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The fourth road crossing between Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Shenzhen takes one step closer to realisation today (June 19) following the signing of the Northern Section contract of the Deep Bay Link project.

The Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Environment and Transport), Mrs Rita Lau, signed the $ 1.716 billion Northern Section contract with Gammon Skanska Ltd. in a contract signing ceremony held today at the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau in Murray Building.

The Northern Section contract will cover the construction of a four-km route at Yuen Long and Tuen Mun which is mostly on viaduct; and the interchange at Ha Tsuen. Other associated works include drainage, landscaping and slope works.

As the construction works will be located at rural areas near the Castle Peak foothills and the more built-up areas around Tuen Mun, environmental mitigation measures, such as noise barriers and ecological compensation works, have been incorporated into the contracts to minimize impacts onto nearby sensitive receivers.

Construction is expected to start by end June for completion by end 2005.

The Deep Bay Link is an integral part of the fourth road crossing which comprises the Hong Kong - Shenzhen Western Corridor (HK-SWC) from Shekou to Ngau Hom Shek at Yuen Long, and the Deep Bay Link which connects the HK-SWC to Yuen Long Highway.

The Link comprises a 5.4-km dual three-lane trunk road together with interchanges at Ha Tsuen and Lam Tei to provide connections to existing roads. The project is divided into two contracts, namely the Northern Section and the Southern Section.

The Southern Section contract will cover the construction of about 200 metres of the Deep Bay Link mainline and associated slip roads connecting Yuen Long Highway in the form of viaduct, together with widening of some two kilometres of the Yuen Long Highway between Lam Tei Interchange and Tan Kwai Tsuen. Other associated works include drainage, landscaping and slope works.

The Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Works), Mr Lo Yiu-ching, will sign the $ 1.213 billion Southern Section contract with China State Joint Venture on June 23, 2003.

End/Thursday, June 19, 2003

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