The Inter-reservoirs Transfer Scheme – Water Tunnel between Kowloon Byewash Reservoir and Lower Shing Mun Reservoir Project (IRTS) is the first New Engineering Contract (NEC) awarded by Drainage Services Department, Government of HKSAR to Bouygues Travaux Publics (BYTP) in 2019. The teamwork with our Client and the Consultant has demonstrated a mutually beneficial relations based on trust and co-operation and therefore earned us the recognition as “NEC Contractor of the Year 2020 (Highly Commended #2)” by Institute of Civil Engineers.

NEC underlines the spirit of mutual trust, collaboration and shared risk management. It encourages all stakeholders to cooperate effectively toward the goal of completing the project. Therefore, many work procedures can be further expedited. In addition, with the empowerment from the NEC contract, BYTP is even more motivated to bring innovation to the table. Several alternative design options that we proposed have been deployed in the project, such as a tailor-made Enhanced Rainfall Alert Digital System that sends alerts when the water rises over the alarming level in the reservoir, the RFID Asset Management System that allows the project team to monitoring the progress of precast segment fabrication and installation, also an Automatic Wireless Instrumentations that allows real-time ground condition instrumentation tracking at remote locations via mobile 3G/4G network. These innovative creations enable strict quality control, while enhancing productivity and performance. What becomes more important is, these fruits of innovation are enjoyed not only by the Contractor, but also the Client and Consultant.

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) of IRTS worksite at Lower Shing Mun Reservoir was launched on 23 June 2020. The TBM Launching Ceremony was officiated by guests of our Client, Consultant and BYTP senior management. The TBM will begin its 2.8-km construction journey across Kam Shan Country Park toward the Kowloon Byewash Reservoir. Upon completion, the water tunnel will transfer the collected surface runoff from Kowloon group of reservoirs to the Lower Shing Mun Reservoir, generating an additional fresh water yield of 3.4 million m3 per year.