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 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 Hong Kong International Airport. The Southern Connection, officially named Shun Long Road (順朗路), comprises viaducts linking the BCF to North Lantau Highway on Lantau Island.
 Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Link in construction | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Shun Long Road (for the Southern Connection) |
| Location | New Territories, Hong Kong |
| Coordinates | 22°18′24.6″N 113°57′52″E |
| Status | Active |
| Crosses | Urmston Road |
| Start | Lung Fu Road, Tuen Mun |
| End | Chek Lap Kok, Lantau Island |
| Operation | |
| Opened | Shun Long Road (Southern Connection) - 24 October 2018 Northern Connection (Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel) - 27 December 2020 |
| Owner | Hong Kong Government |
| Traffic | Automotive |
| Toll | No |
| Technical | |
| Length | 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) (sub-sea tunnel) |
| No. of lanes | 4 lanes (2 lanes per direction) |
| Operating speed | 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) |
The construction of the link has helped facilitate travel between the Northwest New Territories (Tuen Mun and Yuen Long Districts) and the Hong Kong International Airport and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (Hong Kong Port).
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 Southern Connection mainline opened on 24 October 2018 to tie in with HZMB's commissioning[1] and the remaining Northern Connection to Tuen Mun opened on 27 December 2020.
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.[2] The contract to construct the southern section was awarded to Gammon Construction in June 2013.[3] The entire project opened to traffic on 27 December 2020.
Design
The tunnel portion is a two-lane dual carriageway approximately 5 kilometres long.[4]
Construction
The dual sub-sea tunnels were 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 had been delayed for two years.[6][4][7] It opened to traffic on 27 December 2020.
References
- "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.
- "Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL)". Highways Department. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- 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.
