Pedestrians travelling between Mass Transit Railway Tsuen Wan and Tsuen Wan West Stations will have their journey time cut 33% as a new 600-metre skywalk will be built, Highways Department Chief Engineer Chu Shun-wah says.

In an interview with news.gov.hk Mr Chu said pedestrian traffic has been on the rise since Tsuen Wan West Station's opening in 2003. About 6,000 people an hour now use the existing footbridge network and the at-grade pedestrian facilities during peak periods.

Pedestrian pleaser: Highways Department Chief Engineer Chu Shun-wah says the new skywalk will adopt architectural features to make it look spectacular.

North-south link

"We expect in 2011 the pedestrian flow will reach 10,000 people an hour during peak periods. To ease the congested pedestrian traffic and boost road safety, we will upgrade the existing footbridge network by building a new one along Tai Ho Road linking Tsuen Wan Station in the north with Tsuen Wan West Station at the south," he added.

"When it is commissioned in 2011 it will cut the journey time between Tsuen Wan and Tsuen Wan West Stations to eight minutes from the existing 12 minutes and divert about 4,000 people from the existing pedestrian facilities.

"The new footbridge will serve as a functional link enabling pedestrians and shoppers to go to Nan Fung and Fou Wah Centres as well as the existing footbridges in the vicinity."

Special features

To make the new skywalk functional yet fashionable the department has adopted architectural features in the design, including a matte-finish aluminium cladding in a silvery-grey colour, a glass roof and glass balustrades.

Mr Chu said: "The cladding will make the footbridge looks lighter while the glass roof maximises the effect of skylight. The glass balustrades will offer a modern and stylish alternative to traditional steel railings.

"To green the covered skywalk cantilevered planters will be placed on both sides of the bridge deck. The visual impact of bridge columns to drivers will be subtly softened through planting," he added.

Works on the new footbridge, costing more than $100 million, will start early next year for completion in 2011, creating 87 jobs. Measures will be taken to keep traffic impact to a minimum.