September 27th was a rainy day. However, early in the morning, 70 CEE students gathered in front of the Administration Building with enthusiasm lighting up their faces. Two buses were waiting there, ready to carry them onto an exciting exploration to the KPE tunnel.
A long slope led the way down 25m deep into the ground. It could be basement 5 relative to the ground level. Two groups of primary school students and a group of the elderly from a community center arrived at the same time.
Ms Goh, a program cooperator, said that students, other welfare organization and community centers which are along the KPE line were invited exclusively to the preview exhibition. ¡°The exhibition lasts only from 27th to 29th of September. Approximately, 2,400 visitors will come in the three days."
Being a great contrast to the rough brownish-yellow walls and ceilings, the demonstration at each station was colorful and attractive. Clear animations of construction procedures were projected onto the wall. Fine models of parts of the city through which the tunnel crosses were shown in glass boxes.
As how a second-year environmental engineering student put it, ¡°What impresses me the most is the easy accessibility of the information. Stationmasters at each station would explain that specific section in great details. In addition, the questions on the quiz book (which was given to everyone at the entrance) give me a clear picture of what is worth knowing.¡±
Among all the stations, varying from the ventilation devices to the emergency exits, ¡°Engineering Methods¡± would be of most interest to all, especially the part on crossing canal.
Nancy Permatasari Widjaja, a third-year civil engineering student said that she had learned a lot from the discovery trip. ¡°The most important thing is that the KPE Tunnel shows the application of what I have learned in the lectures. It gives me a new feel of civil engineering construction project in real world.¡±
However, when a stationmaster was asked whether the exhibition was brought out for purpose of education, her answer was surprising. ¡°That¡¯s only part of the reasons. We would also like to give the public a chance to have fun. I don¡¯t believe many people have the experience of WALKING on an expressway.¡±
That was true. Everybody enjoyed themselves, especially when they were struggling in the 30m/s striking-off wind coming from the Saccardo nozzle.