Fanling Bypass to open to motorists on May 3

The eastern section of the new Fanling Bypass will open to motorists on Sunday at 8am, marking the first major transport infrastructure project to be completed under the Northern Metropolis development. The four-kilometre dual two-lane carriageway that connects Fanling Highway to the Fanling North New Development Area will cut travel time by 10 minutes, as motorists travelling to and from Kowloon will no longer have to pass through Sheung Shui and Fanling town centres. The construction of the bypass also marked the first time the horizontal bridge rotation method had been deployed to allow a section of the bypass to span across the East Rail Line. Chief Engineer Pakin Cheung, from the Civil Engineering and Development Department, said the method allowed workers to first build the structure in a temporary position, before rotating it into its final placement in just two nights' time. “The aim mainly is to enhance speed and efficiency. As the bridge spans across the East Rail Line, we can only carry out works at night,” he said. “If we build the prefabricated components one by one each day, it can take 100 to 200 nights.” Moreover, the department also highlighted the use of China-made S960 ultra-high strength steel in a cycle track and pedestrian bridge at the Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange. Cheung said the strength of such steel is about three times higher than the conventional types. “Compared to usual concrete structures, we saved 30 percent of construction cost. What are the main reasons? Because it is lighter. Material-wise, it is more expensive,” he said. “But because it is lighter, the foundation cost was reduced, and the time needed for construction would also drastically reduce.” Edited by Tony Sabine