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The Director of Highways Mr Y C Lo today (March 2) signed a $52 million consultancy agreement with Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited (OAP) for the company to develop the winning design and supervise the construction of the Stonecutters Bridge.

The winning design of the Stonecutters Bridge in an international competition launched by the Highways Department in 1999 is a cable stayed design with two single-pole towers of 290-metre high and a twin aerodynamic deck. The bridge will be 1614-metre long and have a 1018-metre long main span.

OAP, an expert in bridge engineering, will be required to develop the winning design into a detailed design for tendering.

During the detailed design period, the company will also be required to verify the aerodynamic performance of the bridge and its stability under typhoon conditions through extensive wind tunnel tests.

A spokesman for the Highways Department said the design and construction assignment was regarded as one of the most prestigious and challenging consultancies by the industry.

"Upon its completion in 2008, the Bridge is likely to become the world's longest span cable-stayed bridge with a main span exceeding the existing record by a margin of more than 100 metres."

Stonecutters Bridge is a major component of Route 9 (Tsing Yi- Cheung Sha Wan). It will straddle the Rambler Channel and become a fitting landmark in the harbour.

The bridge and the other two major elements of the route, Ngong Shuen Chau Viaduct in the east and Nam Wan Tunnel in the west respectively, will form a strategic link, providing a relief route to the existing Route 3 between Tsing Yi and Kwai Chung Section.

The estimated project cost of Route 9 (Tsing Yi- Cheung Sha Wan) is about $14.7 billion (at money of the day prices), including $4.8 billion for that of Stonecutters Bridge.

The construction of the bridge is targeted to commence in 2003.

End/Friday, March 2, 2001

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