The Hong Kong Link Road of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge project has been completely connected, the government has said.
The Hong Kong Link Road project is a dual three-lane highway connecting the main bridge with the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities – the transportation hub for those using the bridge.
The Highways Department said the 12 kilometre link was connected on Tuesday, as workers jacked the last tunnel box unit – which weighed 5000 tonnes – of the Scenic Hill Tunnel into place under the Airport Express Line.
The department said the tunnel’s completion was a key milestone in the Hong Kong portion of the bridge project, as it means the project is one step closer to reaching its goal of completion by the end of the year.
“In accordance with the current works progress, the Highways Department is confident that the HZMB Hong Kong projects could be completed by the end of 2017 and achieve readiness for commissioning,” it said in a government press release.
Secretary for Transport and Housing Anthony Cheung visited the site on Thursday and commended the team’s work.
The bridge project has been plagued by repeated delays and overspending, as well as fatal accidents during its construction. The government was criticised for providing “misleading” death rates related to the project.
According to the labour commissioner, there have been nine fatalities since construction on the bridge project began in 2011 – most recently, two workers died when a work platform collapsed during construction on the Hong Kong Road Link.
The commissioner said there were 234 injuries related to the megaproject over the past five years, though local media estimated over 600 injuries.
The Hong Kong Road Link project includes sea viaducts, tunnels through Scenic Hill and underneath the Airport Road and Airport Express Line, and roads on Airport Island.
