CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT HIGHWAY DIVISION
Chief Engineer:
C.K. CHOW, B.Sc. (Eng.), C.Eng., M.I.C.E.
General
9.39
This Division is responsible for the management of highways projects entrusted to Consulting Engineers. Consultants' projects still constituted a major share of the highway construction programme and the expenditure on these projects continued to rise rapidly and stood at $165M. for the year under review.
9.40
Consultants were commissioned to carry out feasibility studies for a number of projects including Lei Yue Mun Gap Bridge, Hong Kong Island Eastern Corridor, Blue Pool Road/Tai Hang Road Junction Improvements and Robinson Road/ Old Peak Road/Glenealy Junction Improvements. Design on further major highways projects continued and included Aberdeen Tunnel, Canal Road Flyover Extension to Wong Nai Chung Road, West Kowloon Corridor from Yau Ma Tei to Lai Chi Kok, and Western Approach to Airport Tunnel Road. Good progress was maintained on a number of contracts except those awarded to one contractor who suffered from serious financial difficulties and subsequently went into liquidation. All contracts undertaken by this contractor were re-entered and arrangements to relet them for completion were immediately put in hand. Five of seven contracts managed by this Division had re-commenced shortly after negotiation with appropriate contractors.
9.41
On Hong Kong Island, work continued on the driving of the Pilot Tunnel along the alignment of the proposed Aberdeen Tunnel which would provide a direct link between Happy Valley and Wong Chuk Hang designed to improve the communication between the northern urban areas and the developing areas in the south of the Island. The widening of Shek Pai Wan Road also progressed satisfactorily.
9.42
Major improvement to the Lung Cheung Road/Tai Po Road/Ching Cheung Road route providing a fast link between two industrial towns at Kwun Tong and Kwai Chung continued to progress well during the year. Lung Cheung Road and Ching Cheung Road had been widened and another interchange at Piper's Hill opened to traffic. Other Interchanges on the Route and the extension of Ching Cheung Road to Kwai Chung were also under construction. In the new Kowloon Bay Reclamation, work on extension of Wai Yip Street including an overpass linking Kwun Tong Road and a section of Mass Transit Railway Tunnel integrated with the scheme also commenced. In the construction of the two important interchanges along another busy corridor at Waterloo Road and Argyle Street, progress was much improved after substantial completion of foundations and numerous associated utility diversions.
9.43
In the New Territories, work commenced on the largest highways contract in Hong Kong, namely, the construction of Tuen Mun Road with an official inauguration in October including a Japanese traditional ceremony arranged by the contractor. The new road will provide a fast link between the two new towns at Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun at a distance of 15.3 km. apart and will accelerate the development of Tuen Mun.
9.44
Five firms of Consultants (two overseas and three local) are currently engaged on highways projects. A schedule showing current projects undertaken by Consulting Engineers is at Appendix Z.
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