international
construction
january-february 2015
REGIONALREPORT
24
Hopes for growth
Companies such as XCMG have
continued to focus on enhancing the
quality and range of products for the
domesticmarket.
This included setting up a drivetrain
research and development operation
which saw investment of RMB 200
million (US$ 32 million), as well as
exhibiting a total of 45 machines at
BaumaChina.
Its lineup featured equipment as diverse
as its 400-tonne excavator through to
what it reported as being the world’s first
wheeled-crawler crane among its range for
2015.
Projects
One of the largest schemes under
development in China is the US$ 13
billionbeing invested todevelop a second airport for Beijing.
Initial work on the facility at Daxing, which is around 45 km
south of the capital, began last month.The project is being fast-
tracked as apriority and is expected tobe completedwithin three
years.
The four-runway airport has been designed by Dutch
consultancyNACO andwill feature a 700,000m
2
terminal and
will benefit from rail links toBeijing and its neighbouring cities.
According to the company, the site has been developed with
particular attention to sustainable design principles through
creating strong links with public metro systems via its on-site
ground transport centre.
Further along the east coast, construction developments
within Shanghai have continued with large-scale projects being
delivered.
Among the city’s most notable ventures has been the creation
of theUS$2.4billion121-storeyShanghaiTower in theLujiazui
commercial district. Built to a height of 632 m, its distinctive
twisting design stands as China’s second tallest building and is
due to open this year.
The project was started in 2008, and has contended with a
number of technical challenges including a 60-hour continuous
concrete pumping operation as part of its dense foundations,
which feature 831 reinforced concrete bored piles. Its slender
designhas been adapted tominimisewind resistance.
Bolstering its reputation as China’s most westernised city, this
year will also see the opening of Shanghai’s multi-million dollar
newDisneyResort Parkmodelled onUS-themed attractions.
On an equally grand scale, themuch-hyped SkyCity tower in
Changsha has attracted plenty ofmedia headlines, but has yet to
be delivereddespite initial groundworks being tested in2013.
Broad Sustainable Building, which is behind the scheme,
remains hopeful its plan for the vertiginous 838 m building,
whichwouldbe the tallest in the country, will still go ahead.
However, concerns remain over its potential construction
methods, which have claimed it is possible to erect within a few
months using unconventional off-site pre-construction. The
company said it is “still working to gain permits” surrounding
building safety certificates to enable its development.
This year will also prove a critical one for the major US$ 10
billion Hong Kong– Zhuhai – Macau Bridge, which links the
former colony to theChinesemainland.
The project, which spans a total of 29 km, is said to be the
largest of its kind in theworld, withRMDKwikform acting as a
consultant and supplier for the scheme.
Having begun in 2009, the scheme is due for completion next
year and it is hoped the venture will foster increased tourism
opportunities.
Encouraging greater visitor numbers has been identified by the
government as a key economic driver for the country, which has
offered key potential benefits to the construction sector.
This has been seenwithnewplans unveiled topromote tourism
to the north western region of China. Consequently, Shaanxi
province has created a US$ 804 million fund to improve its
infrastructure.
Linked to this,Gansuprovince,whichhas 1,600kmof theSilk
Road route, is also investing heavily in connecting urban areas
with sites of national significance and tourism value.
It is initiatives such as thiswhichhave underpinned theUnited
Nation’s assessment thatChina is set tobecome theworld’s largest
tourist destinationby 2020.
While the country is experiencing a period of adjustment as its
rate of growth adapts towards more sustainable levels, the range
and scale of planned investment in its infrastructure has offered
an optimistic outlook for its construction sector.
iC
Shanghai’s
skyline is
expandingwith
the Shanghai
Tower (right of
picture) which
has just been
completed
Work on the
bridge spanning
China to Hong
Kong is due to
finish next year.
