Historic townhouse gets ready to roll

A 116-year-old housing block in Yangpu District is being moved to make way for construction of a new tunnel beneath the Huangpu River.

The one of the oldest lane-style residential buildings in the city is being moved about 50 meters and will be moved back after completion of the tunnel around 2021.

Two annexes of the complex at 104 Jiangpu Road have already been moved. Work to relocate the main structure should start on Friday. It will be the biggest wood and brick building to be shifted in the city, contractor Shanghai XWTM said yesterday.

The company previously moved Minli Middle School, built in 1920 in Jing’an District, rolling it 57 meters on rail tracks in 2009 to make room for a commercial project.

“The townhouse complex is bigger, longer and more challenging,” said engineer Lu Shigong.

The main structure has been encased in a steel frame and concrete platforms have been built beneath the buildings, which will be pushed along rail tracks.

The move is scheduled to be complete by mid-January. The site will then be dug out for construction of the Jiangpu Road Tunnel, the 17th beneath the Huangpu River. The new Danyang Road Station on Metro Line 18 will be built beside the original site of the house and Yangshupu Road in front of the site will be widened. When all work is completed, the house will be moved back.

The three-story block was one of 28 built in 1902 by the Japanese firm Mitsui Bussan Kaisha to accommodate its senior clerks. It is the last of the buildings still standing.