XN000022-1992-05-27 — Page 43

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1992

PLAN FOR WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING PROGRESSING

THE GOVERNMENT WILL CARRY OUT A DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF THE FINANCIAL, ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF BIDS FOR THE WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING (WHC) IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR.

THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER WILL BE CHOSEN EARLY NEXT YEAR. CONSTRUCTION FOR WHC IS EXPECTED TO START BY MID-1993 FOR COMPLETION BY MID-1997.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR JOHN TELFORD, AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE HONG KONG HIGHWAYS ASSOCIATION TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED FOR A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT THE WHO ON A BUILD, OPERATE AND TRANSFER (BOT) BASIS UNDER AN OPEN AND COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS. THE CLOSING DATE WILL BE JULY 3.

THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER WILL BE GRANTED THE RIGHT ΤΟ COLLECT

TOLLS OVER A FRANCHISE PERIOD OF 30 YEARS.

MR TELFORD SAID THE FRANCHISE TO BE GRANTED BY LAW WOULD SET OUT THE KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FRANCHISEE IN CONSTRUCTING, OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE TUNNEL.

"AS THE FRANCHISE WILL EXTEND BEYOND 1997, THERE WILL BE A NEED TO DISCUSS ITS TERM AND CONDITIONS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE BEFORE IT IS AWARDED."

"THE CHINESE HAVE ALREADY BEEN BRIEFED ON THE PROJECT PRIOR ΤΟ THE ISSUE OF THE INVITATION TO TENDER, HE SAID.

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MR TELFORD SAID THE WHC WOULD BE BUILT IN A DUAL THREE-LANE CONFIGURATION BECAUSE TRAFFIC IN THE TUNNEL WAS FORECAST TO INCREASE TO ABOUT 120,000 VEHICLES PER DAY BY 2001, ALREADY BEYOND THE CAPACITY OF A. DUAL TWO-LANE TUNNEL.

APART FROM CONNECTING WITH THE NEW WEST KOWLOON EXPRESSWAY IN KOWLOON, MR TELFORD SAID THE CROSSING WOULD CONNECT WITH ROUTE 7 AT SAI YING PUN ON HONG KONG ISLAND, PROVIDING ACCESS EASTWARD VIA CONNAUGHT ROAD AND WESTWARD TO BELCHER BAY.

"AT THE TIME WHEN THE WHO OPENS, ROADS WILL BE UPGRADED IN WESTERN DISTRICT TO PROVIDE A CONNECTION BETWEEN BELCHER BAY AND POKFULAM ROAD, VIA KENNEDY TOWN, ROCKHILL AND SMITHFIELD TO SERVE TRAFFIC HEADING FOR THE SOUTH OF THE ISLAND," HE SAID.

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