Steel piling plan could allow work to restart on Sha Tin-Central rail link
MTR will today begin sinking huge steel pilings to protect ancient relics following five-month delay to work on the Sha Tin-Central rail link
The MTR Corporation will today begin erecting a wall of steel pilings to protect relics found on the construction site for the future To Kwa Wan station - meaning work on the Sha Tin-Central rail link could resume within weeks.
Work on the link is already five months behind schedule after the relics, including an ancient well and parts of a building that may date back to the 10th century, were discovered.
However, at a meeting of the Antiquities Advisory Board yesterday, some members voiced concern about the MTR's plans to drive steel piling 12 metres into the ground surrounding the relics.
Dr Philco Wong, MTR's general manager for the project, reassured them technology that cuts out noise and vibrations would be used to protect the relics from damage during the process.
He added that devices to detect vibration and ground settlement would be installed, experienced workers would be deployed to handle the job and there would be full-time supervision of the site. The well would also be filled with sand to prevent distortion and sand bags would be placed on the outside.
The sheet piles would take about two or three weeks to install, he said, and this would then allow the MTR to continue with its tunnel work.