September_1971 — Page 14

NEWS REVIEW

investigations following reports of sub-standard concrete. So far this year 16 such reports have been received referring to 42 sites where either building work is under construction or has recently been completed. Following careful inspections 14 sites have been found to be in order and no further action in respect of these sites is anticipated. On four sites it has been established that sub-standard concrete exists.”

More comprehensive investigations are in hand on seven sites where initial inspection, and the re- sults of preliminary tests, have indicated there may be sub-standard concrete. The remaining 17 sites have been visually inspected but preliminary test- ing is yet to be carried out.

Lion Rock Interchange to improve east-west traffic

A grade separated interchange will be built at the junction of Waterloo Road, Lung Cheung Road and the Lion Rock Tunnel Approach Road to im- prove east-west traffic across the northern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong.

It will serve the industrial areas of San Po Kong and Kwun Tong in the east and Tsuen Wan and the projected container terminals at Kwai Chung in the west.

Work at this stage comprises the construction of a flyover across Lung Cheung Road giving direct access to and from the Lion Rock Tunnel to Water- loo Road, and the construction of slip roads con- necting Waterloo Road and the Tunnel Approach Road to Lung Cheung Road.

Maunsell Consultants Asia are consulting en- gineers of the project on behalf of the Public Works Department. Work will begin in October this year and will take about 21 months to complete.

Drainage system for Wan Chai reclamation

More than 90 acres of reclaimed land in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, will be available for develop- ment in early 1973. So far, about 98% of the re- clamation has been completed.

Construction work will soon start at the west- ern part of the reclamation to extend the storm- water drains and sewers off Arsenal Street and Fen- wick Street. They will join up with the recently completed submarine outfall on the waterfront through a future screening plant.

Together with another submarine outfall to be built at the eastern end of the reclamation, the two will replace the existing underwater one near the Wan Chai ferry pier and form a new drainage sys- tem for the whole of Wan Chai area.

Construction of the stormwater drains for the western submarine outfall will begin in September and is expected to be completed in about twelve

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months, while the entire drainage system will be completed by about mid-1973.

Duta Merlin Hotel under construction

What is going to be the largest hotel complex in Indonesia is taking shape in downtown Djakarta. Scheduled for completion in early 1974, the 19-storey Duta Merlin Hotel will have 1,008

An artist's impression of Duta Merlin Hotel

rooms, a banquet hall seating a thousand people, a 1,900-seat cinema and a 20-lane bowling centre. The project is jointly promoted by PT Nusantour Duta Development Corporation, PT Duta Indonesia Djaya and International Hotel Development Ltd. of Hong Kong.

Bridge over Chao Phya River

Contruction of the Tha Chang bridge on Chao Phya River, Bangkok, is progressing as scheduled, according to the Japanese contractors, Sumitomo- Ohbayashi. The US$8 million bridge is expected to be completed by May 1973. It will carry six traffic lanes, each about 3.5 metres wide. The bridge is located in front of the National Theatre and crosses over to Bangkok Noi in Thonburi.

Expressway to disperse Bangkok's traffic

In order to alleviate the chaotic traffic condi- tions in downtown Bangkok, the government is contemplating a 38 km expressway to link the city hub with the outskirts. It will run over exist- ing roads and klongs (canals), and directly connect the city centre with the Sukhumvit highway on the east. German traffic experts are currently studying designs for the expressway.

Nam Oon Dam rises slowly

Scheduled for completion in 1975, the earth- filled Nam Oon Dam in Sakol Nakorn Province, northeast Thailand, will irrigate an area of about 320 sq km and help prevent floods in the Pla Hang Valley. The dam forms part of the Mekong scheme, which is supported by the United Nations.

The dam will be 29.5 m high, 3.3 km long and create a reservoir 85 sq km in area. Since work

Far East BUILDER, September 1971