March_1965 — Page 39

concrete abutments and piers are supported on heavy prestressed con- crete piles.

The soil samples obtained from our own boring equipment and the subsequent ground tests conducted by specialists determined in advance the type and length of piles that would be necessary and sufficient. Widening and increase of flow in the Ulu Pandan Canal is envisaged and the piers and abutments of the 300 ft. span bridge are protected further by steel sheet piles.

Where the railway passes below roads and junctions, tunnels using Armco steel liners of U.S. standard gauge No. 1, have been constructed. In the past, culverts and by-passes had been built in Malaysia using Armco steel liners but not to the dimensions of 17 ft. 9 in. by 20 ft, 7 in. as used in these railway tunnels.

Safety Factors

Construction of the bedding and haunches of the tunnels was especial- ly important. Sand with a small percentage of laterite was used for backfill and compacted to a bulk density of 115 lb./cu.ft. to ensure that the requisite factors of safety required for railway loads. were complied with. Subsoil drainage using pitch fibre perforated pipes laid to very fine gradients so as to have the final discharge above high- tide level was also provided.

Cargo transportation by rail varies according to the types of industry established and in Jurong the volume of rail transportation from the water- front industrial zone is estimated at 2 to 3 million tons per annum. Train capacity is expected to be 7 to 10 trains a day.

The railway layout in the indus- trial zone is planned as follows:- -

(i) A branch line to the wharves. (ii) A branch line to the heavy in-

dustries.

(iii) A branch line to the national iron and steel mills and shipyards.

(iv) A branch line to the oil re-

fineries and to zones

marked for further velopment.

ear-

de-

A marshalling yard consisting of five lines will be built initially and provision has been made for further possible extensions. The respective sidings to each factory will bo arranged separately by the developer direct with the Malayan Railways Administration.

The total length of this railway is nearly 9 miles and the cost of con- struction is approximately M$4.5 million. The Economic Development Board, Singapore, who are building the line will subsequently hand it over to the Malayan Railways and will recover the cost of construction by free freight over a length of time.

Preliminary survey work com- menced in June, 1962 and it is now expected that this railway will be in operation in September, 1965.

Far East Architect & Builder March, 1965

CIVIL ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS

Work complete on first rail-over-road bridge

Open-cut between tunnels

Start of the deep cuttings

Laying precast channel drains on both sides of formation in deep cuttings

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