For discussion PWSC(96-97)15
on 12 June 1996

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 706 - HIGHWAYS
Transport - Roads
552TH - Reconstruction of major roads in the territory

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee -

1. the upgrading of part of 552TH, entitled "Reconstruction of Man Kam To Road near San Uk Ling and Lockhart Road - section between Canal Road East and Arsenal Street", to Category A at an estimated cost of $105.56 million in money-of-the-day prices; and
2. the retention of the remainder of 552TH in Category B.

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PROBLEM
PROPOSAL
PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE
JUSTIFICATION
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
LAND ACQUISITION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Programme for the reconstruction of major roads in the territory

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PROBLEM

A significant number of roads in the territory have reached or are nearing the end of their useful economic life. They are in need of reconstruction and rehabilitation¹ .

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Highways, with the support of the Secretary for Transport, proposes to upgrade part of 552TH to Category A at an estimated cost of $105.56 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices for the reconstruction of the two sections of major roads in the territory.

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3. The reconstruction of major roads in the territory comprises -

1. the reconstruction of nine sections of road as detailed in the Enclosure;
2. associated road rehabilitation; and
3. ancillary roads, drainage, lighting and landscape improvement works.

4. The works we now propose to upgrade to Category A are in respect of the reconstruction of -

1. Man Kam To Road near San Uk Ling (Item No. 6 in the Enclosure); and
2. Lockhart Road - the section between Canal Road East and Arsenal Street (Item No. 7 in the Enclosure).

JUSTIFICATION

5. Man Kam To Road near San Uk Ling and the section of Lockhart Road between Canal Road East and Arsenal Street have reached the end of their useful economic lives. The Director of Highways considers it necessary and more cost-effective to reconstruct them than to carry out relatively costly maintenance works which at best might extend the life of the roads by only one to two years.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

6. We estimate the capital cost of the proposed works to be $105.56 million in MOD prices (see paragraph 7 below), made up as follows -

7. Subject to approval, we will phase the expenditure as follows -

8. We have derived the MOD estimate on the basis of the Government's forecasts of trend labour and construction prices for the period 1996 to 2002. We will tender the works under standard re-measurement contracts because of uncertain ground conditions under the roads. The contracts also provide for adjustments to the tender price due to inflation because the contract period will exceed 21 months.

9. There will be no additional annually recurrent expenditure.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

10. We consulted the Traffic and Transport Committee of the North District Board on 29 September 1995 for the reconstruction of Man Kam To Road near San Uk Ling. Members had no objection to the proposed works. We also consulted the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Wan Chai District Board on 5 March 1996 for the reconstruction of the section of Lockhart Road between Canal Road East and Arsenal Street. Members generally had no objection to the proposed works provided that Government would take relevant measures to ensure smooth vehicular traffic flow along Lockhart Road while works were under way. To address this concern, we will implement appropriate traffic management measures and incorporate relevant clauses in the works contract to minimise disruptions to the traffic along Lockhart Road during the reconstruction period (see paragraph 18 below).

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

11. The Director of Environmental Protection completed Environmental Reviews for the works in paragraphs 4(a) and 4(b) in July and September 1994 respectively. He concluded that an Environmental Impact Assessment for each project was unnecessary as the proposed works would have no major long term impacts on the environment. For short term impacts, we will control dust, noise and site run-off impacts during construction so that they conform to established standards and guidelines through the implementation of mitigation measures in the relevant contracts.

LAND ACQUISITION

12. The proposed works for Lockhart Road do not require any land acquisition while the works for Man Kam To Road will require clearance of Government land only.

Background INFORMATION

13. We upgraded 552TH to Category B in November 1993.

14. Members agreed to upgrade part of 552TH to Category A in April 1995 for the reconstruction of three sections of roads (Nos. 1 to 3 in the Enclosure) at an estimated cost of $132 million at Dec 94 prices. Members also agreed to upgrade another part of this project to Category A in July 1995 for the reconstruction of Sha Tau Kok Road from Lung Yeuk Tau to Ping Che Road (No. 4 in the Enclosure) at an estimated cost of $49.4 million in MOD prices. Members further agreed to upgrade another part of this project to Category A in February 1996 for the reconstruction of Clear Water Bay Road between Silver Cape Road and Tai Au Mun Road (No. 5 in the Enclosure) at an estimated cost of $52.37 million in MOD prices.

15. The Secretary for Transport authorised the proposed reconstruction of Man Kam To Road and Lockhart Road under the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance in October 1995 and April 1996. We have substantially completed detailed design and working drawings for the proposed works using in-house staff.

16. We have scheduled the reconstruction of Man Kam To Road and Lockhart Road to start in October 1996 and March 1997 for completion in April 1999 and December 1999 respectively.

17. To minimise disruption to traffic during reconstruction, we will carry out the proposed works in stages, on a lane by lane basis. For Man Kam To Road, we will also form an additional temporary traffic lane for temporary traffic diversion so as to maintain the current arrangement of two China-bound lanes and one Kowloon-bound lane during reconstruction.

18. For Lockhart Road, we will carry out reconstruction works at major road junctions outside normal working hours (i.e. between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.). To maintain reasonable traffic flows within the Wan Chai area, Hennessy Road and Gloucester Road Service Road will serve as alternative routes during the reconstruction. In addition D of Hy will -

1. suspend or relocate meter parking spaces and bus stops along Lockhart Road whenever construction work is carried out in their vicinity; and
2. restrict the maximum length of road opening on Lockhart Road to 35 metres to minimise disturbance to loading and unloading activities.

With the above traffic management measures, we will maintain adequate capacities at all times during reconstruction.

19. The remaining works under 552TH are in respect of two sections of roads (Nos. 8 and 9 in the Enclosure). We plan to seek approval to upgrade the reconstruction of Victoria Park Road and Gloucester Road (No. 8 in the Enclosure) to Category A in 1998 in order to carry out the works in conjunction with the reconstruction of Causeway Bay Flyover (under 323TH). We also plan to seek approval to upgrade the reconstruction of Gloucester Road Service Road (No. 9 in the Enclosure) to Category A in 2000 upon the completion of the reconstruction of Lockhart Road.

(GG623)

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Enclosure to PWSC (96-97)15

Programme for the reconstruction of major roads in the territory

* 1. Tai Tam Road

* 2. Fat Kwong Street - section between Chatham Road North and Sheung Shing Street

*3. Sau Mau Ping Road (part) and Sau Ming Road

@4. Sha Tau Kok Road - section between Lung Yeuk Tau and Ping Che Road

+ 5. Clear Water Bay Road - section between Silver Cape Road and Tai Au Mun Road

#6. Man Kam To Road near San Uk Ling

# 7. Lockhart Road - section between Canal Road East and Arsenal Street

8. Victoria Park Road and Gloucester Road - section between Hing Fat Street and Marsh Road

9. Gloucester Road Service Road - section between Fenwick Street and Percival Street

* -- Upgraded to Category A as 571TH.
@ -- Upgraded to Category A as 528TH as 585TH.
+ -- Upgraded to Category A as 598TH.
# -- Proposed to be upgraded to Category A now.

(GG623)

1 -- Road Construction is the complete renewal of the pavement. This involves excavation and subsequent reconstruction of the whole pavement structure. Road rehabilitation is the structural repair and strengthening of the road pavement to extend its useful life.

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