Investigation, design and mapping of Shaft O1 on Phase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewage System project in Singapore

Abstract

The Public Utilities Board (PUB) of Singapore is currently progressing Phase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewage System (DTSS) project. Leighton Contractors Asia Limited (LCAL) have been awarded Contract T-09 of the project which runs approximately 8 km from the intersection of Clementi Road and the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) to the intersection at Jurong Pier Road and AYE. LCAL have appointed COWI to act as their designer. Contract T-09 includes eight shafts, including Shaft O1 located between the Jurong River to the west and Penjuru Road to the east in the Jurong region of south-west Singapore. This paper discusses the rock engineering aspects of Shaft O1, including the engineering geological aspects and the methods of analysis used to design the reinforcement and support of the section of the shaft excavated in rock. Finally, the conditions encountered and the support installed during the engineering geological mapping of the shaft are described. The geology at Shaft O1 comprises made ground overlying Kallang Formation deposits and then weathered rocks of the Jurong Formation. Development of the ground model included several stages of desk study and ground investigation and ultimately six boreholes and eight probeholes were carried out at and around the shaft location. The analysis methods used included the Q-system, analytical closed-form calculations, use of the Unwedge software package, rock bolt and sprayed concrete design and a stand-up time assessment. The design was prepared during 2018-19 and the shaft was successfully constructed during 2019.