Meed | Jeddah starts tunnel project prequalification

Jeddah starts tunnel project prequalification

28 March 2023

Jeddah Municipality has invited contractors to prequalify for a contract to build large-diameter stormwater tunnels in the city.

Known as the King Abdullah Road-Falasteen Road (Kafa) tunnel project one, the three-year scheme involves the construction of 5.33 kilometres of tunnels with an internal diameter of 7.2 metres using tunnel boring machines (TBMs).

Other works include 3.43km of tunnels with a diameter of 3.5 metres driven by pipe jacking or TBMs.

The project’s scope also includes constructing a terminal pumping station, a marine outfall and all necessary online and offline shafts.

The works for Kafa package one will be located along King Abdullah Road and the surrounding roads, including Prince Majid and part of Bani Malik.

Ground conditions have been an ongoing issue for contractors working in Jeddah for many years. The client has cautioned that TBMs must be “suitable for highly variable ground conditions from stable very-hard rock to soft water-bearing ground or vice versa without any addition”.

It added: “The TBM shall be flexibly designed to adapt to changing ground in terms of supporting and excavation methods, requiring short conversion times within the tunnel alignment, ensuring optimum safety and flexibility during the entire tunnelling process.”

US-based Aecom is the consultant.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo