Hong Kong will mark another engineering milestone this year after the new Kowloon-Sha Tin link opens March 21, Highways Department Major Works Project Management Office Chief Engineer Michael Hui says. Stonecutters Bridge's last main span deck will be lifted by year's-end.

Mr Hui built one of the Airport Core Programme projects - Route 3 Kwai Chung to Tsing Yi section - before taking up the Route 8 project in 1997.

Building bridges: Highways Department Major Works Project Management Office Chief Engineer Michael Hui says the Route 8 Cheung Sha Wan to Sha Tin section, including the Lai Chi Kok Viaduct, will open March 21. Construction of Stonecutters Bridge is also in full swing.

Valuable experience 

"I gained a lot of valuable experience in handling mega infrastructure when partaking in the Route 3 project. Reference was made when laying down the contract terms for Route 8," Mr Hui told news.gov.hk.

"The project team encountered a number of challenges when building Route 8, as some of the work sites were located near Kowloon Reservoir and water pipes, some near congested roads and some with many utility pipes underground.

"A well-thought-out plan, state-of-the-art construction techniques and team spirit have helped us overcome the difficulties to complete the project. It is everything engineers dream to see, an infrastructure project successfully implemented," he added.

The new $5-billion Kowloon-Sha Tin link will open at 7am March 21 and can cater to up to 120,000 vehicles a day. It will take 10 minutes to drive from Sha Tin town centre to Cheung Sha Wan or Mei Foo via the new route, 15 minutes to Tsing Yi and 35 minutes to the airport.

As the Tsing Sha Control Area will adopt a flat rate of $8 for all vehicles Mr Hui expected the new link to help improve traffic flow.

Big challenge

He said construction of the remaining section of Route 8 linking Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan is in full swing, with Nam Wan Tunnel and related viaducts to open by the end of this year and Stonecutters Bridge in mid-2009. Click here to tour the bridge.

Mr Hui said: "About 70% of the works on Stonecutters Bridge have been completed, with the East Tower reaching 273m and the West Tower 230m, both higher than the Tsing Ma Bridge towers.

"Main span segments are being erected. We expect another big challenge to come before the last bridge deck is lifted by year's-end.

"Cable-stayed bridges are more flexible and will be subject to vibration when the wind blows. As a cantilevering construction method will be deployed, the arms will be built out piece by piece from the bridge towers until the halves meet. Therefore, the bridge will be the most flexible before the last bridge deck is erected to connect the arms. This will also be the most critical moment for us. We will devise measures to keep the level of vibration to a minimum."

Bridge builder

Noting better understanding of the technical aspects, in particular aerodynamics, of long-span bridges is key to project management, Mr Hui spent five years studying the topic. He received his PhD degree in bridge aerodynamics in Tongji University, Shanghai, in 2006.

His hard work was also recognised by a panel of seven judges for the prestigious Nevada Medal for Distinguished Graduate Student Paper in Bridge Engineering, being the first winner of the prize from an Asian university.

Mr Hui said: "My PhD degree is very much related to the investigation needed for implementing long span bridge projects. The technical knowledge I gained from the studies interacts and echoes well with the aerodynamic investigations for building Stonecutters Bridge. This makes the learning process a lot more interesting."

Apart form studying and working, the expert has raised pets which help him ease work pressure. He is also a music addict who plays guitar and sings.

"Music is one of the best ways to unwind. It also serves as the best communication bridge. Apart from listening to Canto-pop singer Sam Hui's golden oldies, I also join the department's band and play live at office annual dinners," Mr Hui added.