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The mega transport infrastructural project, Tsing Lung Bridge, will begin to take shape following the award of a HK$102 million design and construction consultancy for the section of Route 10 (North Lantau to Yuen Long Highway) from North Lantau to Tsing Lung Tau today (Thursday).

Tsing Lung Bridge will be built in the form of a suspension bridge, similar to its elegant neighbour, Tsing Ma Bridge, but with a longer main span.

It will stretch across the Ma Wan Channel, the main shipping route connecting the Mainland with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and utilise Tsing Lung Tau in Tsuen Wan and Ng Kwu Leng on Lantau as stepping stones.

The consultancy also covers the design and construction of a toll plaza at Fa Peng on northeast Lantau, and an elevated section of the Route along the eastern seaboard of Lantau, between Fa Peng and Ng Kwu Leng.

Announcing the appointment of an engineering consultant for the design and construction of this section of Route 10 this morning, the Director of Highways, Mr K.S. Leung, highlighted that Tsing Lung Bridge would rival Tsing Ma Bridge both in scale and in grandeur.

He said: "The main span between the towers of Tsing Lung Bridge will be 1,418 metres long - 41 metres longer than Tsing Ma Bridge.

"In addition to providing the opportunity for improved links with the new Airport, other parts of Hong Kong and the Mainland, the Tsing Lung Bridge, when completed, will become a striking yet graceful new landmark which will further reinforce Hong Kong's position as a regional transport hub.

"It will also be the third longest suspension bridge in the world."

The design of the bridge is scheduled to be completed in 2001, and the construction is programmed to start in 2002 for completion in 2007.

The Highways Department would be full of challenges in the coming years, Mr Leung noted.

He said: "The project is one of the planned vital transport links aimed at keeping Hong Kong on the move.

"The design of the bridge will pose great challenge to the Highways Department and its consultants as the height of the bridge towers is constrained by the air space requirements of the Hong Kong Airport (Control of Obstructions) Ordinance.

"Moreover, the level of the bridge deck is constrained by the navigational clearance to the Ma Wan Channel," he added.

Maunsell Consultants Asia Ltd. has been appointed as the engineering consultant for the design and construction assignment. They will be assisted by Chodai Co. Ltd. of Japan and Brown Beech Associates of the United Kingdom in the design of Tsing Lung Bridge.

Chodai Co. Ltd. is a specialist consultant who has been responsible for the design of many long span bridges in Japan, including the recently completed Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which is the world's longest suspension bridge.

The construction of Tsing Lung Bridge and the associated works will cost about HK$8.4 billion (in money-of-the-day price).

End/Thursday, March 2, 2000

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