Krung Thep Apiwat Central Terminal Station also referred to as Bang Sue Grand Station. This state-of-the-art facility is touted as the largest railway station in Southeast Asia, with a price tag of US$1 billion. The Thai government aspires to transform the nation into a regional hub by implementing this ambitious project. Despite the new station’s opening, the century-old Hua Lamphong station will continue to operate, following public pressure that persuaded authorities not to shut it down.
Category: Building & Structure
Southeast Asia’s tallest building Merdeka 118 set to open in mid-2023
The highly anticipated Merdeka 118 Tower, Southeast Asia’s tallest building, is set to be inaugurated in mid-2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. With a height of 678.9 meters, it is touted as the world’s second-tallest building, second only to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The building’s name, “Merdeka,” meaning “independence,” pays homage to Malaysia’s freedom, while “118” represents the number of floors in the building. The tower is set to dethrone Landmark 81 in Ho Chi Minh City, which stands at a mere 461.2 meters. According to reports, the development costs for this landmark project amount to around RM5 billion (S$1.55 billion).
Innovation with high-performance concrete
We developed a unique HPC with the contractor, for the tower core and mega column elements. Its excellent pumpability qualities enabled us to meet a record-breaking height for direct high elevation concrete pumping. It also has a high modulus of elasticity to better resist lateral wind loads, high slump flow for excellent workability, high strength and minimal heat of hydration.
Coupled with three sets of 3-storey deep outrigger structure, our engineering innovation achieves structural stiffness with high resistance to wind loads. The size reduction of the columns and core walls maximises usable premium space for the client.
Southeast Asia’s longest cross-sea 220 kV power line electrifies Phu Quoc Island
The first phase of the 220 kV Kien Binh-Phu Quoc cross-sea power line, the longest in Southeast Asia at 80.4 kilometers, was connected to the grid Friday.
The EVN Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC) began construction of the VND2,221 billion ($92 million) line in March 2019 and completed it on October 5.
The power line has 169 pillars, including 117 ones across a sea length of 64.7 kilometers.
The line will increase electricity provision by five times for Phu Quoc Island and reduce the load on the 110 kV Ha Tien-Phu Quoc underwater cable, Nguyen Phuoc Duc, CEO of EVNSPC, said at the launching ceremony.
As a major tourism destination in Vietnam, power consumption in Phu Quoc has increased 35% annually since 2014, when the Ha Tien-Phu Quoc underwater cable was put into use. The new line is expected to fulfil power demand on the island until 2035.
In the next phase, EVN SPC will build supporting facilities for the grid, including a 110 kV Phu Quoc-South Phu Quoc line, a 110 kV Phu Quoc-North Phu Quoc line and a 110 kV North Phu Quoc substation.
In the first nine months of this year, Phu Quoc welcomed four million visitors, up 154% year-on-year, according to Kien Giang province’s tourism department. The island, a district in Kien Giang, earned tourism revenues of VND5,136 billion ($212.8 million), up 61.8% year-on-year, fulfilling 76% of the year’s target.
Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge
Great news! The longest bridge in ASEAN, spanning 26.3 kilometers, is now open to foreign vehicles that weigh no more than 3,500kg. The bridge’s management committee, jointly chaired by Brunei’s Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications and Ministry of Development, recently issued a statement to this effect. Please note that private and commercial foreign vehicles in class II and V weighing over 3,500kg are not permitted to use the bridge, except those that are comparable to Brunei vehicle classes I, III, IV, VI, and XII.
“Foreign vehicles weighing over 3,500kg are advised to use the Asean Highway 150 or AH150 (via Limbang) as usual,” the announcement stated. Road users are advised to strictly observe the 100km per hour speed limit for normal vehicles and 80km per hour for commercial vehicles on the bridge. The opening of SHOAS was long awaited by Sarawakians and Sabahans looking forward to shorten travelling distance between the two states via Brunei.
The bridge spans across the Brunei Bay, connecting Temburong District to Bandar Seri Begawan and was opened ahead of schedule on March 17, 2020. But due to the Covid-19 restrictions only citizens were allowed to commute between Temburong and the rest of the sultanate while foreigners were barred from entering the country.
Largest Murugan Statute in Southeast Asia
The Batu Caves Murugan Statue is the world’s tallest golden statue of a Hindu deity and the tallest statue of its kind in Malaysia.
A visit to the Batu Caves is a must for anyone who interested in spirituality, culture, and history. Each year, the site attracts over a million visitors from all over the world who come to witness the beauty and majesty of this sacred statue.
The Batu Caves is a place of deep religious significance for Hindus, and the Murugan Statue serves as a powerful symbol of faith and devotion. It’s an impressive feat of engineering and artistry, and its golden hue glows brilliantly in the Malaysian sunshine.
Visitors can climb the stairs to the top of the caves, passing by intricate carvings and vibrant murals along the way. At the summit, they can bask in the stunning views of the surrounding landscape and take in the spiritual energy that pervades this sacred site.
Whether you’re a devotee or simply curious about the wonders of the world, a visit to the Batu Caves Murugan Statue is an experience you won’t soon forget.
TOP 10 World’s Greatest Tunnels – SMART Tunnel
The Stormwater Management And Road Tunnel (SMART Tunnel) is a dual-purpose tunnel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was completed in 2007 and is considered to be one of the world’s greatest tunnels due to its innovative design and multifunctional use.
The SMART Tunnel is designed to function as both a stormwater management system and a vehicular tunnel. The tunnel is 9.7 km long, with a diameter of 13.2 meters, and is capable of carrying up to 30 million liters of water per minute. During heavy rainfalls, the tunnel can divert floodwaters away from the city’s central business district, reducing the risk of flash floods.
In addition to its stormwater management function, the SMART Tunnel also serves as a vehicular tunnel, allowing traffic to flow between the northern and southern parts of Kuala Lumpur. The tunnel has a double-decker design, with the lower deck dedicated to managing floodwaters and the upper deck for vehicles.
The SMART Tunnel is also equipped with various safety features, such as fire suppression systems and emergency evacuation routes, to ensure the safety of its users in case of emergencies.
Overall, the SMART Tunnel is a remarkable feat of engineering and an innovative solution to the problem of urban flooding. Its dual-purpose design has helped to alleviate the risk of flash floods in Kuala Lumpur while also improving the city’s transportation infrastructure.
Semanggi Interchange, Jakarta, the Oldest Interchange in Southeast Asia
The new Semanggi Interchange, Jakarta. is the oldest interchange in Jakarta and Southeast Asia, it’s a series of new overpasses and on-off ramps elegantly encircling the current clover roads connecting the capital’s main thoroughfare of Jalan Sudirman to toll road Jalan Gatot Subroto.
Estimated to increase traffic flow in the perpetually gridlocked area by 37% and illuminated with colorful LED lighting, the new interchange looks to be a feat of both engineering and aesthetics. As such, Jakarta Governor Djarot Syaiful Hidayat worries that is also likely to be a magnet for selfie-obsessed Indonesians who might dangerously stop on the interchange and get out in search of the perfect picture.
“So later, please don’t let passengers stop their cars and take pictures on the (Semanggi Interchange) ” Djarot told told reporters this morning as quoted by Wartakota.
Djarot previously banned motorcyclists from entering the interchange, also due to selfie fears.
The governor instead suggested that selfie seekers take photos from below the interchange curving roads, to better capture the shape and lights of the new infrastructure project.
The Semanggi Interchange project was initiated by former Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama and the major construction was finished in just over a year. Not only was the construction time extremely efficient, so was the project’s budgeting. In fact, thanks to thrifty management, the project came in Rp 219 billion under budget. Officials have said the remainder would be spent on repairing sidewalks.
The Longest Bridge in Mainland Southeast Asia
The Second Penang Bridge is a stunning 24-kilometer-long (14.9-mile) structure that connects Penang Island and the Malaysia Peninsula, representing one of the most remarkable civil engineering feats of the past 20 years in the region. The bridge features precast segmental concrete marine viaducts in 55-meter (180-feet) span modules and a cast in-situ concrete cable-stayed bridge measuring 475 meters (1,558 feet) making it the longest bridge in Malaysia and the longest in Southeast Asia.
Working with the China Highway Planning and Design Institute (HPDI), AECOM was the consultant of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to provide feasibility studies, detailed design as well as pre-tendering and post-tendering services and site supervision since 2008. AECOM’s team in Malaysia, together with engineers from the long-span and specialty bridges group, worked in the design, construction supervision, and construction engineering of this record-breaking project. AECOM also provided specialist consultancy on aerodynamics, navigation risk assessment and ship impact studies, seismic analyses, wind and structural health monitoring, fire hazard assessment, and resolution of construction challenges in the substantial marine piling operation. A special aspect of the project involved applying intelligent construction engineering techniques to enable successful erection of the 240-meter (787-feet) main span cable-stayed bridge over the main navigation channel.
“The Second Penang Bridge is subject to the merciless forces of nature, such as earthquakes, potential tsunamis, and wind, to name a few; and is exposed to a hostile marine environment. These challenges were overcome through meticulous planning and design, and the result is one of the world’s largest sea-crossing projects in recent years. We have helped accomplish an immense human endeavor; creating many innovations along the way.”
Dr. Robin Sham, AECOM’s global long-span and specialty bridges director
Pioneering Bridge Technology
In addition to its large size, this RM4.5-billion project pioneered new construction methods to minimize the risk caused by seismic activity near the Sunda tectonic plate, including the use of 2-meter-diameter (6.5-foot-diameter) bored piles founded to a depth in excess of more than 120 meters (394 feet) for the cable-stayed bridge, and the use of high-damping rubber bearings for seismic isolation of the marine viaducts.
The whole sea-crossing project introduced numerous innovations, including intelligent bridge geometry control, a lightweight form traveller machine for cable-stayed bridge erection, the extensive use of the statnamic pile-loading testing method and the use of high-damping rubber bearings for seismic isolation. The project also saw the most extensive use of precast hollow concrete spun piles in bridgework, and substantial driven tubular steel piles in a marine environment.