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The skyline of Hong Kong will be filled with magnificent infrastructure within the next decade with the addition of two big bridges, the Stonecutters Bridge and Tsing Lung Bridge.
When completed, they will become landmarks of Hong Kong alongside the Tsing Ma Bridge, the world's longest suspension bridge carrying both road and rail traffic, and Ting Kau Bridge, the world's longest cable-stayed bridge with three single legged towers.
Speaking at a press conference "Coming Big Bridges in Hong Kong" this (Monday) morning, the Director of Highways, Mr K.S. Leung, said the bridges would occupy prominent locations within the harbour and have their own distinguishing features.
For the Stonecutters Bridge, he said: "Located across the entrance to the Kwai Chung Container Port, Stonecutters Bridge is a key component of Route 9 (Tsing Yi - Cheung Sha Wan).
"The clear width of the port entrance is about 900 metres and the bridge will have a span of at least 1,000 metres with a vertical clearance of at least 73.5 mPD over the full width of the entrance.
"It will serve as a landmark and gateway to the port, thus promoting the image of Hong Kong as a vibrant and important centre of international trade", he added.
Construction of the bridge will begin in 2003 for completion in 2007.
To establish the form of the structure so as to provide a fitting landmark in the harbour, the department announces today the invitation of expression of interests on an international design competition.
World-class bridge design teams are invited to express interests in pre-qualifying to participate in the competition.
Successful applicants will be invited to take part in the subsequent two-stage competition which will run from January to September next year when the winning design will be announced.
Interested bridge engineers and architects can acquire the pre-qualification submission guidelines from the competition manager by fax: (852) 2714 5224, by e-mail: competition.manager@hyd.gov.hk or by mail:
Thomas H.C. Wong
Stonecutters Bridge Design Competition
Highways Department
Major Works Project Management Office
Sixth floor, Homantin Government Offices
88 Chung Hau Street, Ho Man Tin
Kowloon, Hong Kong
The guidelines can also be downloaded directly from the competition website where more information will be available:
http://www.arup.com/hongkong/stonecutters
The deadline for submission of the pre-qualification documents is 1400 hours (Hong Kong time) on December 28, 1999.
Turning to the Tsing Lung Bridge, Mr Leung said it was a major landmark of Route 10 (North Lantau - Yuen Long Highway).
"Tsing Lung Bridge will be a suspension bridge and carry Route 10 across Ma Wan Channel. It will be comparable both in scale and grandeur to the Tsing Ma Bridge, but without a railway track.
"The main span of the bridge will be 1,418 metres - 41 metres longer than Tsing Ma Bridge. When completed, it will be the third longest suspension bridge in the world.
"The design and construction of the bridge will pose a great challenge for the department as the height of the bridge towers is constrained by the airspace requirements defined in the Hong Kong Airport (Control of Obstructions) Ordinance.
"Moreover, the level of the bridge deck is constrained by the navigational clearance within the Ma Wan Channel," he added.
To take the project forward, the department is seeking funds to select engineering consultants for the design of Tsing Lung Bridge.
The detailed design of the bridge is scheduled to commence in February next year and construction will start in 2002 for completion in 2007.
Mr Leung said: "The bridges, as part of the major development in Hong Kong, will provide vital new links for different parts of Hong Kong and help Hong Kong to maintain its position as a regional transport hub."
End/Monday, November 22, 1999
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