General
9.32
The Division is responsible for the design of all highway bridges and most other structures in the territory. It also provides advice on structural matters to the Civil Engineering Office.
Design Projects
9.33
Construction work proceeded during the year on several major structures designed by the Division. These included the eastern section of the West Kowloon Corridor Elevated Road between Gascoigne Road and Tong Mi Road, and the Prince Edward Road to Lai Chi Kok Elevated Road. The access flyover to Kai Tak Airport maintenance area from Prince Edward Road was completed. Three precast, post-tensioned concrete footbridges over Kwai Chung Road were also completed.
9.34
The bridge carrying the new alignment of Canton Road over Haiphong Road was completed during the year, together with an associated footbridge in Kowloon Park. Structural steel was used for both structures, proving predictably quick and easy to erect, but relatively very expensive.
The high cost of this steelwork led to reconsideration of the original design for Stage I of Tsuen Wan By-pass, because the proposed use of large quantities of special corrosion-resistant steel was considered prohibitively expensive. A design using concrete is now being developed.
9.35
An alternative
With financial restrictions slowing up implementation of many items in the Public Works Programme, the opportunity is being taken to reconsider and re-evaluate many of the projects.
9.36
Design work continued on the western section of the Gascoigne Road to Tong Mi Road Elevated Road, with foundation design completed and work proceeding on the superstructure. Model tests have been carried out by Hong Kong University on unusual parts of both western and eastern sections, showing good agreement with the theoretical analyses. Arrangements are being made to carry out full-scale loading tests on these particular parts to correlate theoretical analysis, model test results and actual performance.
9.37
The Division was affected by the impending start of Mass Transit Railway construction work, particularly in the Kowloon Bay - Kwun Tong region. Certain projects in the area are so close to the Mass Transit Railway route and depot that in some places foundations need to be constructed in conjunction with the railway work. Designs for the foundations concerned were prepared and passed to the Mass Transit Railway consultants. A bridge is also being designed for the extension of Wai Yip Street, where construction is being accelerated to meet Mass Transit Railway requirements.
9.38
Another aspect of the Division's work has involved existing bridges. There are a few bridges in the territory, most of which are on minor routes, on which load restrictions have been imposed. Some of these bridges will be replaced in due course as items already in the Public Works Programme are implemented; however, circumstances have arisen from time to time where the actual strength of one of these bridges needs to be known, and the Division has made accurate strength assessments as need has arisen.
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