SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1974
T.
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SECOND LION ROCK TUNNEL LINK-UP SET FOR MONDAY
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EXCITEMENT IS MOUNTING AMONG WORKERS AT THE SECOND LION ROCK TUNNEL THIS WEEKEND AS THE MOMENT FOR THE BREAK-THROUGH OF THE TUNNEL APPROACHES.
THE BREAK-THROUGH HAS BEEN TIMED FOR 11.30 A.M. ON MONDAY (APRIL 29), WHEN THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. DAVID MCDONALD,
THE WILL PRESS A BUTTON TO DETONATE THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGE. CEREMONY WILL ALSO INCLUDE A LION DANCE AND A GOOD LUCK RITE.
WORK ON THIS $29 MILLION WATERWORKS OFFICE PROJECT STARTED 10-1/2 MONTHS AGO AND WILL BE COMPLETED BY JULY NEXT YEAR, WHEN TUO FIVE-FOOT DIAMETER VATER MAIN PIPES WILL HAVE BEEN LAID IN THE BASE OF THE TUNNEL, WHICH IS NEARLY A HILE LONG.
THESE PIPES WILL THEN BEGIN TO CARRY TO THE URBAN AREAS OF KOWLOON THE ADDITIONAL WATER MADE AVAILABLE BY THE RAISING OF THE PLOVER COVE DAM. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE FIRST VATER TO FLOW FROM THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR WILL GO THROUGH THE SAME PIPES.
WHEN THE WATERWORKS SIDE OF THE TUNNEL IS COMPLETED NEXT SUMMER, P.U.D.'S HIGHWAYS OFFICE WILL TAKE OVER TO SUPERVISE THE ROAD-LAYING STAGE, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE UNDER A SEPARATE CONTRACT. THIS WORK IS EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT 18 MONTHS.
THE TUO EXTRA TRAFFIC LANES IN THE SECOND TUNNEL WILL RESULT IN IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN KOWLOON AND SHA TIN AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAME IN GENERAL AND TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHATIN NEW TOUN IN PARTICULAR.
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A SPOKESMAN 'FOR THE WATERWORKS OFFICE SAID TODAY THAT WORK ON
· EXCAVATING THE TUNNEL HAD GONE WELL AND WAS ON SCHEDULE, DESPITE DIFFICULT SECTIONS OF ROCK AND SOIL AND THE NECESSITY TO RESTRICT BLASTING SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE EXISTING TUNNEL COULD NOT BE IMPAIRED.
+A BREAK-THROUGH IS TRADITIONALLY THE CLIMACTIC AND MOST EXCITING OCCASION IN TUNNELLING,+ HE ADDED, AND THIS TUNNEL IS NO EXCEPTION. WE'RE VERY PLEASED AT THE WAY WORK HAS GONE.+.
THE CONTRACTOR CARRYING OUT THIS WATERWORKS PROJECT IS THE SOCIETE FRANCAISE D'ENTREPRISES DE DRAGAGES ET DE TRAVAUX PUBLICS OF MARSEILLES. -
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE BREAK-THROUGH CEREMONY. TRANSPORT TO THE TUNNEL WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE CAR PARK OUTSIDE THE MAIN RECEPTION AREA ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD. BUSES MILL LEAVE FOR THE TUNNEL AT 10.30 A.M. FOR JOURNALISTS USING THEIR OWN TRANSPORT A SKETCH SHOWING THE PARKING ARRANGEMENTS' IS BOXED FOR COLLECTION.
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