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SCMP Reporter

WORKERS are gearing up in anticipation of starting work on the Western Harbour Crossing in August.

   John Porter, the project co-ordinator of Nishimatsu Construction, said: ''Our first priority is to get the key staff in place.

  ''We need a project management team of about 70 people, most of whom will be recruited locally.

   ''We will probably need to bring in specialists for the immersed tube tunnel,'' he said.

  Mr Porter said some of the expertise would probably be recruited from Britain, and Australia - following the recent completion of the Sydney Cross-Harbour Tunnel.

  Mr Porter said the contractor would probably have a project office located in Star House, Tsim Sha Tsui, where Nishimatsu Construction is located.

  Then, after about six months, a project office would be located on the West Kowloon reclamation.

  Mr Porter said the next step would be to organise the design consultants team - led by Maunsell, and including Parsons Brinckerhoff Asia (PBA) and Acer Consultants - and to refine the construction programme.

  Nishimatsu Construction is the sponsor for the contractor joint venture and will be responsible for the civil works, while joint venture partner Kumagai Gumi will be responsible for the immersed tube section.

   Nishimatsu will be responsible for the land-based work, and share part of this work - especially the Belcher Bay Link, including the interchange at the Sai Ying Pun landfall - under a separate agreement with Gammon Construction.

  ''We are very pleased that the Western Harbour Crossing will be the first BOT project that has been approved by China, and we will do our very best to make sure that during the construction phase it is a successful project,'' he said.

   ''We look forward to working with CITIC and the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Co who are principal shareholders in the Western Harbour Tunnel Company.

  ''We will do our best to finish it in time.''   Mr Porter said that for the crossing's mechanical and electrical works, performance specifications would be prepared, and brought to competitive international tender early next year.



Workers set date for August