Central-Wan Chai Bypass to open as scheduled despite cracks in tunnel ceiling, Hong Kong transport chief Frank Chan says
- Minister insists cracks and damp patches nothing to worry about
Hong Kong’s transport minister denied on Sunday that a HK$36 billion bypass in the heart of the city was not ready to open this month, after photos showed cracks in the ceiling of its underwater tunnel.
On Sunday, the bypass was open to about 20,000 people taking part in the Community Chest’s 50th Anniversary Walk for Millions, a charity event. Photos emerged of what appeared to be cracks and damp patches on its ceiling.
But Chan insisted the tunnel was safe, saying two layers of fire-resistant paint more than 3cm thick had been applied to the ceiling.
“The so-called cracks on the ceiling is basically just the fire-resistant paint, because we needed to spray the paint there twice,” he said.
“During the process of the spraying, there was the process of thermal expansion and contraction [causing cracks]. There was also the drying process. That’s why you would see what appeared to be water stains.”