XN000022-1986-09-05 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1986

ROCK TUNNELLING WILL BE USED FOR 700 METRES, WHILE 200 METRES AT THE EASTERN END WILL BE CONSTRUCTED USING CUT-AND-COVER METHODS.

THE CONCRETE LINED TUNNEL WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A 7.4-METRE- WIDE ROADWAY IN BOTH TUBES.

THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED ON THE BASIS OF THE FIRM CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOUTH TUBE, WITH THE NORTH TUBE AS PROVISIONAL WORKS SUBJECT TO THE CONDITION THAT INSTRUCTIONS TO CARRY THEM OUT WILL BE GIVEN BY NOT LATER THAN MARCH 1 NEXT YEAR.

THE NORTH TUBE TUNNEL, WHICH WAS TO HAVE BEEN BUILT AS A SEPARATE PHASE, MAY NOW BE BUILT CONCURRENTLY WITH THE SOUTH TUBE, SUBJECT TO THE NECESSARY INCREASE IN FUNDS BEING AGREED.

THE DATE FOR ORDERING THE PROVISIONAL WORKS ALSO TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED TO COMPLETE OTHER PROCEDURES FOR CONSTRUCTING THE NORTH TUBE, SUCH AS THOSE UNDER THE ROADS (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE.

ALSO INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT IS THE LAYING OF LARGE DIAMETER WATERMAINS BELOW THE ROAD IN THE SOUTH TUBE. THEY FORM A PORTION OF THE FRESH WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FROM PAK KONG TREATMENT WORKS IN SAI KUNG, CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND WILL EVENTUALLY DISTRIBUTE FRESH WATER TO EAST KOWLOON, HONG KONG ISLAND AND JUNK BAY NEW TOWN.

WORK ON THE CONTRACT WILL START THIS MONTH AND BE COMPLETED IN TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS.

IT IS THE FIRST OF A NUMBER OF CONTRACTS REQUIRED FOR

CONSTRUCTION OF THE PRINCIPAL ACCESS TO JUNK BAY.

FUTURE CONTRACTS WILL INCLUDE THE EASTERN APPROACHES FROM THE TUNNEL TO THE JUNK BAY RECLAMATION THAT COMPRISES MAJOR ROAD AND BRIDGEWORKS: ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL CONTRACTS FOR LIGHTING, VENTILATION, TRAFFIC CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE, AND TOLL COLLECTIONS CONSTRUCTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND, A ROADWORKS CONTRACT FOR THE SECTION FROM JUNK BAY ROAD TO THE WEST END OF THE TUNNEL, INCLUDING THE TOLL PLAZA.

THE WHOLE OF THE WORKS RELATED TO THE PRINCIPAL ACCESS ARE EXPECTED TO COST AROUND $520 MILLION AND TO BE COMPLETED IN 1990. TRAFFIC TO JUNK BAY WILL INITIALLY BE SERVED BY THE IMPROVED

PO LAM ROAD,

HOWEVER, AS POPULATION BUILDS UP IN THE NEW TOWN, THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE ACCESS TO JUNK BAY AND THIS WILL BE CATERED FOR BY THE TUNNEL IN ADVANCE OF TRAFFIC DEMAND.

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