ConstructioNews
Vol 28 No 6 (07-2019)
Trunk Road T2 and the Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel
Background
Route 6 is a trunk route under construction and is one of the major and essential strategic roads in Hong Kong. With two intermediate interchanges situated at Kai Tak and Lam Tin respectively, Route 6 provides a link between West Kowloon and Tseung Kwan O (TKO) New Town. The commissioning of Route 6 is expected to play an important role in alleviating the current situation of traffic congestion in Central and East Kowloon, as well as relieving the traffic at the existing major road links, including Kwun Tong Bypass, Kwun Tong Road and TKO Tunnel. In addition to easing the traffic condition, Route 6 can also bring easier access to the various new development projects, such as the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, the West Kowloon Cultural District, the West Kowloon Station of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail link, as well as the residential and industrial developments in TKO.
The construction of the Trunk Road T2 along with the Cha Kwo Ling (CKL) Tunnel is scheduled to commence soon. As the middle section of Route 6, it passes through Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong, with its west connecting to the Central Kowloon Route (CKR) and its east to the Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel (TKO-LTT).
Project Scope
The Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel Construction Project includes the construction of a dual two-lane trunk road of about 3.4 km long, which comprises an approximately 3.1-km-long tunnel. The remaining 300 metres of the trunk road will be at-grade and depressed roads. The scope of the project also includes the remaining part of the “TKO-LTT – main tunnel and associated works”, which is the construction of the approximately 0.4-km-long CKL Tunnel, connecting the Trunk Road T2 and the Lam Tin Interchange. The Trunk Road T2 and the CKL Tunnel are closely connected and complement each other in terms of both structure and operation. As a result, it has to be ensured that these two parts of the route can be commissioned concurrently. The tunnels involved in the project will be constructed in various ways, including non-blasting, drill-and-blast, cut-and-cover methods, as well as building sub-sea tunnel.
In addition to the trunk road and the tunnel, two ventilation buildings will be constructed at the eastern and the western entrance/exit of the Trunk Road T2 and the CKL Tunnel. An administrative building for the Trunk Road T2 and TKO-LTT is also proposed to be set up near the eastern entrance/exit.
The project also comprises associated civil, electrical and mechanical, building, landscaping, as well as traffic control and surveillance system. The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) will carry out ancillary works and implement environmental monitoring and audit programmes. To minimise the environmental impacts caused, associated environmental mitigation measures, including using quiet powered mechanical equipment and installing temporary noise barriers, are proposed for the construction phase.
Besides, the Trunk Road T2 and the CKL Tunnel will be situated along the Kai Tak New Acute Hospital, which construction is anticipated to be completed in 2024. To reduce the possible impacts brought by the project to the operation and sensitive equipment of the hospital, CEDD planned to complete works with high noise and vibration levels as soon as possible. Associated mitigation measures will also be employed after the construction works are completed.
Expected Schedule and Conclusion
The proposed construction project of the Trunk Road T2 and the CKL Tunnel is scheduled to commence in the second half year of 2019 for completion in 2025, when the completion of the CKR is also expected. Upon the commissioning of the Trunk Road T2 and the CKL Tunnel, the travelling time between Kai Tak Interchange and Lam Tin Interchange during peak hours will be reduced from approximately 15 minutes to about 3 minutes. By complementing each other, various sections in Route 6, including the Trunk Road T2, the TKO-LTT and the CKR, will allow traffic redistribution. The traffic pressure of the existing major roads will thus be alleviated. Apart from the benefits brought to the traffic situation, the public can also enjoy a more convenient and speedier access to travel between the eastern and western Kowloon.
Source of Information:
Trunk Road T2 Website
Route 6 is a trunk route under construction and is one of the major and essential strategic roads in Hong Kong. With two intermediate interchanges situated at Kai Tak and Lam Tin respectively, Route 6 provides a link between West Kowloon and Tseung Kwan O (TKO) New Town. The commissioning of Route 6 is expected to play an important role in alleviating the current situation of traffic congestion in Central and East Kowloon, as well as relieving the traffic at the existing major road links, including Kwun Tong Bypass, Kwun Tong Road and TKO Tunnel. In addition to easing the traffic condition, Route 6 can also bring easier access to the various new development projects, such as the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, the West Kowloon Cultural District, the West Kowloon Station of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail link, as well as the residential and industrial developments in TKO.
The construction of the Trunk Road T2 along with the Cha Kwo Ling (CKL) Tunnel is scheduled to commence soon. As the middle section of Route 6, it passes through Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong, with its west connecting to the Central Kowloon Route (CKR) and its east to the Tseung Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel (TKO-LTT).
Project Scope
The Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel Construction Project includes the construction of a dual two-lane trunk road of about 3.4 km long, which comprises an approximately 3.1-km-long tunnel. The remaining 300 metres of the trunk road will be at-grade and depressed roads. The scope of the project also includes the remaining part of the “TKO-LTT – main tunnel and associated works”, which is the construction of the approximately 0.4-km-long CKL Tunnel, connecting the Trunk Road T2 and the Lam Tin Interchange. The Trunk Road T2 and the CKL Tunnel are closely connected and complement each other in terms of both structure and operation. As a result, it has to be ensured that these two parts of the route can be commissioned concurrently. The tunnels involved in the project will be constructed in various ways, including non-blasting, drill-and-blast, cut-and-cover methods, as well as building sub-sea tunnel.
In addition to the trunk road and the tunnel, two ventilation buildings will be constructed at the eastern and the western entrance/exit of the Trunk Road T2 and the CKL Tunnel. An administrative building for the Trunk Road T2 and TKO-LTT is also proposed to be set up near the eastern entrance/exit.
The project also comprises associated civil, electrical and mechanical, building, landscaping, as well as traffic control and surveillance system. The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) will carry out ancillary works and implement environmental monitoring and audit programmes. To minimise the environmental impacts caused, associated environmental mitigation measures, including using quiet powered mechanical equipment and installing temporary noise barriers, are proposed for the construction phase.
Besides, the Trunk Road T2 and the CKL Tunnel will be situated along the Kai Tak New Acute Hospital, which construction is anticipated to be completed in 2024. To reduce the possible impacts brought by the project to the operation and sensitive equipment of the hospital, CEDD planned to complete works with high noise and vibration levels as soon as possible. Associated mitigation measures will also be employed after the construction works are completed.
Expected Schedule and Conclusion
The proposed construction project of the Trunk Road T2 and the CKL Tunnel is scheduled to commence in the second half year of 2019 for completion in 2025, when the completion of the CKR is also expected. Upon the commissioning of the Trunk Road T2 and the CKL Tunnel, the travelling time between Kai Tak Interchange and Lam Tin Interchange during peak hours will be reduced from approximately 15 minutes to about 3 minutes. By complementing each other, various sections in Route 6, including the Trunk Road T2, the TKO-LTT and the CKR, will allow traffic redistribution. The traffic pressure of the existing major roads will thus be alleviated. Apart from the benefits brought to the traffic situation, the public can also enjoy a more convenient and speedier access to travel between the eastern and western Kowloon.
Source of Information:
Trunk Road T2 Website