For discussion PWSC(96-97)45
on 10 July 1996

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 707 - NEW TOWNS AND URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT
Kowloon Development
(Civil Engineering - Land development)
332CL - West Kowloon Reclamation - main works (remainder)

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee -

  1. the upgrading of part of 332CL, entitled “West Kowloon Reclamation - remaining roadworks, stage I”, to Category A at an estimated cost of $130.1 million in money-of-the-day prices; and
  2. the retention of the remainder of 332CL in Category B.



PROBLEM

There are inadequate roads and drains to serve the developments in the West Kowloon Reclamation (WKR).

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Territory Development, with the support of the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, proposes to upgrade part of 332CL to Category A at an estimated cost of $130.1 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices for the construction of the first stage of the remaining roads and drains in the WKR.

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3. The scope of 332CL comprises construction of roads, drains and roadside landscaping works in both northern and southern areas of the WKR, reprovisioning of a passenger ferry pier and reclamation.

4. The part of the project we now propose to upgrade to Category A comprises -

  1. construction of about 4 000 metres of roads (namely, P1(A) northbound carriageway, P1(B) northbound carriageway, Road NR1, and Road NR11) and associated drainage system;
  2. modification of Road NR2;
  3. provision of a footbridge; and
  4. the implementation of landscaping works.

JUSTIFICATION

5. The West Kowloon Expressway (WKE) and the Western Harbour Crossing (WHC) are scheduled to open in November 1996 and March 1997 respectively. The roads being constructed on the WKR are only sufficient to serve the WHC and WKE in their initial years of operation. To cater for traffic growth and to provide adequate transport linkage for future developments, we need to commence the construction of the proposed works in December 1996.

6. The proposed P1(A) northbound and P1(B) northbound carriageways at Cheung Sha Wan and Sham Shui Po will link Sham Shui Po and Cheung Sha Wan hinterland with the WKE. They will also serve the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Market Phase II which is scheduled for operation by 2000. Without the two carriageways, the efficiency of the existing roads would be substantially reduced.

7. We also need Road NR1 near Container Port Road at Kwai Chung to provide access to a Government depot which is scheduled for occupation in August 1999. Moreover, we have to convert the nearby Road NR2 to a roundabout to cater for the access requirement of the developments in that area.

8. To connect and provide a thoroughfare for two existing roads in Cheung Sha Wan area, we also have to construct Road NR11 near Hing Wah Street. This will alleviate the traffic load on Tung Chau Street and provide access to the development near Fat Tseung Street.

9. The proposed footbridge over the junction of Road D12A and Road SR7 will provide an essential pedestrian link between the Airport Railway Kowloon Station and the toll plaza of WHC, where a bus lay-by will be located. Without the footbridge there would be unnecessary interaction between the pedestrian and vehicles. We propose to construct the footbridge now to tie in with the construction of Road D12A, which is under a separate contract, in order to minimize future project interfacing problems.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

10. We estimate the capital cost of the proposed works to be $130.1 million in MOD prices (see paragraph 11 below), made up as follows -


$ million

(a) Roadworks and associated drainage system

73.4

(b) Footbridge

6.5

(c) Landscaping works

6.5

(d) Consultants’ fees for construction stage (A breakdown by man months of the estimate is at the Enclosure)

1.1

(e) Site staff costs

8.6

(f) Contingencies

9.6

Sub-total
(at December 1995 prices)

105.7

(g) Inflation allowance

24.4

Total
(in MOD prices)

130.1

11. Subject to approval, we will phase the expenditure as follows -

Year

$ million
(Dec 1995)

Price
adjustment
factor

$ million
(MOD)

1996 - 97

11.0

1.07500

11.8

1997 - 98

49.0

1.18250

57.9

1998 - 99

38.0

1.30075

49.4

1999 - 2000

7.7

1.43083

11.0


105.7


130.1

12. We have derived the MOD estimate on the basis of the Government’s forecasts of trend labour and construction prices over the period between 1996 and 2000. We will tender the proposed works under a standard re-measurement contract because the quantities of earthworks and foundation works may vary depending on the actual ground conditions. We will provide for inflation adjustment in the contract because the construction period will last longer than 21 months.

13. We estimate the annually recurrent expenditure of the proposed works to be $2.286 million.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

14. We consulted the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Yau Tsim Mong District Board, Sham Shui Po District Board and Kwai Tsing District Board on 21 March 1996, 28 March 1996 and 12 March 1996 respectively on the proposed roadworks. Kwai Tsing and Sham Shui Po Committees had no objection to the proposal. Yau Tsim Mong District Board supported the proposed roadwork, but would wish a ramp be provided for the disabled at the footbridge. The Planning Department would review the provision of such facilities as part of an overall exercise to consider access for the disabled.

15. We gazetted the proposed works under the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance on 12 April 1996 and received no objections.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

16. The Director of Environmental Protection completed an Environmental Review in May 1996 and concluded that the project would have no long term environmental impacts and Environmental Impact Assessment was not necessary. For short term impact during construction, we will control noise, dust and site run-off to within established standards and guidelines through the implementation of recommended pollution control measures in the works contract.

LAND ACQUISITION

17. The proposed works do not require land acquisition.

Background INFORMATION

18. We have engaged consultants to carry out the detailed design for the proposed works at an estimated cost of $1.1 million. We have charged this amount to 354CL “West Kowloon Reclamation - consultants’ fees and site investigation”. The consultants have completed the detailed design and drawings. We plan to start the proposed works in December 1996 for completion in December 1998.

19. We included 332CL in Category C in April 1989 and have upgraded some parts of the project to Category A over the past years. We will implement the remainder of 332CL in further stages.


Enclosure to PWSC(96-97)45

332CL - West Kowloon Reclamation - main works (remainder) --Breakdown of the estimate for consultants’ fees for construction stage

Consultant’s staff costs


Estimated
man
months

Average
MPS*
salary
point

Multiplier
factor

Estimated
fee
($ million)

(a) Contract administration

Professional

Technical

3.0

8.0

40

16

3.0

3.0

0.46

0.41

(b) Preparation of as-built drawings

Professional

Technical

0.5

3.0

40

16

3.0

3.0

0.08

0.15

Total consultant’s staff costs

1.10

*MPS = Master Pay Scale

Notes

  1. A multiplier factor of 3 is applied to the average MPS point to arrive at the full staff costs including the consultants’ overheads and profit, as the staff will be employed in the consultants’ offices. (At 1.4.95, MPS pt. 40 = $51,440 p.m. and MPS pt. 16 = $17,270 p.m.).
  2. The figures given above are based on estimates prepared by the Director of Territory Development. The consultancy works for this project has been included as part of the overall consultancy agreement for West Kowloon Reclamation.

Last Updated on 8 December 1998