Case Studies
Three completed i3d3 case studies are presented here. The first two were done in collaboration with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Economist Intelligence Unit. They have been printed directly from the i3d3 template as a PDF. A PowerPoint presentation is also included for GCLR.
Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macau Bridge (HZMB)
The HZMB is a megaproject, and one of the most iconic infrastructure investments of this century. It is the longest sea crossing in the world. Situated in the Pearl River Delta and owned by the People's Republic of China, it connects Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau with a six lane toll road including elevated bridge deck, three large cable-stay spans, artificial islands, undersea tunnel, link roads and border control facilities for each region. The engineering challenge was extremely complex and ambitious. However, its contribution to the economy of the region, to tourism and to the productivity of transport and trade is significant. It is a beacon of ingenuity and human endeavour, but took nearly nine years to build. During this time, 20 workers were killed on the project, and there were over 500 injuries reported. Some news stories point to the bridge being a 'white elephant', as work has already commenced on another sea link between Shenzhen and Zhongshan (including a high speed rail service) that is now expected to reduce demand for HZMB. This is on top of much lower demand figures than expected (currently 2,416-4,791 vehicles/day recorded over first year of operation, down from 33,100 in feasibility study), caused by complexities in immigration, high cost of road toll (RMB 200/trip), triple certification required for third party insurance across three jurisdictions, and current civil unrest in Hong Kong. In the latter case, the bridge is now seen by some as having a political agenda to more tightly connect the special administrative regions to Mainland China control.
Bangladesh Electricity Upgrade and Expansion (BEUE)
The Government of Bangladesh has identified electricity supply as a major constraint on GDP growth and overall economic development. To address these challenges, it has adopted a multipronged plan involving substantial sector investments, regional power trade and sector reforms. The Government has an ambitious target to achieve affordable electricity for all by 2021. To realize this target, new generation capacity must be complemented by upgrading transmission and distribution networks, as well as establishing connections for new consumers. The Government requested the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank provide financial support for the BEUE project. This funding will: (i) expand electricity coverage by providing 2.5 million new service connections in rural areas and (ii) upgrade two grid substations (250 MVA to 480 MVA) and convert overhead distribution lines into 85 km of underground cables in northern Dhaka. BEUE will supplement other development partner efforts by providing additional financial resources to connect more rural and urban consumers, further reduce distribution losses, and improve the quality and reliability of power supply in Bangladesh. Upon completion it is expected to benefit about 12.5 million people in rural areas. Some delays to the underground cabling were experienced due to inclement weather.
Gold Coast Light Rail (GCLR) Stage 1 and 2
The Gold Coast Light Rail (GCLR) project comprises at least four stages of dual track connecting Helensvale in the north to Coolangatta in the south. Stage 1 and 2 are complete and in operation. Stage 3A will commence construction in 2021 and Stage 3B is likely to follow immediately after. The total distance of dual track is expected to be 42 kilometres (km). The length of each stage is 13km, 7.3km, 6.7km and 15km respectively. The likely cost of these four stages is around $4 billion. There are also plans to construct some east-west spur lines including services to Nerang and Robina heavy rail stations. Stage 1 was designed to carry 50,000 passengers per day with a capacity up to 75,000 passengers per day, with 16 stations and an initial budget of $1.6 billion. The method of procurement is Operator Franchise Public Private Partnership, involving collaboration of the Commonwealth, State and Municipal governments. Different design consultants and main contractors have been selected for each stage, but it has been a deliberate strategy to focus on local workers and suppliers as much as possible. Stage 1 pre-works commenced in 2010 and this stage was handed over in July 2014. Stage 2 had its business case approved in August 2015 and was open to the public in December 2017. Stage 3A is expected to begin construction in January 2021 and be completed 40 months later. Stage 3B may be finished in 2024, although it is the more difficult stage and likely to be a higher cost/km than earlier work. GCLR is serviced by Keolis Downer and managed by GoldlinQ Pty Ltd on behalf of government. The project is recognized as a world class public transport system and its patronage has grown by 47% since July 2014. Stage 2 had to be finished before the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in April 2018.
copyright © 2020-2022 i3d3.net