FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1988
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LEK YUEN BRIDGE WILL BE SHA TIN LANDMARK
THE LEK YUEN BRIDGE WILL BECOME VERY POPULAR AND RANK AS AN IMPORTANT LANDMARK IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR BARNES WAS OFFICIALLY OPENING THE 170-METRE BRIDGE WHICH SPANS THE SHING MUN RIVER.
HE DESCRIBED THE BRIDGE AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SHA TIN CENTRAL AREA BOTH IN TERMS OF ITS ROLE AND ITS DESIGN.
AS A PEDESTRIAN FACILITY, THE BRIDGE CONNECTS THE PROMENADE SYSTEM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER CHANNEL AND GIVES DIRECT ACCESS ΤΟ THE MAJOR RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL FACILITIES IN THE TOWN CENTRE TO THE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE EAST BANK OF THE RIVER CHANNEL.
MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT THE TRADITIONAL DESIGN OF THE 11-ARCH BRIDGE WAS IN ACCORD WITH THE MANY CHINESE THEMES IN THE ADJOINING TOWN PARK AND SERVED AS A USEFUL REMINDER THAT THE MODERN TOWN WAS NOT VERY LONG AGO A SMALL VILLAGE.
THE DESIGN AND HIGH-QUALITY FINISH OF THE BRIDGE PROVIDED NOT JUST A USEFUL PEDESTRIAN LINK BUT ALSO A PROMENADE WHICH WAS PLEASANT TO WALK ALONG AS WELL AS TO LOOK AT.
"I CAN SEE THE BRIDGE BECOMING VERY POPULAR AND LANDMARK IN THE NEW TOWN, HE SAID.
AN IMPORTANT
MR BARNES SAID THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT OWED MUCH TO THE FULL COMMITMENT OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS WHO HAD CONCEIVED AND DESIGNED IT AND TO THE CONTRACTORS.
ITS
AMONG THE MANY SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE BRIDGE ARE HAINWATER DRAIN OUTLETS WHICH ARE DECORATED BY STONE CARVINGS IN THE SHAPE OF A DRAGON HEAD.
FOURTEEN PAIRS OF ORNATE LAMP-POSTS, THE UNITED STATES, FORM ANOTHER ATTRACTION.
ORDERED SPECIALLY FROM
OF
MATERIAL USED IN CONSTRUCTING THE BRIDGE INCLUDED 2,909 TONNES OF CONCRETE, 236 TONNES OF STEEL REINFORCEMENT AND 5,250 KILOGRAMS FINISHING MATERIAL.
THE BRIDGE WAS BUILT BY THE TERRITORY IN 22 MONTHS, AT A COST OF $10 MILLION.
DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT
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