Kranji Tunnel Breaks Through in SingaporeA Herrenknecht 4.88 m-diameter EPB TBM, machine S-171, has successfully completed the 4.8 km south drive of the Kranji tunnel as part of Contract T-05 for the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) in Singapore. Breakthrough was achieved on 8th March, 2004 after dealing with very difficult ground conditions consisting of massive granite, fractured granite, sand and clays. There were several mixed faces. Contract T-05 has a length of 12.3 km. The TBM features a 4.93 m cutterhead diameter. The precast lining has five segments plus one key segment. Each segment is 1.4 m-long. The mucking-out system was formed by a screw conveyor onto a conveyor belt pouring into muck cars pulled by a loco.The DTSS will serve the wastewater conveyance, treatment and disposal needs of Singapore through the 21st Century. This long-term project, which will be implemented in phases, consists of two large, deep tunnels crisscrossing the island, two centralised water reclamation plants, deep sea outfalls and a link-sewer network. The DTSS will be constructed in two phases. The ongoing first phase of the project comprises 48 km of tunnels stretching from Kranji to Changi, a 800,000 cu m per day water reclamation plant with a 5 km sea outfall at Changi and some 60 km of link sewers. It is scheduled for completion in 2008. In phase two, from 2008 to 2015, another 30 km of tunnel will be added, a second treatment plant, link sewers and an extension to the Changi water reclamation plant. Click sg/11. Visit www.pub.gov.sg/deeptunnelseweragesystem.htm, www.dtss.com.sg and www.herrenknecht.com 16/04.