Reconstruction of Tai Wai Bridge.
195. The construction of a new bridge at Tai Wai Shatin between the 7 and 8 milestone on the Tai Po Road was first approved in 1948 but a series of more urgent projects required the attention of the staff available and it was not until this year that work was started on the preparation of detailed drawings and designs.
196. The existing bridge with a maximum 9-ton loading class is of three 33'-0" span Jack arches on masonry faced mass concrete piers and abutments and the bridge width of 13'-0" permits only single line traffic with no footpaths for pedestrians, whilst the bridge approaches rise steeply to the bridge with a dangerous bend amidst trees on one side.
197. The new bridge of three equal spans with a skew angle of 15 degrees, and a total span of 120'-0" of continuous beam and slab construction is designed to the Ministry of Transport's recommended loadings for Highway Bridges. A carriageway width of 22'-0" conforms with the standard road width in the New Territories, whilst two 9'-0" footpaths will provide room for road widening at a future date.
198. The abutments, wing walls and piers, of masonry faced mass concrete supported on 14″ × 14″ reinforced concrete piles, will carry the beam and slab superstructure. A light welded wrought iron parapet railing, supported by dressed granite plinths equally spaced across the bridge, is to be included as a contrast to the solid stone parapet wall usually provided.
199. The approaches to the bridge will have a gradient of approximately 1 in 200 and it is intended to realign a section of roadway on either side of the new bridge to give a clear approach. The specification for the road formation is the same standard as laid down for the major city roads.
200. All the preliminary work for this contract, including test bores, surveys, design, specification and contract documents was completed during the year and preparations made to call for tenders.
Page 55
43