A specially adapted launching gantry weighing more than 900 tonnes and measuring 172 metres - one of the largest in Hong Kong - raised most of the giant segments into place. Lifting frames were also necessary to hoist segments into place around several sharp bends.

'The technique was adopted to cope with the need to carry out construction over live traffic in the busy East Kowloon area, where more than 300,000 vehicles pass through the site boundary every day,' Mr Kung said.

'Construction was also complicated by the proximity of buildings and flyovers to the main roads below.'

Transporting the massive segments from Dongguan was another major logistical effort. They were shipped by barge into the harbour and hoisted onto specially designed giant trailers for the final road journey to the construction site.

'You may have imagined we had no alternative but to close some of the roads underneath for quite a long time, causing traffic chaos. But another challenge we had was only being allowed to close them for a few hours at night, diverting traffic on temporary roads,' Mr Kung said.

To tackle road congestion issues, Hyder has developed its own traffic management systems. 'Our forecasting and modelling capability enables us to support clients with business case development and to scope projects from the outset.'

Hyder, the supervising engineer, has had a team of about 100 specialists on site since the project started four years ago.

It is on schedule for completion later this year and, despite the complexity of constructing in such a confined space, the project has already won a safety award.

'In terms of size and prestige, Stonecutters Bridge is obviously the most prominent project under way today, as the world's longest cable-stay span bridge,' said Mr Kung.

'But for technical complexity and restrictions of working within such tight confines, the Lai Chi Kok Viaduct was a far greater engineering challenge.'

When it opens, Route8 will provide a speedy road link between Sha Tin and the New Territories to Stonecutters Bridge and Hong Kong's main highway system, and the Tsing Ma Bridge to the airport.

No longer will traffic be slowed through the antiquated Lion Rock Tunnel, or side roads and roundabouts around Tsuen Wan. 'It will be much quicker and more convenient,' Mr Kung said.

Celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, Hyder, with a team of 350 engineers and designers for its projects in Asia, has become one of Hong Kong's most renowned engineering consultancies.

The company is known for its multidisciplinary capabilities, ranging from all three cross-harbour tunnels and roadworks including the challenging Hung Hom Bypass, to the Olympic Station, Hong Kong Museum of Art, MTR stations, the Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, Hong Kong Disneyland, One Peking Road, AIG Tower, projects at Ocean Park, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's public golf course at Kau Sai Chau, Hong Kong Park, environmental improvement of the Shenzhen River and a master plan for the northeastern New Territories.

The company's highest profile international project is Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, a development that includes the world's tallest tower.

The firm is now involved in four of the world's tallest buildings.

Some of the other landmark developments include the award-winning Ski Dubai, the signature feature of Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, a vast 'deep freezer' producing snow all year round over a 22,500 square metre indoor ski slope in the desert.

For its achievements, the company was voted 'International Consultant of the Year' in the 2007 Association of Consulting Engineers and New Civil Engineer magazine awards.

'We are actively expanding in the region and are constantly on the lookout for engineers and technical experts of all disciplines, from infrastructure, building and transport to railways, ports, tunnels, the environment and landscaping,' Mr Kung said.