17/10/2014

CASE STUDY OF HOPEWELL STRUCTURE,

6 REPLACED WITH THE RED LINE PROJECT
(If sufficient time)

Experience for project management from HOPEWELL STRUCTURE,

previous/failed project (commenced 1990, officially ended in 1997)
and replaced by the Red Line project, which is expected to be
useful for the current situation of infrastructure development in
Vietnam as a typical case for crisis time.

PROPOSED TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION from the Hopewell Structure project:

Feasibility study for infrastructure development- Risk identification/
management.

Financing project and scale/combination of huge project should be given
attention.

Identification of “RIGHT” partners for Infrastructure development at crisis
stage.

Infrastructure management in crisis stage (project delay/failure).

Considerations of proper/possible solutions for failed construction
1 projects.

About HOPEWELL STRUCTURE

 Name of project & contractor:
 Initial name of the project: Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System
(BERTS)- in 1990s;
 Contractor name: Hopewell Holdings, established 1972 as a Hong Kong- listed
infrastructure and property firm, recognized as the pioneer of infrastructure
developments across Asia, including BERTS project;
 The BERTS, however, has been commonly known as the Hopewell
Project after the main contractor, Hopewell Holdings, failed to complete the
construction.

Location of Hopewell structure

1
 17/10/2014

About HOPEWELL STRUCTURE (Cont.)

 Total investment: 80 billion baht (US$3.2
billion)- approved 9 Nov. 1990.

 Project feature: 03 phases, total 60 km, all

were built on top of existing SRT train lines
for elevated highway and rail line as a
mega/multiple project.

 Financing project:
 As a joint project of the Thai Ministry
of Trainsport, State Railway of Thailand
(SRT) and the Thai subsidiary of
Hopewell Holdings of Hong Kong;

 Without a feasibility study or clear

timeline for completion, regardless the
rumors of national expert around the
feasibility/social aspects of the project; Existing Hopewell structure

About HOPEWELL STRUCTURE

Commencement/completion: started 1990
and expected to be in operation by December
1995 for the first part and total completed by
December 1999 for the rest.

 Work Progress: The construction ceased in

August 1997 during the Asian financial crisis, and
was halted by legal acrimony in late 1997 and
formally terminated by the Cabinet in 1998 with
only around 10% completed.

 Responsibility: Both sides demanded

financial compensation and threatened to sue the
other for breach of contract:
Hopewell claiming the work had cost it
US$575 million and blamed slow land
acquisition on the Thai government;
Thai officials stated that Hopewell had
simply run out of money. Existing Hopewell structure

2
 17/10/2014

The Accidence at HOPEWELL STRUCTURE

 The Accidence:
“At around 8 am, 1 March 2012: A
massive concrete slab 50m by 20m
collapsed onto the main northern line
near Wat Samian Nari temple in
Chatuchak district. It narrowly missed a
train running along the route; no
injuries were recorded from the
accident”, reported by By Coconuts
Bangkok.
Collapsing of Hopewell structure (2012)

 Identification of the Accidence courses:

Authorities blamed the collapse on (1) substandard construction and (2) theft of
bolts and beams from the steel scaffolding that had helped support the concrete
platform.

"I have received a report that the SRT had used scaffolding to support some parts
of the Hopewell structure [that collapsed], but someone stole iron bars from the
scaffolding. The iron scaffolding could not longer shoulder the weight of a
concrete beam supporting the structure. However, it was also recognized as the
long-neglected structure collapse due to lack of maintenance from the project
owners”, the transport minister said.

Solution for the Hopewell Structure- Demolition

Demolition & Safety issue

Demolition & proper technique/method

3
 17/10/2014

Solution for the Hopewell Structure- Reuse

Pile load Test prior to using

Pile cap expansion/connection

Box Girder Demolition- Method statement

4
 17/10/2014

Box Girder Demolition- Method Statement (Cont.)

5
 17/10/2014

Box Girder Demolition- Method Statement (Cont.)

11

Box Girder Demolition- Method Statement (Cont.)

12

6
 17/10/2014

Box Girder Demolition- Method Statement (Cont.)

Box Girder Demolition- Method Statement (Cont.)

14

7
 17/10/2014

Box Girder Demolition- Method Statement (Cont.)

The typical weight 16.00 Ton/piece

The maximum weight 22.00 Ton/piece

Cutting 16 pieces.

Hanging by Crane
during Cutting stage

15

Box Girder Demolition- Method Statement (Cont.)

The typical weight 16.00 Ton/piece

The maximum weight 22.00 Ton/piece

Cutting 16 pieces. Hanging by Crane

during Cutting stage

16

8
 17/10/2014

Box Girder Demolition- Method Statement (Cont.)

17

Box Girder Demolition- Method Statement (Cont.)

The weight 65.00 Ton/piece

Cutting 13 pieces.

18

9
 17/10/2014

Box Girder Demolition- Method Statement (Cont.)

10