TUNNEL BORING MACHINES. Two tunnel boring machines are showcased by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the launch of the construction for the Metro Manila Subway Project tunnels in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City on Jan. 9, 2023. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said there will be six TBMs working round-the-clock by yearend. (PNA file photo)
MANILA – Construction for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) is expected to speed up with the arrival of two more tunnel boring machines (TBM) by yearend, for a total of six so far.
At the Pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address) Special over state-run People’s Television Network on Friday, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said four TBMs are currently in operation and the project construction is in full blast.
“Meron na tayong apat na TBMs na almost 24 hours ang operations niya. Within the year ay magiging anim yan (We already have four TBMs that are operating almost 24 hours a day. Within the year, that will become six),” Bautista said.
He said the TBMs will increase to at least 19 working simultaneously in the coming years.
According to DOTr data, an estimated 1.2 million cubic meters of soil using cut-cover and TBMs are to be excavated for the partial operability section of the MMSP, equivalent to 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
“For the tunnels alone, the excavation will be around 711,000 cubic meters or an equivalent of 285 Olympic size swimming pools,” he said.
The DOTr is also working with the MMSP’s contractors to fast-track the construction of subway stations.
“Itong Metro Manila Subway, ang more challenging part of the construction ‘yung mga stations kasi maraming stations ‘yan -- 17 stations (For the MMSP, the challenging part of the construction are the stations because there will be 17 of them),” he said.
Once completed, the MMSP will cut across eight cities in Metro Manila, stretching from Valenzuela City to FTI-Bicutan in Parañaque City with a spur line to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.
The 33-kilometer subway line aims to cut travel time between Quezon City and NAIA from the current average of one hour and 10 minutes to just 35 minutes. (PNA)
