January_1965 — Page 38

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CIVIL ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS

General view of construction taken last July and showing the towering and final sinking of cylinders to foundation depth.

QFA

Prestressed .276 in. diameter wires and shutters fixed ready for concreting. Mandrel guide rollers are being inserted.

So as

A special precasting yard has been established half a mile from the terminal for manufacturing the piles and precast units which are then transported to site by barge. to assure the necessary manufactur- ing capacity of 3,500 tons of precast units a week at peak, the layout and development of handling equipment in the yard, which is on a reclama- tion area in Kowloon, was of prime importance especially in Hong Kong where land is at a high pre- mium.

A total of some 100.000 tons of precast products will be required for the project. The aggregate used is crushed granite, fines and sand avail- able in the Colony, supplemented by sand imported from China by the Government Monopoly.

The 40 to 120 ft. long precast piles involve handling a maximum unit weight of 20 tons. Special plant and handling equipment was needed to enable them to be pitched and driven in accordance with the tight construction schedule,

Pile driving is carried out with the aid of a 20-ton pontoon derrick and a 95 ft. pile frame. Cylinders are erected and lowered into the sea bed by winches and tackle. Lowering is controlled by four 50 ton jacks as excavation by jetting, airlifts and grabs proceeds.

Construction of the remaining substructure and the superstructure is by derricks travelling on the com- pleted substructure deck as it moves seawards.

A labour force of some 600, in- cluding 34 local staff members and 18 United Kingdom engineering and management personnel is now em- ployed, working 24 hours a day on a shift basis.

Joint Venture's project manager on site is Mr. F. J. Biddick, BSc, MICE.

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Excavating cylinder and heavy duty grah which is of Craig Alford manufacture

Complete pile frame and 20-ton pile handling derrick installed on 90 ft. by 70 ft. pontoon

Far East Architect & Builder January, 1965