Highways Department signs two $6.65bln bypass works contracts

Contracts awarded to China State Construction Engineering and Leighton Contractors for Central-Wan Chai Bypass project.

Two contracts worth $6.65 billion for the Central-Wan Chai Bypass project were signed on Tuesday. The move will create more than 1,900 jobs. The contracts will each take about five years to complete.

The contract awarded to China State Construction Engineering (HK) was worth $5.38 billion. The works mainly comprise the construction of a 750-metre-long tunnel under the seabed between the ex-Wan Chai Public Cargo Working Area and the east breakwater of Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, according to a Highways Department report.

The other contract was signed with Leighton Contractors (Asia), worth about $1.27 billion. The works mainly include the construction of a 220-metre-long road tunnel, the western tunnel portal and the interchange with the approach roads between the Rumsey Street flyover and Man Yiu Street in Central.

Speaking at the contract signing ceremony on Tuesday, Director of Highways Lau Ka-keung said when completed in 2017 the bypass will cut travel time between Central and the Island Eastern Corridor to five minutes.

"It will relieve traffic congestion along Connaught Road Central, Harcourt Road and Gloucester Road."