dispensers to its Perimeter silt curtains will be set up equipment pool. The dispensers around all marine works to control were designed specifically to suit spills and prevent sea-life entering VSL’s needs: they reduce manual work zones. Works will be suspended handling, environmental impact when dolphins are inside the 250m and the risk of injury as well as exclusion zone. improving quality and productivity. The monitoring and audit system will Cement is delivered in 1t bags, lifted also confirm that protection mea- by forklift or telehandler. Operation sures are effective as predicted and is ‘push button’ and the grout mixers identify areas for improvement. This can process 15t of cement per shift will help to ensure that the project with just one operator, less dust and minimises environmental impacts less wastage for both, cement and while greatly enhancing the eco- packaging, since the bags can be nomic strength of the region. n returned for reuse. n Vsl news magazine No 2-2013 5 business improvement AND THE WINNER IS… Newmarket viaduct again! FSC COMPLIANCE Forest-friendly formwork ntrafor adopts reusable steel formwork as much as possible. I However, it is still necessary to use wood for some applications, he Newmarket viaduct re- success came at the New such as to cover starter bars in placement project has won Zealand Contractors’ Federation diaphragm wall panels. To reduce T several more awards. It annual awards. To cap it all, the the environmental impact, Intrafor was successful at the Association Northern Gateway Alliance (NGA) is now using 100% FSC-compliant of Consulting Engineers NZ’s - responsible for delivering the wood, where available, for this pur- 2013 awards, winning the Gold project - won the 2013 Roading pose. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Award of Excellence, and the Excellence Supreme Award and Council) identifies and certifies input of design partners Beca, the NZ Concrete Industry Award forests that are well managed and T&T, URS NZ and Boffa Miskell in November. n where biodiversity, productivity and was also recognised. Further the ecology are maintained. n AWARD SAFETY DAY 2013 Best subcontractor Fire safety he high quality of VSL’s proj- SL Thailand’s latest annual ect management on Qatar’s safety day focused on fire T Lusail project led to Samsung V safety. It was run with the C&T naming it Best Subcontractor assistance of Thailand’s National in June 2013. The new city is one Fire Service Training Team, which of the most ambitious projects be- usually trains firefighters. Practical ing undertaken as part of the Qatar exercises covered fire prevention, 2030 vision. VSL was awarded fire drills, oil and gas handling post-tensioning works for the proj- and small-scale fire-fighting. Fire ect’s bridges, which connect five safety is particularly important in artificial islands to each other and Thailand due to the widespread use the mainland. Two are iconic sus- of bottled gas and the use of wood pension bridges that feature steel in building houses and temporary rings serving as 50m-tall pylons structures.
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