Construction /
Protection Works and Advance Works
The SCL interfaces with some major infrastructure projects, including the Kwun Tong Line Extension (KTE), Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB), Wan Chai Development Phase II (WDII) and the South Island Line (East) (SIL(E)). To avoid repeated works, and minimise the nuisance to the community and environment and effects on the existing or new structures associated with these infrastructure projects, the construction schedules of these projects will be coordinated so that some protection works and advance works for the SCL will be carried out at the same time.
The SCL works necessitates the reprovisoning of some existing facilities, among them is the International Mail Centre which has to be included under the SCL advance works so that the site can be released in time for the construction of the SCL railway tunnel, to ensure that the SCL can be commissioned as scheduled.
Advance Works
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Advance Works at Ho Man Tin Station
Ho Man Tin Station will be the interchange station for the future KTE and the SCL. The KTE platform will be located underneath that of the SCL and both lines will share some railway facilities (e.g. concourse and entrances) at Ho Man Tin Station . To minimise the works' impact on the community, environment and road traffic as well as to avoid disruption to the operation of the KTE during the construction of the SCL, it is proposed that protection works for the SCL should be carried out during the construction of the KTE.
Advance Works of the SCL at Ho Man Tin Station:
- Construct facilities for Ho Man Tin Station on the part of the SCL , including concourse, platforms and passages, etc.
As the advance works at Ho Man Tin Station will be entrusted to the KTE project, The Environmental Impact Assessment of this project was carried out together with that of the KTE. An independent consultant has conducted the assessment in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, and recommended relevant mitigation measures. The Report was approved by the Environmental Protection Department. Please click here to view the relevant report.
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Advance Works in Admiralty
The existing Admiralty Station will be extended under Harcourt Garden to become the interchange station for the Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, the future SIL(E) and SCL. Harcourt Garden will be transformed into a new elevated garden that provides improved pedestrian connectivity upon completion of the works.
Since the SCL and SIL(E) will share some of the new railway facilities at Admiralty Station and these facilities will be built at the same location or adjacent to each other, the extension works will be carried out simultaneously as part of the SIL(E) project to shorten the overall construction time and minimise disturbance to the environment, road traffic and community. This approach will also substantially reduce the area needed for the construction of the SCL at a later stage.
Advance works of the SCL in Admiralty include:
- Part of the SCL railway facilities including concourse, platforms and passages, etc at the extended part of Admiralty Station;
- A 200-metre overrun tunnel will be built to the south of Admiralty Station;
- Ventilation facilities at Hong Kong Park near Supreme Court Road;
- Part of the reprovisioning works for Harcourt Garden and Hong Kong Park
As the advance works of Admiralty Station will be entrusted to the SIL(E) project, the Environmental Impact Assessment of the works was carried out together with that of the SIL(E). An independent consultant has conducted the assessment in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, and recommended relevant mitigation measures. The Report was approved by the Environmental Protection Department. Please click here to view the relevant report.
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Reprovisioning of International Mail Centre
The International Mail Centre (IMC) is now situated at the south of Hung Hom Station. As the SCL will link up with the West Rail Line at Hung Hom, the alignment will traverse the IMC and its foundation. To make way for the tunnel works for the SCL, it is proposed to reprovide the IMC at Wang Chin Street, Kowloon Bay. The existing IMC will not be dismantled until the new IMC has completed and come into operation, ensuring that the services of the IMC will not be disrupted.
Taking into account the lead time required for the construction of the new IMC, the migration of equipment and services, and the dismantling of the existing IMC building, we have to carry out works for reprovisioning the IMC under SCL advance works in 2011, so the works can be completed in 2013 for releasing the site in Hung Hom for the SCL works in time so as to ensure the timely commissioning of the Tai Wai to Hung Hom section of the SCL in 2018.
Protection Works
Protection Works at Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter
Like the CWB, the SCL will pass through the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter (CBTS) with the SCL tunnel running above the CWB tunnel at the western side of the CBTS. Both projects will require temporary reclamations for constructing their tunnels.
Construction of the CWB inside the CBTS commenced in the 3rd quarter of 2010, prior to the commencement of the SCL project. To minimise the extent of reclamation in accordance with the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance, the Corporation has proposed to entrust to the CWB project the construction of a 160m long SCL tunnel overlapping with the CWB. This will enable future extension of the SCL tunnel at both ends without damaging the CWB tunnel or affecting its operation, as well as minimising disturbance to the community. In order to maintain the size of the anchorage area within CBTS, dredging works will be carried out at the south-east corner of the typhoon shelter to provide a temporary anchorage area.
In order for the CWB to carry out the SCL protection works without delaying its target completion date, the temporary reclamation for the SCL protection works was gazetted in July 2010 under the Foreshore and Sea-bed (Reclamations) Ordinance. The scheme has been authorised by the Chief Executive in Council on 12 April 2011. The protection works have been commenced by the contractor of the CWB since November 2011. For more details, please refer to the information below:
Hong Kong Government Press Release
An independent consultant has been appointed by the Corporation to assess the possible environmental impact due to the construction of the protection works in the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, such as water quality, noise, dust and waste management, and to recommend mitigation measures under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report has been approved by the Environmental Protection Department. Please click here to view the simplified EIA report.
The Corporation keeps monitoring the construction impact of the SCL protection works on the environment. Regular monitoring data and monthly report can be found here.
Protection Works at Wan Chai Development Phase II
At Wan Chai North the SCL will pass under the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Phases I and II and the water channel between them. This area is also part of WDII, which will accommodate large water mains for supplying freshwater to Hong Kong Island and cooling water mains that will serve the major buildings in the surrounding area. These water mains will cross the SCL and start to operate before the SCL works begins.
To avoid impact on these water mains, the Corporation has arranged for the contractor of WDII to build a 70m long concrete shell under the water mains. The concrete shell will support the water mains when the SCL works begins underneath in the future. This arrangement eliminates the need to carry out excavation twice; it also eliminates the need to divert the water mains or road traffic, thus minimising the project's impact on the neighbourhood.
Please click here for the protection works newsletter.