XN000022-1979-01-31 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1979

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COVERED FOOTBRIDGE FOR CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL

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WORK ON THE COVERED FOOTBRIDGE SYSTEM FOR CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, THE BIGGEST PROJECT OF ITS KIND UNDERTAKEN IN HONG KONG, IS NOW IN PROGRESS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY): +PILING WORK, INVOLVING THE SINKING OF ABOUT 200 PILES, IS NEARLY COMPLETED.

+QUITE A FEW COLUMNS TO SUPPORT THE MAIN ELEVATED WALKWAY HAVE BEEN BUILT AT THE WESTERN END OF THE FOOTBRIDGE NEAR GILMAN STREET.+

IN THE MEANTIME, EXCAVATION WORK FOR THE STAIRCASES AND ESCALATORS OUTSIDE THE INTERNATIONAL AND FIRE BRIGADE BUILDINGS ARE UNDERWAY.

A CASTING YARD, SET UP ON THE CENTRAL RECLAMATION WEST TO THE MACAU FERRY TERMINAL, HAS STARTED PRODUCING BEAMS AND SLABS FOR THE FOOTBRIDGE SYSTEM.

THE $14.4 MILLION SCHEME CONSISTS OF A 480-METRE-LONG ELEVATED WALKWAY RUNNING FROM PEDDER STREET TO GILMAN STREET AND TWO FOOTBRIDGES ACROSS CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.

TO FACILITATE PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT 12 COVERED ESCALATORS AND COVERED STAIRWAYS WILL BE PROVIDED.

THE FOOTBRIDGE, THE LONGEST IN HONG KONG, WILL PROVIDE A SAFE AND DIRECT PEDESTRIAN ACCESS BETWEEN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS AREA AND THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINALS WHEN COMPLETED IN THE SECOND HALF OF NEXT YEAR.

THE PWD SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROJECT REPRESENTED ONLY PART OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE'S CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO PROVIDE PEDESTRIANS WITH A SAFE MEANS OF CROSSING THE ROAD.

+AT PRESENT, HE ADDED, + THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS 70 FOOTBRIDGES AND SUBWAYS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, +

OF THESE, 21 ARE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 28 IN KOWLOON AND 20 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE 44 OTHERS UNDER EARLY STAGES CE PLANNING AND CONSIDERATION.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG NO. HA3 131 FOOTBRIDGES AND SUBWAYS -- 43 OK HONG KONG 13_1_. 7:

ON KOWLOON AND 16 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

OTAL CF