Route 8 project achieves a milestone Nam Wan Tunnel breakthrough

Light at the end of the Nam Wan Tunnel could finally be seen after excavation for the tunnel breakthrough today (February 25), when a ceremony jointly officiated by the Permanent Secretary for Works, Mr Lo Yiu-ching, and the Director of Highways, Mr Mak Chai-kwong, was held to commemorate the milestone achieved by the Route 8 project.

Mr Lo said, "The Route 8 project under construction is to provide a 15km long dual three carriageway between Tsing Yi and Shatin. It comprises the Nam Wan, Eagle's Nest and Shatin Height Tunnels, the Stonecutters Bridge and a number of viaducts and interchanges."

"The whole project costs $15 billion and is targeted for completion by 2008. On completion, the Route 8 project will link up our busy Container Ports and the Hong Kong International Airport with the North East New Territories. It will also connect the Lantau Link to the West Kowloon Expressway and provide much needed relief for the other existing road network and tunnels," he noted.

Mr Lo said that the Nam Wan Tunnel breakthrough was completed on time and in a safe and environmentally friendly manner by the works department - Highways Department - and the contractor, Gammon Skanska International Joint Venture.

"The determination to keep the site safe and clean and minimise nuisance and disturbance to the neighbourhood has helped achieve a win-win situation for everybody," Mr Lo said.

A 7.5-metre tall noise barrier was provided to minimise the impact on road users and public nearby, and continuous noise and vibration monitoring has been carried out to make sure that the noise and vibration limits were not exceeded during tunnel blasting. Moreover, a blast door was installed for blasting conducted closer to public roads. For dust control, 40 water sprinklers were provided on site and washing facilities were provided at all site exits and used by all vehicles before leaving the construction site.

On construction and demolition waste management, Mr Lo noted that nearly all the 550,000 cubic metres of tunnel spoil from this contract would be reused in the Penny's Bay Reclamation Project or processed into aggregates at a local quarry.

"This is no doubt the result of good planning work and site practices that will set an example for the industry on good waste management and sustainable development," Mr Lo said.

Nam Wan Tunnel is a 1.2 km dual three-lane twin tube tunnel at the southern part of Tsing Yi Island from Sai Tso Wan to Nam Wan Kok. Upon completion, it will be another toll-free road tunnel on Tsing Yi Island in addition to the Cheung Tsing Tunnel.

Ends/Friday, February 25, 2005