Contract signed for Central Kowloon Route - Central Tunnel (with photo)
The Highways Department (HyD) today (July 26) signed a contract with Bouygues Travaux Publics for the central tunnel under the Central Kowloon Route (CKR) project. The works mainly comprise the construction of an approximately 2.8-kilometre dual 3-lane CKR central tunnel; the construction of approximately 41 metres and 33m cut-and-cover tunnels in Yau Ma Tei and Ma Tau Kok respectively; the construction of a ventilation shaft, an adit and foundation for a ventilation building in Ho Man Tin; and other associated works. The forecast total of the costs is about $6.226 billion.
The Director of Highways, Mr Jimmy Chan, said at the contract signing ceremony that the contract for the central tunnel is the highest value New Engineering Contract (NEC) adopting a target cost contract option awarded by the Government so far. The NEC emphasises mutual trust and co-operation between the contracting parties and has provisions to enhance cost effectiveness and reduce risk.
The CKR will be a 4.7 km dual three-lane strategic trunk road in Central Kowloon linking the Yau Ma Tei Interchange in West Kowloon with the road network of the Kai Tak Development and Kowloon Bay in East Kowloon. The CKR, anticipated to be commissioned in 2025, will relieve traffic congestion in the Central Kowloon road network. It is estimated that the journey time between Yau Ma Tei and Kowloon Bay during peak hours will be reduced to about five minutes. A total of six works contracts including the present one have been awarded under the CKR project with a total value of about $23.2 billion.
Ends/Friday, July 26, 2019
