Contract for Central-Wan Chai Bypass - Tunnel Buildings, Systems and Fittings, and Works Associated with Tunnel Commissioning signed
The Highways Department today (February 28) signed a contract at a cost of about $3.182 billion with Leighton Joint Venture for the Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB) project. The contract entails the construction of tunnel buildings, the installation of route-wide tunnel electrical and mechanical works and traffic control and surveillance systems, and associated works for tunnel commissioning.
The Director of Highways, Mr Lau Ka-keung, said at the contract signing ceremony that the award of the contract, which is the last construction contract under the CWB project, marked another critical step forward in the implementation of the project.
"With the commissioning of the CWB, the travelling time between Central and the Island Eastern Corridor at North Point via the bypass will only be five minutes. It will relieve the present traffic congestion along Connaught Road Central, Harcourt Road and Gloucester Road," said Mr Lau.
The CWB is a 4.5-kilometre-long dual three-lane carriageway with a 3.7km-long tunnel connecting Central to the Island Eastern Corridor at North Point via Wan Chai and Causeway Bay. The CWB project has commenced construction in phases since 2009 for commissioning in 2017.
It is anticipated that the CWB project would create about 6 400 jobs.
Ends/Friday, February 28, 2014