ConstructioNews
Vol 28 No 5 (05-2019)
Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel and Cross Bay Link
Background
With the successive completion of new development in Tseung Kwan O, the population in the district increases rapidly and constantly from 200,000 in 1990 to around 400,000 in recent years. Therefore, there is a serious traffic congestion problem during rush hour in Tseung Kwan O town centre and Wan Po Road. In the meantime, the traffic system in that district is overloaded because of the increase of population. For instance, during rush hour in the first three quarters of 2012, the average flow of Tseung Kwan O tunnel, which is the main road linking Tseung Kwan O and Kowloon East, reaches 83,000 vehicles, and it is expected that the average flow will exceed the capacity by 40% in 2020. To alleviate the congestion in Tseung Kwan O tunnel, the government is currently constructing the Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel. The work is expected to be completed in 2021.
However, even after the completion of the new tunnel, the traffic in the area within Tseung Kwan O town centre and Wan Po Road will still be congested. Currently, Wan Po Road is the only road linking the south-eastern part of Tseung Kwan O to other districts. The government, therefore, has proposed to construct the Cross Bay Link in order to provide another route for the district and optimize its transport network. Upon completion, traffic from the south-eastern part of Tseung Kwan O can commute to and from the western part of Tseung Kwan O via Cross Bay Link, or commute to and from Kowloon East via Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel, without travelling through Wan Po Road and TKO town centre. Hence, constructing the Cross Bay Link can relieve the traffic load of these roads in rush hours and minimize the traffic and environmental impacts on nearby residents.
Project Overview
Tseung Kwan O --- Lam Tin Tunnel
According to the information from the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the project is for the construction of a dual two-lane highway with approximately 4.2 km long, which includes a 2.6-kilometer tunnel. Running beneath the Chiu Keng Wan Shan in a straight alignment, the tunnel connects Tseung Kwan O at Po Shun Road in the east with Eastern Harbour Tunnel and Cha Kwo Ling Road, Kwun Tong in the west. Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel, together with the proposed Trunk Road T2 in the Kai Tak Development and Central Kowloon Route, will form the Route 6 which will provide an east-west express link between West Kowloon and Tseung Kwan O areas.
Cross Bay Link
To cope with the traffic demand in Tseung Kwan O, the government has proposed to build the Cross Bay Link, which will connect the Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel and Wan Po Road in Area 86 of Tseung Kwan O, in order to provide an alternative access route to the south-eastern part of Tseung Kwan O.
The project includes the construction of a dual two-lane carriageway of about 1.8 kilometers long with a 34.3-meter-wide viaduct across Junk Bay. With a 3.5-meter-wide footpath at the north section, there will also be a 4-meter-long cycle track between the road and footpath. Connecting Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel in the west, the viaduct will also link with Tseung Kwan O town centre in the north and the open space at the waterfront in Area 86 of Tseung Kwan O. Upon completion, the project will provide an alternative route away from the town centre for the traffic to reach Tseung Kwan O and Kowloon. Hence, the traffic situation in town centre will be improved. To minimize the noise-related nuisance to the nearby residents, a semi-enclosure will be added at Wan O Road section of the viaduct.
In terms of its design, the viaduct applies the concept of Eternity Arch which aims to build a symbolic identity on Junk Bay. As the cables attaching the deck to the arch will be invisible to distant observers, the arch leaps across the channel and forms an infinity symbol, which reinforces the concept of eternity.
Progress and Conclusion
The construction work of Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel has been started in July, 2016 and it is expected to be completed in 2021. Meanwhile, the construction of Cross Bay Link, which is connected with the tunnel, has been launched in July, 2018. Currently, different works are underway at the same time, including site formation, tunnel blasting and surface blasting at Lam Tin Interchange, road works, seawall installation and reclamation in Junk Bay etc. In the upcoming six months, more works including the construction of marine viaducts, and tunnel at Tseung Kwan O Portal will be started. The approximate completion of the work will be in 2022. Upon completion, citizens will have more options to commute to and from Tseung Kwan O district. The traffic load of the area will therefore be alleviated.
Source of Information:
TKO – LTT Website
Development Bureau
With the successive completion of new development in Tseung Kwan O, the population in the district increases rapidly and constantly from 200,000 in 1990 to around 400,000 in recent years. Therefore, there is a serious traffic congestion problem during rush hour in Tseung Kwan O town centre and Wan Po Road. In the meantime, the traffic system in that district is overloaded because of the increase of population. For instance, during rush hour in the first three quarters of 2012, the average flow of Tseung Kwan O tunnel, which is the main road linking Tseung Kwan O and Kowloon East, reaches 83,000 vehicles, and it is expected that the average flow will exceed the capacity by 40% in 2020. To alleviate the congestion in Tseung Kwan O tunnel, the government is currently constructing the Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel. The work is expected to be completed in 2021.
However, even after the completion of the new tunnel, the traffic in the area within Tseung Kwan O town centre and Wan Po Road will still be congested. Currently, Wan Po Road is the only road linking the south-eastern part of Tseung Kwan O to other districts. The government, therefore, has proposed to construct the Cross Bay Link in order to provide another route for the district and optimize its transport network. Upon completion, traffic from the south-eastern part of Tseung Kwan O can commute to and from the western part of Tseung Kwan O via Cross Bay Link, or commute to and from Kowloon East via Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel, without travelling through Wan Po Road and TKO town centre. Hence, constructing the Cross Bay Link can relieve the traffic load of these roads in rush hours and minimize the traffic and environmental impacts on nearby residents.
Project Overview
Tseung Kwan O --- Lam Tin Tunnel
According to the information from the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the project is for the construction of a dual two-lane highway with approximately 4.2 km long, which includes a 2.6-kilometer tunnel. Running beneath the Chiu Keng Wan Shan in a straight alignment, the tunnel connects Tseung Kwan O at Po Shun Road in the east with Eastern Harbour Tunnel and Cha Kwo Ling Road, Kwun Tong in the west. Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel, together with the proposed Trunk Road T2 in the Kai Tak Development and Central Kowloon Route, will form the Route 6 which will provide an east-west express link between West Kowloon and Tseung Kwan O areas.
Cross Bay Link
To cope with the traffic demand in Tseung Kwan O, the government has proposed to build the Cross Bay Link, which will connect the Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel and Wan Po Road in Area 86 of Tseung Kwan O, in order to provide an alternative access route to the south-eastern part of Tseung Kwan O.
The project includes the construction of a dual two-lane carriageway of about 1.8 kilometers long with a 34.3-meter-wide viaduct across Junk Bay. With a 3.5-meter-wide footpath at the north section, there will also be a 4-meter-long cycle track between the road and footpath. Connecting Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel in the west, the viaduct will also link with Tseung Kwan O town centre in the north and the open space at the waterfront in Area 86 of Tseung Kwan O. Upon completion, the project will provide an alternative route away from the town centre for the traffic to reach Tseung Kwan O and Kowloon. Hence, the traffic situation in town centre will be improved. To minimize the noise-related nuisance to the nearby residents, a semi-enclosure will be added at Wan O Road section of the viaduct.
In terms of its design, the viaduct applies the concept of Eternity Arch which aims to build a symbolic identity on Junk Bay. As the cables attaching the deck to the arch will be invisible to distant observers, the arch leaps across the channel and forms an infinity symbol, which reinforces the concept of eternity.
Progress and Conclusion
The construction work of Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel has been started in July, 2016 and it is expected to be completed in 2021. Meanwhile, the construction of Cross Bay Link, which is connected with the tunnel, has been launched in July, 2018. Currently, different works are underway at the same time, including site formation, tunnel blasting and surface blasting at Lam Tin Interchange, road works, seawall installation and reclamation in Junk Bay etc. In the upcoming six months, more works including the construction of marine viaducts, and tunnel at Tseung Kwan O Portal will be started. The approximate completion of the work will be in 2022. Upon completion, citizens will have more options to commute to and from Tseung Kwan O district. The traffic load of the area will therefore be alleviated.
Source of Information:
TKO – LTT Website
Development Bureau