The Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point (BCP) project entered a new chapter today (March 1) with a successful breakthrough at the southbound tube of the Lung Shan Tunnel (Tunnel Boring Machine Section).
Officiating at the breakthrough ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Hon Chi-keung, said that the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai BCP project is one of the major projects of co-operation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau in the National 12th Five-Year Plan. The BCP will be the seventh land-based crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Together with its connecting road, the new BCP will significantly reduce the travelling time between Hong Kong and eastern Guangdong, Fujian and Jiangxi. This will not only make a better connection between the economic hinterland of Hong Kong and the Mainland, but also further reinforce the status of Hong Kong in the Pearl River Delta regional development. In addition, the connecting road will improve significantly the road network in North District, including Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling, facilitating the development of the district.
"All the contracts related to the connecting road have fully commenced. Construction of the Fanling Highway Interchange and the Lung Shan Tunnel has achieved encouraging results with over 60 per cent and 40 per cent of works completed respectively," Mr Hon said.
About 4.8 kilometres in length, the Lung Shan Tunnel is the main section of the connecting road to the new BCP. Upon completion, it will be the longest twin-tube road tunnel in Hong Kong. The tunnel is divided into two sections, i.e. the Tunnel Boring Machine Section between Loi Tung and Lau Shui Heung and the Drill-and-blast Section between the Fanling Highway and Lau Shui Heung, which are about 2.8km and 2km and under construction concurrently employing a tunnel boring machine and blasting methods respectively.
The tunnel boring works for the southbound tube commenced in November 2015 and lasted 16 months. A number of engineering techniques were adopted for the first time in Hong Kong, including the adoption of Hong Kong's largest earth pressure balanced tunnel boring machine with a diameter of 14.1 metres, to tackle the challenges of excavating the geological area with multiple faults and mixed ground conditions.
Moreover, the tunnel boring machine is equipped with state-of-the-art systems designed by the contractor for real-time cutter disc wear measurement and automatic replacement of worn cutter discs in a timely manner, reducing the need for manual inspections and repairs, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of works substantially.
Other officiating guests at the ceremony included the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Lam Sai-hung; the Chairman of the North District Council, Mr So Sai-chi; the Chairman of the North District Council's Traffic and Transport Committee and Legislative Council member Mr Lau Kwok-fan; and the Chairman of the Tai Po District Council's Traffic and Transport Committee, Dr Lau Chee-sing.
Ends/Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:43
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