Contract signed for Central Kowloon Route - Ho Man Tin Access Shaft (with photo)
The Highways Department today (December 19) signed with Nishimatsu Construction Co Ltd a contract for a sum of $268.5 million for works under the Central Kowloon Route (CKR) project. The works mainly comprise the construction of a vertical access shaft at Ho Man Tin, horizontal directional coring for the tunnel section and further ground investigation works.
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony, the Director of Highways, Mr Daniel Chung, said that the awarding of the Ho Man Tin Access Shaft contract was an important milestone, marking the commencement of the construction stage of the mega project, which is estimated to cost over $42 billion.
"To meet with the tight programme of construction, we will progressively roll out more contracts in the coming months. Upon completion, the CKR will become a strategic highway linking West Kowloon and East Kowloon, slashing the journey time to about five minutes and relieving traffic congestion in Central Kowloon's road network," said Mr Chung.
"Together with the air purification system designed for its tunnel section, the CKR is indeed a green route, reducing annual vehicular emissions by about 20 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, 18 tonnes of nitrogen oxides and 2 tonnes of respirable suspended particulates. In terms of the carbon reduction, this is equivalent to planting over 800 000 new trees covering an area of about 160 Kowloon Parks," he added.
The CKR is a 4.7-kilometre-long dual three-lane trunk road in Central Kowloon linking Yau Ma Tei Interchange in West Kowloon with the road network on Kai Tak Development and Kowloon Bay in East Kowloon. It is anticipated to be commissioned in 2025.
Ends/Tuesday, December 19, 2017
