Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Link
The Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Link (Chinese: 屯門至赤鱲角連接路, abbreviated as TM–CLKL) is a road project under construction in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It comprises two elements: the "Northern Connection" and the "Southern Connection". The Northern Connection comprises an undersea tunnel crossing the Urmston Road, linking Tuen Mun to the "Boundary Crossing Facilities" (BCF), an artificial peninsula connected to Chek Lap Kok Airport. The Southern Connection, officially named Shun Long Road (Chinese: 順朗路), comprises viaducts linking the BCF to North Lantau Highway on Lantau Island.
View of the Urmston Road, with construction of the tunnel's northern landfall visible | |
Overview | |
---|---|
Official name | Shun Long Road (for the Southern Connection) |
Location | New Territories, Hong Kong |
Status | Under construction |
Crosses | Urmston Road |
Start | Tuen Mun Area 40 |
End | Chek Lap Kok and Lantau Island |
Operation | |
Opens | Shun Long Road (the Southern Connection) - October 24, 2018 the Northern Connection - The end of 2020 (expected) |
Owner | Government of Hong Kong |
Traffic | Automotive |
Technical | |
Length | 5 km (sub-sea tunnel) |
No. of lanes | 4 |
Though the project lies entirely within Hong Kong territory, its construction is associated with the new Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (HZMB). The estimated cost of the design, site investigation, and construction of the TM–CLKL (including associated works, like land reclamation) is about HK$46.71 billion. The project is expected to be fully commissioned by the end of 2020;[1] the Southern Connection mainline opened on 24 October 2018 to tie in with HZMB's commissioning.[2]
History
The contract to construct the Northern Connection tunnel (No. HY/2012/08) was awarded to the Dragages-Bouygues Joint Venture on 26 July 2013. It commenced on 5 August 2013.[3] The contract to construct the southern section was awarded to Gammon Construction in June 2013.[4]
Design
The tunnel portion will be approximately five kilometres in length. It will carry a two-lane dual carriageway.[1]
Construction
The dual sub-sea tunnels are being bored up to 55 metres below sea level using the Tuen Mun - Chek Lap Kok TBM, the world's largest tunnel boring machine.[5]
Originally scheduled for opening in 2018, completion of the link has been delayed at least two years. It is now expected to open in the end of 2020.[6][1][7]
References
- "Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL)". Highways Department. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- "Bridge link taxi area gazetted". news.gov.hk. 2018-10-22.
- "Introduction". Contract No. HY/2014/08: Tuen Mun - Chek Lap Kok Link Northern Connection Sub-sea Tunnel Section. Highways Department. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- "Gammon Bags Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link Viaduct Job". Construction Post. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- Hansford, Mark (9 May 2017). "Rise of the machines". New Civil Engineer.
- "Tuen Mun to airport link road delayed till 2020". Radio Television Hong Kong. 17 March 2017.
- "Contractor criticised as delays hit big Hong Kong tunnel". Global Construction Review. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2019.