PWSC(97-98)44
For discussion
on 3 September 1997

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS
SUBCOMMITTEE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 706 - HIGHWAYS
Transport - Roads
459TH - Wing Tai Road flyover and improvements to associated road junctions

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee to upgrade 459TH to Category A for the construction of the Wing Tai Road flyover and the implementation of improvement works to associated road junctions at an estimated cost of $137.59 million in money-of-the-day prices.

PROBLEM

The junction of Chai Wan Road/Wing Tai Road is unable to cope with the future traffic demand arising from developments in Siu Sai Wan.

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Highways, with the support of the Secretary for Transport, proposes to upgrade 459TH to Category A at an estimated cost of $137.59 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices to construct a new flyover from Chai Wan Road to Wing Tai Road and to implement improvement works to the associated road junctions.

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3. The scope of the project comprises -

1. construction of a two-lane flyover to carry the through traffic from Chai Wan Road westbound to Wing Tai Road northbound;

2. widening of a section of Wing Tai Road between Sheung On Street and Chai Wan Road;

3. modification of the junction layout of Chai Wan Road/Wing Tai Road and Chai Wan Road/Sun Yip Street;

4. construction of the associated traffic islands, footways and landscaped area, and traffic aids; and

5. provision of indirect noise mitigation measures to about 460 residential flats and two schools affected by the road widening project.

JUSTIFICATION

4. The section of Chai Wan Road east of Wing Tai Road is the main access to the Siu Sai Wan area. The Island East Traffic Study completed in 1993 concluded that the existing Chai Wan Road/Wing Tai Road junction will be unable to cope with the future traffic demand when Siu Sai Wan is fully developed in 2001. We anticipate that by then traffic demand on the existing Chai Wan Road/Wing Tai Road junction would exceed its handling capacity by 5%. We propose to improve the road capacity at the junction by constructing a two lane flyover across the junction to allow through traffic from Chai Wan Road westbound to Wing Tai Road northbound. In conjunction with the construction of the flyover, we also propose to implement the associated improvement works listed in paragraph 3(b) to 3(d) above. The Chai Wan Road/Wing Tai Road junction will have a reserve capacity of 25% in 2001 when the proposed improvement works are in place.

5. As a result of the proposed improvement works and the eventual increase in traffic flow, two schools and about 460 dwelling units near the Chai Wan Road/Wing Tai Road junction will be exposed to noise levels higher than the upper limits stipulated in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines. Due to prevailing site conditions, direct mitigation measures in the form of enclosures or roadside barriers are neither effective nor practical to reduce the level of noise. We need to provide indirect noise mitigation measures in the form of window insulation and air-conditioning to these affected dwelling units and schools.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

6. We estimate the capital cost of the proposed works to be $137.59 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 forecast of trend labour and construction prices for the period 1998 to 2003. We will tender the works under a re-measurement contract because the quantities of the foundation works for the elevated structures may vary depending on actual site conditions. The contract will provide for adjustments to the tender price due to inflation as the contract period will exceed 21 months. We will employ consultants to carry out a detailed study to ascertain which premises will be affected by future traffic noise and put up recommendations on the indirect noise mitigation measures required. The consultants and their resident site staff will also administer the implementation of these measures. A breakdown by man-months of the estimates for consultants ' fees is at the Enclosure.

9. We estimate the additional annually recurrent expenditure to be $723,000.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

10.We consulted the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Eastern District Board (EDB) on 24 January 1995 and members supported the project. The Committee however urged Government to closely monitor the traffic situation during the construction period to avoid creating traffic congestion in the area.

11. We presented the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to the EDB on 20 July 1995 and to the Yee Wan and Wan Tai Area Committees of Eastern District on 13 September 1995. Both the EDB and the area committees did not agree with the recommendation of the EIA to provide only indirect technical remedies in the form of window insulation and air conditioning. EDB members requested the Government to consider adopting direct technical remedies, including the provision of a noise enclosure on the flyover.

12. The EIA study had fully examined the option of direct technical remedies, but found that they were either impractical or ineffective. In particular, the noise enclosure on the flyover, which will cost about $47.7 million at December 1996 prices to construct, would yield very limited benefits to the affected premises because most of the road noise is generated by at-grade road traffic. It is also impractical to install roadside barriers or noise enclosure over the roads as they will restrict access by fire engines and conflict with pedestrian walkways and drivers ' sight lines. We explained these findings to the Environmental Improvement Committee (EIC) of the EDB on 21 November 1995. However, EIC members of EDB were not convinced and passed a resolution in favour of direct technical remedies.

13. In parallel with the consultation with the EIC of EDB, we gazetted the project under the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance on 20 October 1995 and 27 October 1995 and received two objections. One of the objections was raised by the EIC of the EDB. Another objection was jointly raised by some EDB members, local groups of residents, and the Ching Kai Nam Community Service Office. Both objections were against constructing the flyover without a noise enclosure. In view of the objections, we tried to further explain the proposal to the EIC of the EDB on 6 June 1996. However, the Committee still resolved that they objected to the construction of the proposed flyover without a noise enclosure.

14. On 11 March 1997, the former Governor-in-Council considered the objections mentioned in paragraph 13 above and over-ruled them in the public interest.

15. The Advisory Council on the Environment endorsed the EIA report on 20 November 1995.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

16. We completed an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the project in July 1995. The study identified traffic noise as the major concern. By 2011, most of the existing residential buildings and two schools (Fung Yiu Hing Memorial Primary School and Chai Wan Faith Love Lutheran School) along the proposed flyover and the widened road section will be exposed to noise levels higher than the acceptable limits stipulated in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG). Due to prevailing site conditions, direct noise mitigation measures are either ineffective or impractical to reduce the noise levels. We will provide indirect technical remedies in the form of window insulation and air conditioners to about 460 affected dwelling units and the two schools at an estimated cost of $23.18 million at December 1996 prices. For short term impact during construction, we will control noise, dust and site run-off through implementation of mitigation measures in the works contract.

LAND ACQUISITION

17. The proposed works do not require resumption of any private land. The boundaries of the two public housing estates and the Chai Wan Swimming Pool will be set back by a maximum of nine metres to permit the road widening at Wing Tai Road and Chai Wan Road respectively. The Director of Housing has expressed no objection to the land alienation. The Urban Council also has approved to alienate part of the slope near the Chai Wan Swimming Pool for the project.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

18. We upgraded this project to Category B in June 1993.

19. We have substantially completed the detailed design and working drawings for the proposed roadworks using in house staff resources. We plan to start the roadworks in April 1998 for completion in May 2000.

20. We will engage consultants in June 1998 to carry out a detailed study for the indirect noise mitigation measures and to administer their implementation in November 1998 for completion in September 2000.

21. To minimize disruption to traffic during construction, we will carry out the proposed work in stages and implement temporary traffic diversion scheme in consultation with the Police and the Transport Department to ensure that the principal traffic flows will be maintained during all stages of construction.

Transport Bureau
Augusst 1997

(HH543)

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Enclosure to PWSC(97-98)44

459TH - Wing Tai Road flyover and improvements to associated road junctions

Breakdown of estimates for consultants' fees

' MPS = Master pay scale

Notes :

1. A multiplier factor of 3 is applied to the average MPS point to arrive at the full costs including the consultants ' overheads and profit, as the staff will be employed in the consultants ' office (as at 1.4.96, MPS pt. 40 = $55,390p.m. and MPS pt. 20 = $22,595 p.m.). A multiplier factor of 2.1 is applied in the case of site staff supplied by the consultants.

2. Out of pocket expenses are the actual cost incurred. The consultant is not entitled to any additional payment for the overheads or profit in respect of these items.

3. The figures given above are based on estimates prepared by the Director of Highways. We will only know the actual man months and actual fees when we have selected the consultant through the usual competitive lump sum fee bid system.