The Highways Department today (December 24) signed a works contract with China State-AICL-CSCEL Joint Venture for Hiram's Highway Improvement Stage 2 – Dualling of Hiram's Highway from Marina Cove to Sai Kung Town.
The contract primarily comprises the improvement of the sections of Hiram's Highway between Marina Cove and Sai Kung Town, Po Tung Road and a section of Tai Mong Tsai Road, which introduces the early participation of a contractor in the design work to fully utilise the construction experience in designing and selecting the most cost-effective construction methods for the major parts of the project through the adoption of the New Engineering Contract Early Contractor Involvement option. The scope of works mainly comprises the widening of sections of Hiram's Highway of approximately 3.5 kilometres in total length between Marina Cove and Sai Kung Town as well as a section of Po Tung Road of approximately 400 metres in length between Yau Ma Po Street and Fuk Man Road to dual two-lane carriageways, and improvement of a section of Po Tung Road and Tai Mong Tsai Road of approximately 600m in length between Fuk Man Road and Wai Man Road, upgrading it to a standard single two-lane carriageway. The forecast total contract sum is about $2.19 billion.
The works contract includes detailed design and construction works, where the advance construction works will commence in 2025 concurrently when the detailed design is being carried out, with a target of commencing the road widening works in full swing in 2026 for phased completion, with the section at Tai Mong Tsai Road completed in about four years after the commencement of construction and the remaining sections at Po Tung Road and Hiram's Highway subsequently completed in the following one to two years.
Hiram's Highway is the only major road connecting Sai Kung to East Kowloon and Tseung Kwan O. The improvement works will effectively relieve the existing traffic congestion at peak hours and cope with the anticipated traffic growth. It is estimated that upon completion of the works, the journey time from Sai Kung town centre to Clear Water Bay Road during peak hours will be reduced from about 35 to 40 minutes to about 20 minutes, which will not only make local residents' travel more convenient, but also increase Sai Kung District's capacity to receive visitors.
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