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TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1979
THE REPORT SUGGESTS THAT A FURTHER BRIDGE COULD BE BUILT AT YAU KOM TAU. THIS WOULD BE A 390-METRE SPAN CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE, ALSO WITH FOUR LANES CAPACITY.
AS WITH THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE OVER THE MAIN CROSSING THE YAU KOM TAU BRIDGE WOULD HAVE A CLEARANCE OF 62 METRES FOR SHIPPING.
THE REPORT ADDS THAT IF DESIGN WORK BEGAN PROMPTLY THE PROJECT COULD BE COMPLETED BY 1984.
THE MAIN CROSSING AND KAP SHUI MUN BRIDGES, AS SUGGESTED IN THE REPORT, ARE PARTICULARLY STRIKING IN THAT THEY PROVIDE FOR ALL- WEATHER LOWER DECKS.
THE SUSPENDED STRUCTURE WHICH CARRIES THE DOUBLE-DECK HIGHWAY, HAS A STREAMLINE AEROFOIL SHAPE TO REDUCE WIND DRAG, AND INCORPORATES SLOTTED EDGE STABILISERS AND A CENTRAL AIR VENT TO GIVE AERODYNAMIC STABILITY IN TYPHOON WINDS.
THE MAIN CROSSING BRIDGE WOULD ALSO BE ONE OF THE LONGEST
OF ITS TYPE IN THE WORLD.
THE REPORT INCLUDES DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS ON LAND-SCAPING, TREE PLANTING AND OTHER MEASURES TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THE PROJECT.
A PWD SPOKESMAN SAID THAT A STUDY OF CROSSINGS IN 1973 CONCLUDED THAT A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVES WOULD BE TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE AND FINANCIALLY VIABLE.
TRAFFIC STUDIES WERE CARRIED OUT BY THE PWD AND IN JULY 1978 THE DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONED THE ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS GROUP OF HONG KONG -- COMPRISING MOTT, HAY AND ANDERSON FAR EAST, PER HALL CONSULTANTS LIMITED, L. G. MOUCHEL AND PARTNERS (ASIA) AND HARRIS AND SUTHERLAND FAR EAST -- TO EXAMINE A FIXED CROSSING TO LANTAU ISLAND.
+THIS REPORT BY THE CONSULTANTS IS THE CULMINATION OF THOSE STUDIES TO DATE. CAREFUL CONSIDERATION MUST NOW BE GIVEN TO THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, THE PWD SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
THESE INVOLVED A SUBMERGED TUBE TUNNEL OR A BORED TUNNEL.
THE SUBMERGED TUNNEL WOULD EXTEND FROM TSING YI TO MA WAN. THE BORED TUNNEL, ON THE OTHER HAND, WOULD RUN FROM TSING YI THROUGH TO LANTAŬ ISLAND.
+COST WILL, OF COURSE, BE A FACTOR TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, AS WELL AS ANY POTENTIAL NEED FOR INCREASING CAPACITY IN THE FUTURE TO EIGHT LANES OF TRAFFIC,+ HE SAID.
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