53
P.W.E. Hongkong.
Inland Lots 2072 and 2079.--This work consisted of the construction of a series of flights of granolithic steps, with landings spaced at suitable intervals, between Queen's Road and Kennedy Road. Owing, however, to the obstruction caused by buildings in course of erection near Kennedy Road, it was not possible to complete the work by the end of the year.
1917 Estimates, $2,000.00 | Total Estimates, ......$2,200.00
1917 Expenditure, 1,203.55 | Expenditure to 31/12/17, 1,417.57
(b) Deep Water Bay to Repulse Bay,--Improvements to accommodate motor traffic, section from Deep Water Bay to Repulse Bay. This length of road forms a portion of the scheme, proposed in 1898, for the construction of a road to encircle the greater portion of the Island. A Contract for the work was let in February to Mr. Lai Fuk and was satisfactorily completed at the end of November.
The total length of the road is 1.28 miles, the greater part of the work consisting of improving, re-grading and widening the old road between Deep Water and Repulse Bays. Commencing opposite the Golf Club-house at Deep Water Bay, the road runs level for a distance of nearly half a mile skirting the bay. It then ascends with a gradient varying from 1 in 14 to 1 in 20 until it reaches a height of 156 feet above Ordnance Datum. After running approximately level for a distance of about 700 feet, it descends at 1 in 14 until it reaches Repulse Bay. Owing to the steepness of the hillside between the two bays, it was necessary to ascend and descend in the manner already described in order to obtain a favourable location for the road. That portion of road skirting Deep Water Bay has a width of 20 feet, whilst the remainder has a minimum width of 16 feet.
The work included the construction of two bridges,--one of 16'4" span and the other of 10'0" span,--both being skew bridges : the extension of a number of old culverts and the construction of a number of new ones and the construction of retaining walls, aggregating 1,200 feet in length and ranging from 5 to 17 feet in height. A short length of the stream at the south-east corner of the Golf links was trained, a channel for the dry-weather flow being provided.
The abutments of the bridges are of masonry, set in cement mortar, and the decking is of reinforced concrete, 6 inches thick, supported on beams of the same material. The retaining walls are in part of rubble masonry and in part of lime and cement concrete, with displacers. They are surmounted by parapet walls, 3 feet high, built of rubble stone, set in lime and cement mortar, and finished off on top with a semi-circular coping of cement concrete.
Owing to the sandy nature of the soil where the road skirts Deep Water Bay, quarry spalls, 12 to 15 inches in depth, were set over the full width of the road to form a foundation for the surfacing. The road throughout has been surfaced with macadam, 4" thick, finished with a top-dressing of asphaltum and crushed granite put on in two coats. The top-dressing, which was carried out departmentally, was not completed by the close of the year.