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EXSAS @ NEWS
OPENING OF SMART
TUNNEL
TO REDUCE FLOOD RISKS
AND TRAFFIC JAMS
By BAVANI M.
bavanim@thestar.com.my
Photos by SAMUEL ONG
In April and October
of 2001, and again in June 2003, massive floods in Kuala Lumpur
caused serious damage. It was apparent that the rivers flowing
through the city were unable to hold the water and space constraints
did not permit river improvement work. It was then that the storm
water management and road tunnel project (SMART) was offered as a
solution to end flooding in the capital city. More than three years
have gone by since construction began and the highway is due to open
at the end of this month. STAR METRO gains an insight into the
workings of this RM1.9bil tunnel.
WHEN the storm water management and road tunnel project (SMART) was
offered as a solution to end two of the city’s major problems – the
flood and traffic crisis, many city folks were not sure about the
workings of this mega project and wondered how it was going to rid
the city off its perennial nuisance. The very idea of a single
tunnel that serves two distinct purposes is just mind-boggling and
yet fascinating at the same time. A tunnel built to rid flash floods
and ease traffic congestion is indeed what the city needed but what
worried people most was the fear that in the event of a flood what
happens to those still inside it?
 SMART
general manager (operations) Mohd Fuad Kamal Ariffin assures
the public that safety is their top-most priority.
“Safety has been of paramount importance to us hence when designing
the tunnel all safety features and precautions have been taken into
consideration.
“We used
state-of-the-art technology and unique safety features to build this
tunnel,” he said.
SMART’s purpose is to solve the flood problem in the city, but it is
also designed to relieve traffic congestion from the Kg Pandan
roundabout to the KL–Seremban Highway at Sg Besi.
Primary Role: To
solve Flooding
“The storm water
tunnel helps divert flood water entering Sungai Klang and Sungai
Ampang into a holding basin in Kg Berembang. The water will
subsequently be channelled via the tunnel to a reservoir in Taman
Desa before being released into Sungai Kerayong.''
This process, Mohd Fuad said, would reduce the floodwater coming
from Sg Klang and thereby preventing Sg Gombak and Sg Klang from
bursting their banks and overflowing in the event of a storm. It is
the tunnel's primary role - to ease flooding caused by heavy rains
at the confluence of Sg Klang and Sg Ampang.
Secondary Role: To ease Congestion
The secondary role is to relieve traffic congestion heading into and
out of the KL-Seremban Highway. Hence apart from the 9.7km-long
water diversion tunnel, a 3km two-deck highway has been built inside
as a means to kill two birds with one stone. Work on the highway has
been completed but it will only be opened at the end of the month
while the storm water system will only be operational by the end of
June.
“Once open the highway will provide motorists direct access to the
Bukit Bintang area, a journey that will only take five minutes,''
said Mohd Fuad, adding that 30,000 motorists are expected to use the
SMART tunnel daily. The tunnel is an alternative route for motorists
to avoid the Jalan Tun Razak congestion.
In the case of Flooding
In the event of a flood, Mohd Fuad said the operation of the
highway in SMART system would work on a three-principle mode.
Mode 1 is under normal condition, when there is not much rain there
is no need to close the highway.
Mode 2 is when there is moderate storm, and some water needs to be
diverted to the tunnel and confined to the lowest drainage chamber
in the tunnel. A set of twin gates has been installed at either end
of the tunnel and is kept shut at all times in order to keep traffic
safe in the tunnel. The highway inside the tunnel will still be
open.
Mode 3 is when there is a major storm and much larger discharge will
have to be passed through the tunnel and hence the entire tunnel
will have to be closed to traffic.
At this stage, the highway will be closed to traffic.
Variable messages signs (VMS) located at the highway entrance will
inform motorists that the highway is closed and to use alternative
routes. Sufficient time will be given to allow the last vehicle to
exit the highway before the automated floodgates are opened to allow
water to pass through. The highway will only be re-opened to traffic
within 48 hours after closure.
“There can never be a situation where someone has been left behind
as we're not going to close the flood gates until and unless
everyone is out,'' said Mohd Fuad.
What happens if there is traffic jam in the tunnel during a major
storm?
“Then alternatives will be identified. Traffic from the highway
heading towards the city centre will be diverted to the service road
of Jalan Davis and off Jalan Tun Razak,” Mohd Fuad said. While
traffic heading south will be diverted onto the East-West link.
“Through the control centre in Jalan Davis we will be notified by
the Drainage and Irrigation Department and and with help from the
police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall motorists will be diverted to take
alternative routes.
Safety a Priority
SMART's tunnel is unlike any other tunnel in the world. It has
been built with unique features with emphasis on safety.
Automated Flood Gates – The water-tight gates are installed
at either end of the highway tunnel to separate the highway from the
storm water tunnel for the safety of the highway users. The
floodgates will remain closed at all time during traffic operation
and opened only when the tilting road gates in the ingress and
egress are closed. The first line of protection against water
entering the road tunnel is an emergency gate at each end. There
will be five gates at either end of the highway: two floodgates, two
road gates, and an emergency gate.
Emergency Exits – a cross passage between decks at 250m
intervals acts as exits during an emergency. Ventilation/escape
shafts at 1km intervals – the air ventilators will constantly renew
the air and maintain the air quality within the highway. To protect
the ventilation system during flooding, the system consists of a
series of shafts each containing an exhaust and fresh air injector.
Equipped with fire-fighting equipment, telephone, over 200 CCTVs and
surveillance at 1km intervals along the highway tunnel.
Control Tower – State-of-the-art SCADA technology has been
especially designed for the monitoring and surveillance of the SMART
tunnel.
< SMART stands for Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel.
<
Project initiated to alleviate flood problems in KL.
< Project is implemented through a joint venture with MMC Berhad and
Gamuda Berhad.
< SMART is implemented under the close supervision of the
government, namely the
Drainage
and Irrigation Department of Malaysia and Malaysia Highway
Authority.
< Local consultant Sepakat Setia Perunding Sdn Bhd in association
with Mott MacDonald
of
UK provides engineering support.
< Costing a whopping RM1.9bil, this major investment will be
recovered through toll
collection
for a period of 40 years.
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