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The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, today (November 9) officiated with the Director of Highways, Mr Wai Chi-sing, and the Chairman of Tai Po District Council, Mr Cheung Hok-ming, at the works commencement ceremony for the widening of Tolo Highway between Island House Interchange and Ma Wo.
Mr Wai said that Tolo Highway had been providing a convenient route for residents in the northeastern part of New Territories to and from the urban areas since it was built and opened to traffic in the 1980s. Not only had it significantly reduced travelling time, but also facilitated cross-boundary transportation between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
However, with the continuing development in the Northeast New Territories and the cross-boundary transportation, the Tolo Highway built with 1980s standards could no longer cope with the demand. To meet the increasing traffic demand arising from the new developments in the Northeast New Territories and the projected growth in cross-boundary transportation, there was a need for Tolo Highway to be widened and upgraded to the current design standard with enhanced road safety.
The whole widening project of Tolo Highway, about 5.7km, will be implemented through two contracts. The contract for construction today covers the 2.4km-long section of Tolo Highway between Island House Interchange and Ma Wo. The works mainly include widening of traffic lanes from a dual three-lane carriageway to a dual four-lane carriageway with the provision of hard shoulders, demolition and reconstruction of two existing bridges, modification of three existing bridges, construction of three new bridges, construction of noise barriers, and implementation of the associated environmental mitigation measures, drainage works, slope works and landscaping works.
Mr Wai said the Highways Department would keep the number of traffic lanes unchanged during the busy hours of the construction period so as to minimise the effect on normal traffic.
The contract for the section of the Tolo Highway between Island House Interchange and Ma Wo was awarded to China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited in August. The work is scheduled for completion in 2013 and will create more than 1,200 jobs and help improve the current employment situation and stimulate economic growth.
The contract covering the section between Ma Wo and Tai Hang will follow and begin construction early next year.
Upon completion of the entire widening works, Tolo Highway will meet the projected traffic demand in the new developments in the Northeast New Territories and help promote the further development of Hong Kong.
Ends/Monday, November 9, 2009
Issued at HKT 14:55
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