Contract signed for traffic improvements to Tuen Mun Road Town Centre Section
The Highways Department today (February 22) signed a $1.548 billion Design and Build contract with China Harbour Engineering Company Limited for the widening of the Tuen Mun Road Town Centre Section (TMRTCS) between Yan Oi Town Square and Wong Chu Road from a dual two-lane carriageway to a dual three-lane carriageway.
The works aim to improve traffic congestion on the TMRTCS and to meet the anticipated traffic growth in the northwest part of New Territories and cross-border traffic. The works include widening of a 1.5km-long section of Tuen Mun Road; construction of a 450m-long single-lane flyover; reconstruction of four existing footbridges; installation of noise barriers/enclosures, and the associated environmental mitigation measures, drainage, traffic aids, road lighting, landscaping and geotechnical works.
The Director of Highways, Mr Wai Chi-sing, said at the contract signing ceremony that this would be the last civil engineering contract of the entire road improvement works for Tuen Mun Road from Tsuen Wan to Tuen Mun Town Centre. The contract would create about 850 jobs.
Mr Wai said the contractor had adopted the concepts of four winning entries of the Open International Ideas Competition for Noise Barrier/Enclosure Design held in early 2009 in the design of noise barriers/enclosures.
"The design of the noise enclosures is innovative, elegant and modernised with good integration to the proposed footbridges. It has also maintained a good balance on the use of transparent elements to enhance daylight penetration and hence achieve energy saving on road lighting, and green roof to promote the greening effect. It is chosen for its innovation, aesthetically pleasing appearance and good harmony with the local environment." Mr Wai said.
"The Highways Department is committed to providing the public with an efficient road and rail network. We have been actively pushing ahead the implementation of other large-scale infrastructure projects. These include the widening of Tolo Highway between Ma Wo and Tai Hang, Central-Wanchai Bypass, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities and Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. We anticipate these projects to create about 22,000 jobs that will help improve the current employment situation."
Ends/Monday, February 22, 2010