Main construction is set to start in 2007 on three drainage tunnels that are estimated to cost a total of HK$3.91bn (US$501M). The tunnels are planned by the Drainage Services Department (DSD) and are intended to relieve flooding on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
Preliminary design of the three links is under way and tunnel alignments should be decided by the middle of next year.
The tunnels comprise: the US$231M, 10.3km Hong Kong west drainage tunnel, which will run from Tai Hang to just north of Telegraph Bay on the western side of Hong Kong Island; the US$136M, 5.35km Tsuen Wan drainage tunnel, from Yau Kom Tau to close to Wo Yi Hop near Shing Mun reservoir; the US$135M, 4.2km Lai Chi Kok transfer scheme, which will go from the West Kowloon reclamation north to Lai Chi Kok Hospital and Wai Man Tsuen before turning east towards the Sham Shui Po district.
Geotechnics & Concrete Engineering (Hong Kong) was recently awarded a US$1.53M contract by the DSD to carry out ground investigation works for the Hong Kong tunnel. Vibro (Hong Kong) started work in March on a US$0.5M deal for ground-investigation surveys along the Lai Chi Kok route.
In a briefing to legislators, DSD said the tunnels “are cost-effective engineering solutions and the interception approach is a better solution than the traditional approach of enlarging drains and box culverts along busy roads.” The three tunnels are due for completion by 2011.
