An immersed tube road tunnel is to be built below a major shipping channel for a transport link between Hong Kong’s international airport and a key highway to southern China.
Highways department officials in Hong Kong kicked off the project last month. They invited consultants to express interest in carrying out an initial investigation and preliminary design for the transport scheme.
Companies interested in bidding for the studies had until 31 January to apply for work covering the Chek Lap Kok airport to Tuen Mun (in the north-west New Territories) link. The new link will includes the 4km long immersed tube as part of the 9km long highway.
Firms also have until early this month to express interest for a separate assignment on the adjacent 8.5km Tuen Mun western bypass, which is to include 5.8km of tunnels.
Local legislators approved US$11.3M to finance the two consultancy packages. Early studies for the scheme were done by Australian firm Meinhardt.
Highways officials are aiming for the consultancy contracts to commence in May. They want the studies to refine the cost, route alignment and size of the road scheme, including the tunnels, which are likely to be wide enough for a dual two-lane highway.
Preliminary and detailed design is likely to take until May 2010 to complete and then construction is not expected to begin until 2011 for completion of the project in 2016.
With an estimated cost of approximately US$2.6bn, the link will pass under the Urmston Road shipping channel and the bypass will provide fast access to the existing Kong Sham highway and on to the western side of Shenzhen, the fast growing border city.
