Video: Dubai Metro’s Route 2020 takes shape, 50% tunnel works complete

The project spans 15km from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station up to the site of Expo.

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Dubai Metro's Route 2020 takes shape, 50% tunnel works complete

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), announced the completion of 50 per cent of main tunneling works of the Route 2020 Project, which extends 3.2km at a varying depth from 12 to 36 metres.

Al Tayer revealed that completion rate in the construction of stations ranges from four to 42 per cent.

Al Tayer made this statement during an inspection tour of stations of the Route 2020 Project that spans 15km from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station up to the site of Expo.

Technology

The giant tunnel boring machine, known as ‘Al Wugeisha Expo 2020,’ commenced tunnel drilling works at Al Furjan, passed across the Discovery Gardens and reached the underground station nearby Jumeirah Golf Estates, last February. It will continue tunneling works up to the Dubai Investment Park, and all tunnel-related works are scheduled for completion in December this year.

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Al Wugeisha can crush stones and penetrate through sandy layers or any soil components encountered during the drilling process. It has a huge metal gear supported by an automated tail. At the front, it has a cutting wheel with a cavity the shape of which varies according to the type of drilling and soil layers. The single concrete ring has six to seven molds, each ring measures about 1.5m in diameter.

Metro stations

Currently the architectural, constructional and electromechanical designs are being developed for Expo Station, elevated and underground stations, and Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station.

Completion rate in the underground station at Jumeirah Golf Estates has reached 42 per cent, whereas the completion rate of the underground station at DIP has reached 8 per cent. The completion rate has reached 14 per cent in the elevated station at Al Furjan. At Discovery Gardens it is 12 per cent, 7 per cent in Expo Station, and 3 per cent in Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station.

Completion rate has reached 50 per cent in the deep foundations of Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station. The footbridge linking the station and the Park-N-Ride Terminal has been removed to start construction works in the new station.

Discovery Gardens

The project contractor has completed construction works in the deep foundations and pillars at the Gardens area. Work is currently underway in the manufacturing of the metal structures of the elevated station at Discovery Gardens, where completion rate has reached 35 per cent. Works started in casting reinforced concrete for the foundations of the main building of Expo Station. The completion rate of casting concrete pillars of Expo Station has exceeded 70 per cent.

The completion rate in the construction of pillars and walls of the western gate of the station has exceeded 90 per cent and 40 per cent in the Eastern Gate. As for the installation of viaduct segments, about 60 of viaduct segments have been installed in various parts of the project.

Al Tayer was delighted with the work progress in Route 2020 Project, as it is moving according to the approved time chart. The first of the new metro carriages are expected to arrive in July this year. Construction works in viaducts are expected to be completed this November 2018. All rail works of Route 2020 are expected to be completed in July 2019.

RTA will start the test-run of the metro in February 2020.

By Staff  khaleejtimes.com