A comprehensive Highways Department inspection of Kap Shui Mun Bridge after it was struck by a vessel last night has revealed no structural damage, the department says.
The bridge’s structural safety was not affected, it added.
Six rails used to carry an inspection platform near the bridge’s mid-span were found damaged by the collision, but they are non-structural installations attached to the underside of the bridge. Some bolts near these rails were also found to be missing, but this does not affect the bridge’s structural safety.
The detailed inspection was completed at about 4pm, and it indicated that no major structural components had been damaged and the bridge’s overall structural condition was satisfactory.
The Tsing Ma Control Area operator has been instructed to complete the repair of damaged components as soon as possible, including damaged optical fibres, inspection platform rails, and missing bolts.
The Highways Department will monitor the bridge’s condition and the repair works to ensure road safety.
In response to media enquiries, the Transport Department said that its Emergency Transport Coordination Centre had issued the first press release to inform the public of the service disruption of the MTR Airport Express and Tung Chung Line immediately after it was notified that the bridge's ship impact alarms had been triggered.
It issued five other press releases to update the public about the situation through different channels. All the information was updated onto its website and through the"Government HK Notifications mobile app.
The Transport & Housing Bureau, the Transport Department, the Airport Authority, the MTR Corporation and relevant government departments will draw experience from the incident to improve emergency response arrangements, it added.
