Bouygues Travaux Publics to build Central Tunnel of Central Kowloon Route

29 July 2019

The Bouygues Construction Group, through Bouygues Travaux Publics (BYTP) in Hong Kong, has been awarded a contract by the Highways Department of the Government of the HKSAR to construct the Central Tunnel of the Central Kowloon Route (CKR) in Hong Kong. The forecast total of the prices is about HKD$6.2 billion.

The Central Tunnel Contract forms a crucial part of the CKR. The main scope of the Central Tunnel project is to construct an approximately 2.8km-long dual 3-lane tunnel between Yau Ma Tei and Ma Tau Kok, two cut-and-cover tunnels at Yau Ma Tei Access Shaft and Ma Tau Kok Access Shaft, a ventilation shaft, a ventilation adit and foundation for a ventilation building in Ho Man Tin; and other associated works.

Starting from Shanghai Street to Ma Tau Wai through Nathan Road, King’s Park, and Ho Man Tin, the Central Tunnel will navigate underground the heart of Kowloon and pass adjacent to 4 MTR lines. To construct the tunnel in a densely populated area will present great challenges. This project requires meticulous project management to ensure zero interruption to the activities at ground level and the MTR service. Especially when carrying out drill & blast, an advanced double deck explosives charging techniques will be adopted at sensitive areas near the MTR tunnels and building piles to minimize disturbance to the surroundings.

The complex geology also poses a challenge to the project. The excavation works will go through 7 major fault zones. Various excavation methods including drill & blast in rock, traditional excavation and heavy temporary supports in soft ground excavation will be adopted for a range of ground conditions, from hard rock to weak soils.

The construction works of the CKR commenced in 2017. The CKR is a 4.7 km-long dual 3-lane trunk road linking the Yau Ma Tei Interchange in West Kowloon with the road network at Kai Tak Development and Kowloon Bay in East Kowloon, forming a trunk route through Central Kowloon. CKR, together with the planned Trunk Road T2 on Kai Tak Development and Tseung Kwan O —Lam Tin Tunnel, which is under construction, will form Route 6. Upon completion in 2025, CKR will provide an alternative express route for the traffic to bypass the congested road network in Central Kowloon. The journey time between West Kowloon and Kowloon Bay will be shortened from 30 minutes to around 5 minutes.