6 June, 2012
China Harbour and Bouygues subsidiaries VSL and Dragages Hong Kong have been awarded a £1bn contract to design and build the9.km long Hong Kong section of the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao bridge.
The 12.9 billion Hong Kong dollar (£1bn) contract value makes it amount makes it the largest design and build contract ever awarded in Hong Kong.
The joint venture will construct a section of the bridge measuring 9.4km, from the International Airport Island to the boundary of Hong Kong territorial waters. This bridge will support a dual three-lane carriageway over Hong Kong’s deep western waters. The section in Chinese waters which includes a bowstring bridge, a three tower bridge and a two tower bridge is being let by Chinese authorities.
Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Crossing
The joint venture will also have to carry out the electrical and mechanical engineering works, along with the installation of marine navigational aids, a ship impact protection system, and the maintenance and monitoring management systems for the structure of the bridge.
The project poses a number of major challenges. The bulk of the works are to be completed using marine-based equipment, requiring special logistical arrangements. At the same time, navigational channels must be maintained open throughout construction. Also, because of its proximity to the airport, very strict height restrictions will also need to be observed.
Construction will begin this summer and will take nearly four and a half years (54 months), with handover planned in 2016.
The Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao bridge is one of ten major infrastructure projects launched by the Hong Kong Government since 2007. It forms part of the Chinese programme intended to strengthen links between cities in the region, and will link Hong Kong with Zhuhai and Macao, two cities located on the other side of the Pearl River Delta.