Hong Kong’s Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) has won government backing for the construction of a 4.3km tunnel as part of its US$1.3bn line between Sheung Shui and Lok Ma Chau.
The tunnel project replaces an earlier controversial scheme for a viaduct that was rejected by Hong Kong’s environmental protection department because construction would have destroyed valuable wetland areas in the Long Valley.
KCRC East Rail extensions director Lee Kang-kuen said the new route would add US$256M to the cost of the 7.3km line, which was originally estimated at US$1.02bn. Completion of the railway will also be delayed by two years to 2007.
Designs for the spur line were originally done by separate teams from Binnie Black & Veatch and Mott Connell.
The 4.3km bored tunnel will run from the north of Sheung Shui station to Chau Tau. The remaining 3km will be constructed on viaduct along the approved alignment to the Lok Ma Chau boundary crossing terminal, one of the main access points to mainland China.
Transport secretary Nicholas Ng said: "The tunnel option avoids disturbance to the Long Valley and minimises impact on the local community."
The tunnel still has to be approved under environmental impact assessment procedures, but this is considered a straightforward process. Construction could start by the end of next year.
