Work on the 26-km-long Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) is well under way, with the last contract to be awarded in 2011. The Legislative Council recently approved $8.6 billion in funds for construction—a controversial increase from the original $5.1 billion.
Already $486 million worth of civil-works contracts have been awarded, with the largest being a $216-million contract to Japanese firm Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd. for construction of the Mai Po to Ngau Tam Mei tunnels at the north end of the line. The other contracts were awarded to local firms Hsin Chong Construction Co. Ltd., Vibro-Chun Wo Joint Venture and Paul Y. Construction Co. The U.K.’s Bachy Soletanche Group Ltd. secured two contracts for diaphragm-wall works.