XN000022-1980-12-18 — Page 8

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1980

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ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AT YUEN CHAU TSA!

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WORK WILL START NEXT WEEK ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND BRIDGES AT YUEN CHAU TSAI, FORMING PART OF AN INTERCHANGE FOR THE FUTURE COASTAL TRUNK ROAD BETWEEN SHA TIN AND TAI PO NEW TOWNS.

A $47 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION WORK, NEAR THE LEVEL CROSSING BETWEEN TAI PO ROAD AND KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, WAS LET TODAY TO LEIGHTON CONTRACTORS PTY LTD.

THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED THIS AFTERNOON BY MR GEORGE CHIEN, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE TAI PO AND FANLING NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY.

MR CHIEN SAID WORK ON THE MAIN CONTRACT OF THE COASTAL TRUNK ROAD WAS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN APRIL NEXT YEAR.

*WHEN WORK ON THE PRESENT CONTRACT IS COMPLETED, IT WILL PROVIDE A GRADE-SEPARATED CROSSING BETWEEN TAI PO ROAD AND THE RAILWAY.

+ELIMINATION OF THE EXISTING LEVEL CROSSING IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ELECTRIFICATION AND MODERNISATION PROGRAMME OF THE KCR BY 1982, + HE EXPLAINED.

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, MR CHIEN SAID, IT WILL RELIEVE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION EXPERIENCED DURING PEAK HOURS ON THIS SECTION OF TAI PO ROAD.

THE CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY PETER FRAENKEL AND PARTNERS (ASIA), CONSULTING ENGINEERS FOR THE PWD NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

CONTRACTS LET FOR RECREATION PROJECTS ******

THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY LET TWO BUILDING CONTRACTS TOTALLING SOME $40 MILLION FOR RECREATION PROJECTS IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE FIRST CONTRACT, WORTH ABOUT $39 MILLION, IS FOR A RECREATION GROUND ON A 5.5-HECTARE SITE IN KO SHAN ROAD, TO KWA WAN.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE RECREATION GROUND WOULD FEATURE A 3 000-SEAT OPEN AIR THEATRE, A MINI-SOCCER PITCH, FOUR TENNIS COURTS, A CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND AND A LANDSCAPED REST GARDEN WITH FOUNTAINS.

+THE THEATRE WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH THE LATEST LIGHTING AND SOUND SYSTEM AND WILL BE USED FOR STAGE PLAYS, OPERAS AND CONCERTS,

/+OF THE