Road and flyover construction in Hong Kong
In this feature, Mr. R. J. Blake, CEng, MICE, MIStructE, AMInstHE, reviews some aspects of recent road and flyover contracts from the site point of view, with brief mention of construction methods used by local contractors to achieve the high standard of workman- ship specified.
SINCE 1966 it has been possible for the same personnel to remain together as resident engineer's staff for the supervision of flyover and ground level roadworks at various locations in Hong Kong. The consulting engineers, while designing to suit particular locations, nevertheless retained consistent details whenever possible. In this way ex- perience gained by the resident engine- er's staff was carried forward from contract to contract, enabling early attention to be focused on construc- tion problems and contributing to the solutions adopted.
Casting, stressing and handling large concrete deck-beams was an im- portant feature which benefited from the previous experience of supervisory staff. In addition, difficulties caused by the inevitable clash between exis- ting utilities or traffic flow with con- struction work were more easily and speedily dealt with.
The contracts dealt with here can be placed into three groups (Fig 1):
A. Works forming the Kwai Chung coastal road access route.
B. Works forming the cross-harbour tunnel mainland connections.
C. Works forming the cross-harbour tunnel island connections.
Groups B and C are linked with general road improvements for Kow- loon and Hong Kong respectively, the latter in particular forming an impor tant part of the Waterfront Road scheme.
Supervisory staff
From Fig. 1 it may be realised that the arrangements for supervision need. ed sufficient flexibility to cope with sites at some distance from each other and different contractors, while at the
Far East BUILDER, January 1971
same time giving similar standards of supervision and finished work. This was done by assigning an assistant engineer and senior supervisory grade
by R. J. Blake
possible to simplify such matters since although each contract was handled separately, routine items were comple- mentary and action for one contract often carried over to another. In keep- ing with the consulting engineers' normal practice, the resident engineer was responsible after work began on site for all contact with the contractor, unless special circumstances dictated
Part of the Canal Road flyover bridging Hennessy Road
personnel to each site, with overall co- otherwise. ordination by the resident engineer, his senior assistant and inspector of works, junior supervisors being inter- changed as necessary. (Fig. 2)
All administrative matters were dealt with at one office, established for convenience on the Island tunnel connections site. In this way it was
Site meetings with each contractor were held usually at two-weekly inter- vals, and the minutes of these meetings served as a permanent record of pro- gress, difficulties arising, and any agreements concerning methods of working. Closer liaison was maintained by daily discussion between the con-
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