Response against flooding of the town: Malaysia-tunnel 2 in 1

Not only in SAIGON or Hanoi could “River cities” every time there is heavy rain. Flooding is always a problem of most of the world’s largest municipality. So, the countries deal with this problem?

Malaysia is a dynamic economy of Asia, is the “Tiger” of ASEAN. However, their capital is Kuala Lumpur-“fork in the river mud swamp”, is where the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers.

Bold ideas

2 the river Klang and Gombak was the source of life of the people of Kuala Lumpur in centuries ago. However, since it became a bustling town, with the world’s tallest twin towers and ambition of competing financial centre role areas with Singapore and Hong Kong, two rivers became a major obstacle.

Is the confluence of 2 rivers, tropical storms annually flock to make Kuala Lumpur take. Water overflowing the banks of the River, the streets, homes are flooded. Only the cleanup after the flood has cost millions of dollars and the economy were delayed several days. Deputy surges the fate economy in the hands of mother nature is more risky.

To resolve this condition, the Malaysian Government has consulted the opinions of professionals, launched a daring idea is unmatched in the world: building a tunnel 2 in 1, just used to escape flood waters, has served the traffic.

In normal weather conditions, the tunnel will be used as a road tunnel; When the water overflowed the banks of the River, the tunnels will become a flood drainage channel immediately below the streets, help for the economy above are always dry. However, if that fails, millions of DOLLARS of property and lives of hundreds of people will be threatened.

At a cost of half a billion USD, the tunnel carries the name SMART (smart) will become the combined tunnel escape the first flood on world. The building was identified as extremely challenging, because of the prolonged tunnel 9, 7 km will come through one of the most complicated geological regions of the planet. It’s amazing, and it is just a few metres from the ground.

The main purpose of SMART is to solve the problem of flooding in Kuala Lumpur by water from the river Sungai Klang Kerayong River in the North to the South; at the same time reduce the traffic congestion situation occurs daily in this area by tunnels 2 floors, 4 km in length. Street cars to allow the kind of cars the one-way traffic on each floor.

Building wonders

The SMART tunnel starting from Kampung Berembang Lake and ends at Taman Desa. The tunnel to divert flood water from the confluence of two major rivers that flow through the central area of Kuala Lumpur. The project also planned the temporary backup reservoir in 2 top and double box drain system to divert flood waters temporarily. There are also special areas with specialized guide tunnel. Ventilation system with 4 diameter wells 15 m, is also the starting place of the tunnel boring machine.

Kuala Lumpur has karcat structure of limestone with high underground water ink. Therefore it was decided to use the method of drilling rigs by digging tunnel (TBM). After much pondering, 2, 13, 2 m diameter drill type Slurry Shield TBMS (made in Germany) were selected. About in diameter, this is the biggest in the world.

Both drilling Slurry Shield are starting construction in Jalan Chan Sow Lin. The first machine was advanced to the North, gradually to Kampung Berembang area in Ampang, next to the Gleneagles Hotel. Rotary direction South, gradually to the outdoor area in Taman Desa.

TRANS Kuala Lumpur tunnelling incredibly challenging. Geology in this area is unstable, there are many pits and underground caves underground. If drill encounters this holes, risk causing the arch door, on the side of roads collapsed and swept into the pit. To resolve this problem, have the system drill TBM, take liquid concrete filled the burrows in the ground to fixed land before drilling.

However, just a small mistakes will also create disaster. While proceeding to the tunnelling medium, the TBM has the mounting parts fixed concrete tunnel right in the rear. It was constructed of concrete plants and 1 concrete mixing plants, operating at full capacity on the night to serve the private tunnel. The construction started in 2004 and completed in August 2006.

The efficiency

The SMART tunnel will operate in three modes depending on the flow of flood waters. Mode 1 (in normal conditions): When the little rain and no hurricane, the tunnel is open both for automotive traffic. Mode 2 (rainy): SMART system is launched, the flood water was led to the lowest lead in channel tunnel while the cars remain in normal circulation within the tunnel.

Mode 3 (storm): cars blocked traffic and all cars are in circulation will be taken out of the cellar; After all cars got out basement, the system will automatically activate to open the water valves allow the entire flood water was flowing through the tunnel. Currently active mode is manure more details into 4 modes depending on the water flow.

Since SMART was put into use, flooding scenes like this is forever in Kuala Lumpur.

With maximum capacity can accommodate 3 million m3 of water, SMART also has the safety features of a conventional tunnel as flood water control: Gates automatic, ventilation systems, exits (1 km apart). Since entering the tunnel traffic regulating flood to the present, the people of Kuala Lumpur have never have to witness a battle deluge happened right here in the capital.

The SMART tunnel provided an alternative route for drivers from the gateway to the South, KL-Seremban Highway, the Federal Highway entry Besraya and East West and then escape from the city center. This will reduce traffic congestion from the outskirts leading to the city center, at the same time reduce the time significant route (from 15 minutes, four minutes).

Central control room to monitor the traffic situation along the SMART 24/24 hours, when getting information through hotline or via the emergency phone boots, patrol teams with motorcycles will be available soon at the scene overcome congestion causes such as accidents or incidents to ensure safety.

In 2011, the SMART tunnel was awarded the Habitat Scroll of Honour Award by the United Nations since have very unique and creative in controlling flood waters and urban traffic. So far, SMART is still the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia and Asia’s second longest.

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