AIRPORT
238
The Lantau Fixed Crossing will comprise: the Tsing Ma suspension bridge linking Tsing Yi to Ma Wan; viaducts crossing Ma Wan; and the Kap Shui Mun Bridge, with a cable stayed design, linking Ma Wan to Lantau. The Tsing Ma Bridge will become a prominent Hong Kong landmark: its main span of about 1.4 kilometres will be the world's longest, carrying both road and railway. Construction contracts for the bridges and viaducts were awarded in 1992.
The North Lantau Expressway will be a 12.5-kilometre dual three-lane carriageway along the northern coast of Lantau, linking the Lantau Fixed Crossing to Tung Chung New Town and the airport at Chek Lap Kok. Construction of the expressway is being carried out in three sections and work on the first two sections started in 1992.
Airport Railway
The Airport Railway has been planned to provide two separate rail services, 34-kilometres long, operating mainly on the same tracks but with separate platforms: a fast passenger link to the airport at Chek Lap Kok, called the Airport Express Line, and a domestic service called the Lantau Line. Both will have maximum operating speeds of 135 kilometres per hour, compared to 80 kilometres per hour on existing MTR lines.
The Airport Express Line is designed as an all-seated, business class-type express service providing a 23-minute link between Hong Kong Central and the airport, with only two stops at West Kowloon and Tsing Yi. It is envisaged that five-car trains will be used initially, increasing as required to a maximum of 10-car trains, operating at 4.5 minute frequency.
Serving northern Lantau, western Kowloon, and Central, the Lantau Line is designed as a conventional mass transit commuter service. It has been designed to bring much needed relief to the existing MTR Tsuen Wan Line, particularly the Nathan Road Corridor where the MTR is now carrying its capacity of 72 000 passengers at the morning peak hour. Stations are planned at Hong Kong Central, West Kowloon, Tai Kok Tsui, Lai King, Tsing Yi and Tung Chung New Town, with provision for additional stations later.
Tung Chung New Town, the terminus of the Lantau Line, is targeted to have a population of 200 000 by 2011. Other new town developments along the route of the railway have been planned at Tai Ho, Yam O and Tung Chung West where stations can be added later.
Five sites totalling approximately 62 hectares have been identified along the railway route for residential and commercial property development. They are at Hong Kong Central, West Kowloon, Tai Kok Tsui, Tsing Yi and Tung Chung.
During 1992, the government agreed a draft financial plan for the railway with the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) which is to be responsible for building and operating the railway. Following completion of a feasibility study, preliminary design work was started on the railway's eight kilometres of tunnels, six kilometres of elevated structures and 20 kilometres of ground level track.
Government Contracts and Tenders
A total of 18 government construction contracts worth over $18 billion had been awarded by the end of 1992, of which nine contracts worth more than $15 billion were awarded in 1992. All were on time and within budget estimates. They represented about 50 per cent of the total value of the government's ACP contracts.
!