Contract signed for Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor crossing
The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor will be a landmark in the Pearl River Delta and a symbol of partnership between the two regions, the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, said today (August 25).
Dr Laio made the comments at the contract signing ceremony with Gammon-Skanska-MBEC Joint Venture for construction of the 3.2-kilometre Hong Kong Section of the Corridor.
The Shenzhen-Western Corridor will be the fourth cross-boundary road access between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The Hong Kong section is costing HK$2.2 billion.
It is estimated that the net economic benefit of the Corridor will be HK$175 billion over the 20 year planning horizon from 2000 to 2020.
In the lead-up to today's ceremony, the Hong Kong and Shenzhen governments have gone to great lengths to design the Corridor and to address the environmental concerns.
The project has been designed to alleviate the almost saturated vehicular boundary crossings at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok; enhance trade between Hong Kong and the rest of southern China; facilitate further economic development between the two regions; and strengthen Hong Kong's position as a hub for the Pearl River Delta.
The selected design scheme, endorsed by the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor Joint Working Group in January 2002, comprises:
* a single tower cable-stayed bridge for the Southern and Northern navigation channels; and
* a box girder with inclined web for the non-navigation typical spans (approach viaducts).
The towers for the two cable-stayed bridges are inclined towards each other, pulling their respective approach viaducts towards the boundary.
Dr Liao said the design symbolises the desire of the two regions to build a synergistic relationship for greater prosperity.
The two bridges will span the future navigation channels for marine access to inner Deep Bay and the Shenzhen River.
Wind tunnel tests were carried out during the detailed design stage to provide an experimental verification of the aerodynamic performance of the cable-stayed bridge.
The views of environmental groups were taken into consideration in the final design after extensive consultations.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the Hong Kong Section of the Corridor was endorsed by the Advisory Council on the Environment in October last year and approved by the Director of Environmental Protection in November.
The environmental mitigation measures as recommended in the EIA Report will be fully implemented.
Deep Bay is an ecologically important area with extensive inter-tidal mudflats close to the Mai Po Nature Reserve. These mudflats are the main feeding grounds for migratory birds visiting Hong Kong each year.
Special care was taken during the design stage to ensure that the required environmental standards will be adhered to in order to preserve the ecological value of the area.
Measures will be taken during the construction phase to ensure water quality and the environment in Deep Bay will be maintained, including the use of closed grab dredgers for sediment dredging and the installation of a coffer dam for the construction of the foundations. The coffer dam will be surrounded by a silt curtain to further protect Deep Bay from any possible contamination.
A temporary bridge and working platform will also be erected above the mudflats to avoid impact to the environment along the coast. Mangroves will be replanted under the Corridor once construction is completed.
Joint environmental monitoring and audit by the Hong Kong and Shenzhen governments will be implemented to ensure that the required environment standards will be maintained throughout the project.
Construction of the Hong Kong Section, together with local road connections, is targeted for completion by the end of 2005.
The 5-kilometre long Corridor will be a dual three-lane expressway spanning Deep Bay on elevated structures. Just over 3 kilometres of the Corridor are in Hong Kong waters. The remaining 1.8 kilometres will be built by the Shenzhen government.
A foundation-stone laying ceremony will be held in Shenzhen on Thursday (August 28) to mark construction of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor. Officiating at the ceremony will be Vice-Premier Mr Zeng Peiyan; the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa; the Guangdong Governor, Mr Huang Huahua; and the Party Secretary of Shenzhen, Ms Huang Liman.
End/Monday, August 25, 2003
