First road tunnel in Kazakhstan now under construction

08/18/2014

Shymkent to Border of Zhambyl Region Road Section is approximately 80 Km, divided in two sections of Category 1B, 4-lane divided highway. The section between Km 593 and Km 632 (Section 1) is a completely new alignment located on the territory of Tyulkubas District, passing through the arable irrigated, dry, gardens, vineyard, common pasture and other lands. The other section, starts from Km 632 to Km 674 (Section 2), generally passes along the existing road and connects with Shymkent By-pass.

The construction of the new section deviates from the existing road, starts at Km 632 and end at Km 593 passes slightly parallel to the existing road. It crosses the rivers Arys, Zhabagly, Kizen, Tastumsyk Stream and number of irrigation ditches.

Section 1: SWRP -593 -632 – ICB (W) -001/2013, Contractor: Dena Rasaz & Sargin JV Iran/Turkey.

Section 1, works commenced on 27/09/2013 and completion date 27/09/2015. Meanwhile, the Contractor has made a proposal for constructing a tunnel of 800 meters long near Shatpakbaba settlement through the high cut (average 40 m high) areas of the hill at the beginning of the project based on the required standard without any extra cost to the Employer. The Employer has accepted the proposal. Now, the design and documentations have been submitted to State Expertise for approval. Besides, the excavation works at portals are almost complete and the tunneling works will commence soon.

The Project is part of the Country Government program to upgrade of the road corridor from China to Russia through Almaty, Taraz, Shymkent, Kyzylorda and Aktobe cities (the Western Europe-Western China International Transit Corridor (about 2787km) being financed by the World Bank, ADB and IDB. The objective of the Project is to develop an efficient, affordable, and environmentally sustainable transportation system that forms a part of the north east to south west route of the country.

The tendered amount of this section works: 15, 751, 627 460.00 KZT

The Tunnel is 800m long and located 80 km northeast of Shymkent.

One of the main benefits of the Employer’s accepting the tunnel proposal in the hilly environment of the section will improve roadway alignment, reduce the vertical grade and as well as the length of the road.

Present Status of the Work

Mobilization:

· Personnel: 11 expats from Iran and 30 locals are on the job site, including 4 Engineers, 30 operators, 1 Land surveyor, 7 workers.

· Equipment: 3 wagon drills for benching and 2 jumbo drills for heading are on the site. 1 buldozer, 3 excavators, 1 loader and 10 dumpers are on the road to the site from Iran.

· Subcontractor(s): The company “Kazakhvzryvprom” JSC has been nominated by the Department of Emergency of South Kazakhstan Region for the tunnel excavation works by blasting.

Materials:

· The Contractor has been preparing the braces and the rock bolts.

· The explosives will arrive on 18.08.2014.

Physical Progress:

· As of August 18, 2014 works on soil excavation and blasting at the entrance of the tunnel in the amount of 73 thousand m3 (100%) is carried out. At the exit of the tunnel out of 56 thousand m3 excavated 42 thousand m3. (75%). On the service tunnel of the project out of 10 thousand m3 of excavation, 10 thousand m3 performed (100%).

· With design depth of the excavation for 21.5 meter at the entrance of the tunnel, the excavation was made in the depth of 18 meters. The remaining 3 meters loosened. Slope protection is done by concrete in the amount of 338 m3. 10 pcs. of supports are installed. Horizontal wells drilled for the depth of 3 meters.

· The first blast will take place on 19.08.2014 evening

Project Benefits:

· Eliminates 1,337,000 m3 of rock excavation by blasting. The volume of tunnel excavation is 300,000 m3 including portal excavations.

· Hence, the tunnel mitigates the environmental impact significantly.

· The grade in the tender drawings is steep as 6+%. The tunnel reduces it to 2+%. This improves the uphill traffic speed of heavily loaded vehicles [which are usually overloaded] and hence the traffic flow.

· The tunnel with improved grade will reduce the fuel consumption of the vehicles and in long term it will provide significant economy.

· The tunnel will eliminate the unfavorable conditions which will emerge in winter time by the combination of ice and snow with 6+% steep grade and improve the traffic safety.

· The tunnel will also reduce the maintenance efforts and costs.

The project construction is being supervised by the Temelsu (Turkey) in association with Consult Ltd.(Kazakhstan) under the Project Management Consultant: KazDorNII /SAPA SZ

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