A raft of consultants have expressed interest in carrying out a feasibility study into ambitious plans by the Highways Department to build a tunnel as part of a combined HK$16bn (US$2bn) tunnel and bridge link to Hong Kong airport.
The planned highway would cross one of the busiest shipping channels in Hong Kong and link Chek Lap Kok airport with Tuen Mun in the north-west New Territories district of the former British colony. Work on the feasibility study is due to start in November and last nine months. The assignment is likely to be followed by another consultancy for preliminary design including, possibly, construction supervision. The Highways Department invited consultants to express interest by 18 July.
The tunnel is expected to be built under the most congested section of the shipping channel where fast ferries between Hong Kong and China vie for space with 300m long containerships steaming between Hong Kong ports and Chinese facilities near the Pearl River.
The link is part of a HK$65bn highway plan announced two years ago for the north-west New Territories and Lantau Island that also includes two other tunnels.
