Suspension bridge takes step forward
WORK on Tsing Ma Bridge, which will become one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, took a major step forward yesterday with the completion of the ''shoes'' for the two towers off Ma Wan Island.
A specially designed barge carrying two massive caissons of reinforced concrete was piloted to north Lantau at the weekend and submerged, allowing the caissons to float free.
The caissons, about six storeys high, were then secured.
A site engineer said the caissons were to be towed to the bridge site and placed on the seabed when excavation and preparation of the foundation was completed at Ma Wan Tower later this month.
Special concrete will be used to fill in the space between the caissons and the foundation.
It is understood the upper portion of the caissons will form the base for the tower legs, to secure them.
Although work is continuing, a decision has yet to be made on whether the bridge will carry the new airport rail line.
The original design called for the rail link to be part of the bridge. But uncertainty over the fate of the $33.5-billion line may put the design of the bridge in doubt, said Airport Consultative Committee member Mr Leung Kwong-cheung.
''If the deadlock continues, they should at least approve the local portions of the rail line,'' Mr Leung said. ''Should they fail to meet the mid-1997 deadline for the airport, then at least the local portions would benefit the people directly affected.'' A quick resolution of the Sino-British deadlock was needed in order to ensure the completion of the airport by mid-1997, said the United Democrats' airport spokesman, Mr Albert Chan Wai-yip.
Failure to resolve the situation would mean the Government having to revise its financial arrangements or re-scale the project, he added.
The Tsing Ma Bridge and the Kap Shui Mun Bridge form the Lantau Fixed Crossing. It is due for completion in May 1997.
