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THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1974
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ABERDEEN PILOT TUNNEL MAKING PROGRESS
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WORK IS NOW IN FULL SWING ON EXCAVATION OF THE ABERDEEN PILOT TUNNEL. WHICH IS BEING DRILLED TO INVESTIGATE ROCK CONDITIONS ALONG THE LINE OF THE PROPOSED ABERDEEN ROAD TUNNEL.
UNDER A CONTRACT LET BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF P.W.D. LAST FEBRUARY, THE CONTRACTOR, GAMMON (H.K.) LTD., IS TO DRIVE A HEADING 340 METRES LONG FROM A PORTAL POSITION IN THE COLONIAL CEMETERY, HAPPY VALLEY, AND A SECOND HEADING 600 METRES LONG FROM THE SITE OF THE SOUTHERN PORTAL IN THE WONG CHUK HANG AREA.
WORK FROM THE CEMETERY END IS NOW WELL ADVANCED AND SMALL EXCAVATORS DRIVEN BY COMPRESSED AIR, AND RUNNING ALONG RAIL TRACKS SET ON THE TUNNEL FLOOR HAVE EATEN INTO THE SOFT MATERIAL OF THE HILLSIDE FOR A DISTANCE OF 50 METRES.
ENGINEERS EXPECT THAT THE HARD ROCK FORMING THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAIN WILL BE ENCOUNTERED WITHIN A FEW DAYS, WHEN DRILLING AND BLASTING TECHNIQUES WILL BE EMPLOYED TO CONTINUE PROGRESS.
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WORK AT THE SOUTHERN PORTAL IS AT PRESENT CONFINED TO CLEARING THE AREA AND PREPARING FOR THE TUNNEL EXCAVATION PROPER.
EVENTUALLY THE TWO TUNNELS WILL BE DRIVEN TOWARDS EACH OTHER AT THE RATE OF SOME 10 METRES EVERY DAY WITH TWO TEAMS OF MINERS WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK. ACTION IS BEING TAKEN THROUGH THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL FOR AUTHORISATION OF THE NECESSARY NIGHT WORK, AND MEANWHILE A TEMPORARY
E A TEMPORARY PERMIT ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WILL ENABLE DOUBLE SHIFT WORKING TO SPEED PROGRESS AT THE HAPPY VALLEY END.
WORK ON THE PILOT TUNNEL IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN SIX MONTHS AND WILL BRING THE PROSPECT OF A FAST AND CONVENIENT ROAD LINK ACROSS HONG KONG ISLAND ONE STEP NEARER TO REALITY, AS ENGINEERS EXAMINE AND MEASURE THE PROPERTIES OF THE ROCK AND DESIGN THE PROPOSED FOUR-LANE ROAD TUNNEL TO FOLLOW.
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