Stonecutters Bridge to Be HK's Prominent StructureHong Kong will have one more prominent architecture when Stonecutters Bridge, with a span of over 1,000 meters, is completed in 2007 as scheduled, said Hong Kong's Director of Highways Y.C. Lo Friday."When Stonecutters Bridge is completed, we shall have a new landmark structure in Hong Kong," he said. Stonecutters Bridge, which will straddle the Rambler Channel at the entrance to the busy Kwai Chung Container Port, is likely to become the longest span cable-stayed bridge in the world. Together with the proposed Tsing Lung Bridge, a major element of Route 10 - North Lantau to Yuen Long Highway, Stonecutters Bridge is a continuation of building for the future of Hong Kong. The completion of these mega projects will further enhance Hong Kong's strategic road network for cross-boundary traffic, said Lo. Announcing the results of the Stonecutters Bridge Design Competition at the prize presentation ceremony, Lo said that the bridge would help maintain Hong Kong as a vibrant and important center of international trade, and make the landscape of Hong Kong more fascinating. The Stonecutters Bridge, together with Tsing Ma Bridge, Kap Shui Mun Bridge and Ting Kau Bridge, the three long span bridges completed within the last 10 years, will provide convenience for people and help sustain continuous development of the economy of Hong Kong, he said. "They not only serve their basic function of being part of the highway network, but also become part of the Hong Kong landscape,"Lo said. Stonecutters Bridge is the major component of the Route 9 (Tsing Yi - Cheung Sha Wan). The estimated project cost of the route is about 17 billion HK dollars (2.2 billion U.S. dollars), of which about 5 billion HK dollars (641 million U.S. dollars) will be for the construction of the bridge. The anticipated construction commencement date of the route will be 2002 for completion in 2007. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |