CREC’s U-shaped TBM Technology for Hong Kong Yuen Long South Site Formation and Infrastructure Project Site Wins NCE Tunnelling Innovation Award

Recently, the 2025 NCE (New Civil Engineer) Tunnelling Awards ceremony was held in London. The "U-shaped TBM Technology", adopted for the Contract II of Site Formation and Infrastructure Works for Yuen Long South Phase 1 Development Project undertaken by CRIG, was honored with the 2025 Innovation Award in Tunnel Design and Construction.

The NCE Tunnelling Awards, organized annually by New Civil Engineer, a leading UK-based civil engineering media outlet, stand as one of the most prestigious accolades in the global tunneling and underground space construction sector.

The construction area of the Yuen Long South Project is predominantly characterized by sandy silty clay, with abundant groundwater in the surrounding areas and substantial silt deposits in some sections. To address the challenges associated with traditional cut-and-cover methods—such as high construction risks and extensive land occupation for hoarding—CREC drew on its successful experience of applying U-shaped TBM technology in underground utility tunnels, integrating TBM with pipe-erecting machines to pioneer the "U-shaped" construction method in the Hong Kong. A custom-developed green prefabricated utility tunnel construction machine, the U-shaped TBM, was purpose-built for the project, enabling integrated and efficient construction processes covering utility tunnel transportation, excavation, support, tunneling, erection and side joint grouting.

Since its launch on March 12th, 2025, the U-shaped TBM has broken the long-standing convention that prohibits open channel construction during Hong Kong’s rainy season. It has set construction records of 8 meters of tunneling per working face per day and 120 meters of box culvert assembly per month. With the total tunneling length of the project exceeding 1,000 meters, this technology has delivered a safer, more efficient, cost-effective and eco-friendly construction solution for infrastructure development in Hong Kong.