XN000022-1978-12-21 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1978

TOPPING-OUT CEREMONY FOR $32 MILLION AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE

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THE $32 MILLION AP LE! CHAU BRIDGE HAS MOVED ONE STEP CLOSER TO COMPLETION FOLLOWING ITS TOPPING-OUT CEREMONY TODAY (THURSDAY).

A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE PLAYING AN ACTIVE PART IN THE PROJECT ATTENDED THE BRIEF CEREMONY PERFORMED BY MR. DAVID STEAD, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THE ENTIRE PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 230-METRE- LONG BRIDGE, THE NORTHERN ROAD CONNECTIONS IN ABERDEEN AND THE SOUTHERN APPROACH ROADS ON AP LEI CHAU,

MR. STEAD SAID THE SUPER-STRUCTURE OF THE BRIDGE AND ITS NORTHERN ROAD CONNECTIONS IN ABERDEEN WAS VIRTUALLY COMPLETED.

HE ALSO ADDED THAT WORK ON THE SOUTHERN APPROACH ROADS ON AP LEI CHAU WAS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

THE WHOLE PROJECT, COSTING $60 MILLION, WILL BE COMPLETED AND OPENED TO TRAFFIC IN THE SECOND HALF OF NEXT YEAR.

MR. STEAD POINTED OUT THE PROJECT FORMS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO DEVELOP THE SOUTHERN PART OF HONG KONG

ISLAND.

+THE BRIDGE AND THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL, WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1980, WILL PROVIDE A FAST AND DIRECT ROAD LINK FROM AP LEI CHAU TO THE NEW TERRITORIES.+

THE BRIDGE, WHICH IS OF THE BALANCED CANTILEVER TYPE, WILL CARRY TWO TRAFFIC LANES, WITH A CAPACITY OF ABOUT 1,500 VEHICLES PER HOUR IN EACH DIRECTION.

IT WILL ALSO CARRY A WATER MAIN AND OTHER ESSENTIAL UTILITIES TO SERVE THE EXPECTED POPULATION GROWTH ON THE ISLAND, WHERE A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE CAPABLE OF HOUSING 19,000 PEOPLE IS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION,

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