쌍용건설

SsangYong E&C successfully solved complaint-related problems in densely populated areas with Tunnel Boring Machine at Singapore Site T308
Credited for civil engineering skills in projects such as the Marina Bay Sands
Won total 39 contracts

A new subway construction project is underway in the vicinity of the Marine Parade Road near Singapore's southern East Coast Parkway. It is Site T308, currently operated by SsangYong E&C and Hyundai E&C. It is a 1.78km section from the Thompson East Coast Line Marine Terrace station to the nearby Siglap station, which is considered to be one of the most difficult construction sites in Singapore. SsangYong E&C is solving this problem by using the "open cut" method, which excavates the open 340-long station section first, and then excavate underground to Siglap station using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).

■D-wall constructed to overcome soft ground

On the site, 'D-wall (bulkhead)' work is underway to install a supporting wall along with excavation. It is less costly than the typical process of putting the pile in first, and is especially suitable for the work that goes down the soft ground. To prevent the walls from collapsing during the construction process, it is necessary to repeatedly inject the chemical solution Bentonite, which keeps the internal pressure while excavating, and remove the solution to pour the concrete. Several cylindrical plants were in place to inject Bentonite.

Unlike other construction sites, the Site T308 is a difficult place for a large-scale construction project due to dense residential areas nearby. The Site is essentially open to public due to numerous 10-story high residential buildings near the site, Donghun Ryu, the Site Manager explained.

It is still in early phase, but there are still difficulties here and there. Unlike in Korea, In Singapore, the ground traffic network must be maintained no matter what type of construction project may be underway. To dig down the preexisting road, one has to install the bypass road first before proceeding. And one must meticulously survey underground network such as power cables and drainage network before relocating. One cannot get a proper supervision if the steel structures are installed through the buried network during the construction.

"Because the land is narrower than other countries, it is not easy to work while maintaining the transportation network," and "we must finish construction in accordance with all the rules such as minimizing complaints and maintaining traffic while maintaining safety," Ryu explained.

■Superior technology demonstrated through Marina Bay Sands and Bedok composite development.

SsangYong E&C's past construction and civil engineering project records in Singapore played big role in this order. Ssangyong E&C entered the Singapore market for the first time in 1980 and has won a total of 39 projects.

First of all, it succeeded in reconstructing Raffles Hotel, Singapore's most famous tourist attraction, without any plans or drawings. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel, a symbol of Singapore located on the southern landfill, was also constructed by Ssangyong.

The beautiful architecture leaning up from the bottom of the building has become a popular tourist destination. In addition, Tang Tock Seng Hospital, Capital Land Building, Marina Coastal Expressway, and combined development of Bedok complex are works of Ssangyong E&C.

The Singapore Land Transportation Authority has used PQM method and ed the SsangYong E&C Consortium based on various conditions such as price and reliability. This is because the contractor's construction capacity, reliability, and safety management ability are all included in the evaluation.

In particular, Ssangyong E&C has built an unparalleled safety management record in Singapore. It has achieved the world's first 16-million accident free man-hour record in the Downtown Line (DTL) Site 921, and has been awarded 24 times since 2010 by the Singapore Land Transportation Authority.

The company's external credibility rose significantly when the Dubai International Investment Agency (ICD) became the major shareholder in early 2015. In March, the company restored its BCA A1 rating, which is the highest credit rating of Singapore's government-contracted construction companies, and signed a guarantee limit contract with the United Overseas Bank (UOB), the largest private bank in Singapore.
SsangYong E&C upgraded its portfolio last year by successfully completing the new Little India Station. Little India's new station building has attracted industry-wide attention in June 2009, when Ssangyong E&C won the contract for $ 553 million (about 700 billion won) from the Singapore Land Transportation Authority (LTA). Because of the high degree of difficulty of construction, the project involved a large amount of construction work compressed into a smaller space, which enabled the firm to achieve a high level of profit.