LEIGHTON Asia and Macmahon will build a 7.6-kilometre tunnelled section of a planned 142km rail line from Hong Kong to Guangzhou in China.

MTR Corporation has awarded the $A463 million contract to Leighton Asia for the construction of the tunnels and ventilation buildings in the Tse Uk Tsuen to Shek Yam section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL).

The Hong Kong section of the XRL will be underground for the 26km from the terminus in West Kowloon to the boundary crossing point at Huanggang, Shenzhen.

Leighton will construct a 7.6km twin-track tunnel between Tse Uk Tsuen and Shek Yam, ventilation and access adits, two ventilation buildings and a 90m deep ventilation shaft.

Macmahon will provide management expertise, technical support and participate in delivery of the project.

The estimated value of the work for Macmahon is $A115 million.

Drill and blast techniques will be used for the construction of the tunnels.

Contract works start in March 2010 with scheduled completion in 2015.

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