Korea Tunnel - Busan

Korea Tunnel - Busan

Construction started early in 2004 on an 8.2km motorway between Busan – Korea’s southernmost, second largest city – and the island of Geoje. Of this 8.2km, four-lane fixed link, there will be 4km of immersed tunnel and two 2km cable-stayed bridges. It is thought that the immersed tunnel will become one of the longest in the world to date, especially in an area where there is so much seismic activity.
Total project costs have been estimated at $1.9bn. The current journey to the island takes over three and a half hours driving time over an out of the way route of over 140km or involves using the ferry; the new link will cut the journey time to one hour (60km).

Finance

KDB, a leading bank throughout northeast Asia, has provided the majority of the funds for the fixed link (Won 1.1 trillion). This is claimed to be the biggest project finance deal in Korea in 2003. $375m is to be provided by a Government Supported Fund, with $883m being sourced from a Civil Fund. COWI has been awarded DKK160m ($25.4m) for its involvement in the project design.

Contractors

The fixed link project is being implemented along the lines of the privately-financed BOT (build, operate, transfer) model. This is becoming increasingly common in major fixed-link infrastructure construction projects. The consortium members include Daewoo Engineering and Construction, Daelim, Doosan Industrial Development, SK Engineering & Construction, KDC, Wonha Construction and Hanil Engineering and Construction. The consortium will manage the completed link for 40 years. The operator of the link will be Busan Metropolitan City.

The contract for the project manager on this project was awarded to Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co Ltd of Seoul, Korea. COWI A/S, a Denmark-based company that has recently formed a consultancy in Korea, is Daewoo’s lead consultant.

COWI is responsible for designing the bridge and tunnel construction, including the west approach open-cut structure, east approach open-cut structure, ventilation buildings and all related mechanical, electrical and communication systems (ventilation, escape gallery, emergency doors, drainage, HVAC, fire fighting and smoke extraction.)

UK-based Halcrow, in a joint venture with Tunnel Engineering Consultants (TEC) of The Netherlands, are technical advisers to Daewoo E&C Co Ltd. Halcrow/TEC is advising Daewoo on design and construction, contract and contract strategy and project organisation.

Supporting these companies are Daewoo Construction (builders), DM Engineering (subconsultant for the bridges) and Arcadis’ French subsidiary which will independently check the design of the project components.

The fixed link project

The project consists of three construction phases:

Phase 1: links Goeje Island and Jeo Island and includes a cable-stayed bridge, approach bridges, and a bored tunnel section
Phase 2: links Jeo Island and Jungjuk Island and includes a cable-stayed bridge and approach bridge section
Phase 3: links Jungjuk Island and Gadeok Island and includes immersed and bored tunnel sections

Enjoy the below video of Busan Tunnel...