For discussion PWSC(96-97)30
on 1 July 1996

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 706 - HIGHWAYS
Transport - Roads
592TH - Hiram’s Highway improvement, phase 2 : flyover and improvement at junction with Clear Water Bay Road

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the upgrading of 592TH to Category A at an estimated cost of $184.54 million in money-of-the-day prices.

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PROBLEM
PROPOSAL
PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE
JUSTIFICATION
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
LAND ACQUISITION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
592TH -HIRAM’S HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 2 FLYOVER AND IMPROVEMENT AT JUNCTION WITH CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD -- DETAILS OF CONSULTANTS’ FEES
Checklist for issue of PWSC Submission

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PROBLEM

The junction of Hiram’s Highway and Clear Water Bay Road will not be able to cope with future traffic demand. Its present layout is also unsafe for vehicles.

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Highways, with the support of the Secretary for Transport, proposes to upgrade 592TH to Category A at an estimated cost of $184.54 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices for the implementation of the Hiram’s Highway phase 2 improvement.

PROJECT SCOPE AND NATURE

3. The proposed scope of this project comprises -

1. construction of a flyover to carry the right turn traffic from Hiram’s Highway onto the Kowloon-bound carriageway of Clear Water Bay Road;
2. construction of an underpass to carry right turn traffic from Clear Water Bay Road northbound to Sai Kung;
3. construction of a footbridge with access ramps and cover across Hiram’s Highway near its junction with Clear Water Bay Road; and
4. construction of at-grade roads, retaining walls, slope works, drainage, landscaping and other associated works.

JUSTIFICATION

4. The Director of Planning forecasts that the population of Sai Kung district will increase to 200 000 by 1997 and to nearly 340 000 by 2001. This will have a significant effect on the number of vehicles using the junction of Hiram’s Highway and Clear Water Bay Road. Even with ongoing minor improvements to increase the junction’s capacity, the Commissioner for Transport (C for T) estimates that the volume/capacity ratio of the approaching sections of Clear Water Bay Road and Hiram’s Highway will both reach 1.3 in 1998, resulting in intolerable delays.

5. In each of the past five years, there were on average more than ten accidents with injuries at or near the junction of Hiram’s Highway and Clear Water Bay Road. C for T considers that the junction needs major improvement if there is to be a significant reduction in accidents.

6. In view of the above problems, we propose to carry out the improvement works stated in paragraph 3 above, in order to increase the road capacity to cope with developments in Sai Kung, Clear Water Bay Peninsula and Tseung Kwan O New Town and to improve safety at the sharp left turn from Clear Water Bay Road into Hiram’s Highway.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

7. We estimate the capital cost of the proposed works to be $184.54 million in MOD prices (see paragraph 8 below), made up as follows -

A breakdown of estimates for consultants’ fees is at Enclosure.

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

9. We have derived the MOD estimate on the basis of the Government’s forecasts of trend labour and construction prices for the period 1996 to 2002. We will tender the works under a standard re-measurement contract because the extent of foundation works for the flyover, footbridge, earth retaining structures and the quantities of earthworks for slope formation will depend on the actual site conditions. The contract also includes adjustments to the tender price due to inflation because the contract period will last more than 21 months.

10. We estimate the additional annually recurrent expenditure arising from the proposed works to be $608,000.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

11. We consulted the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Sai Kung District Board on 9 September 1993 on the proposed works. The Committee supported the proposed works.

12. We gazetted the proposed works of 592TH on 22 March 1996 and received one objection. The objector, acting on behalf of his client, objected on the ground that part of the land to be acquired under 592TH fell on land owned by his client who planned to develop the site at some time in the future. Representatives of the Director of Highways met the objector on 31 May 1996, and explained to him the need for the proposed improvement works and that it was not possible to revise the layout of the proposed junction in order to avoid acquiring the affected lots owned by his client. The objector subsequently agreed to withdraw his objection. The Secretary for Transport authorised the proposed works under the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance on 14 June 1996.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

13. The Director of Environmental Protection completed an Environmental Review for the project in September 1995 and concluded that the Cheng Chek Chee Secondary School would be subject to construction and traffic noise impacts arising from the project. Roadside noise barriers will not be effective in mitigating the potential noise impact because of the elevated position of the school building. To mitigate the noise impacts, we will provide window insulation and air-conditioners to the classrooms facing Hiram’s Highway at an estimated cost of $1 million. We will charge this amount to the overall project cost. We will also include environmental pollution control measures in the contract to control noise, dust and site run-off nuisances during construction.

LAND ACQUISITION

14 For the proposed road improvement works, we shall resume a total area of 5 694.5 square metres of private land. The land acquisition will affect four families and 12 persons. The Director of Housing will arrange rehousing for the affected families in accordance with the current clearance policy. We will charge land acquisition and clearance costs estimated at $37 million to Head 701 - Land Acquisition

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

15. Hiram’s Highway Improvement comprises the following three phases -

1. Phase 1 - provision of a climbing lane between Clear Water Bay Road and Nam Wai;
2. Phase 2 - flyover and improvement at junction with Clear Water Bay Road; and
3. Phase 3 - improvement between Nam Wai and Ho Chung and upgrading local access roads.

16. Members agreed to upgrade the phase 1 improvement works to Category A on 29 July 1988 as 394TH. We commenced construction works on 2 February 1990 and completed the works on 28 March 1994.

17. We upgraded the phase 2 improvement works to Category B in November 1993 as 592TH. In February 1995 we engaged consultants to undertake the investigation and detailed design work for the project and charged the $3.43 million cost to the block allocation Subhead 6008TX¹ “Consultants’ design fees and investigations for highways projects”.

18. The consultants have completed the detailed design work and preparation of tender documents for the project. Construction of the phase 2 works are scheduled to start in December 1996 for completion in May 1999.

19. To minimise traffic disruption during construction, we will carry out the proposed works of 592TH in stages. We will maintain the same number of lanes as at present with adequate widths for traffic to pass the construction site at all times during the construction period.

20. We upgraded the phase 3 improvement works to Category B in July 1994 as 593TH. We have engaged consultants to undertake the investigation and detailed design work for the project. We plan to start the phase 3 works in early 1998 for completion in late 2000.

1 -- The former block allocation Subhead 6008TX has been replaced by a new block allocaton Subhead 6100TX "Highway works, studies and investigations for items selected in Category D of the Public Works Programme" since 1 April 1996. The new block allocation was approved by the Finance Committee on 8 March 1996.

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Enclosure to PWSC(96-97)30

592TH -HIRAM’S HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 2 FLYOVER AND IMPROVEMENT AT JUNCTION WITH CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD -- DETAILS OF CONSULTANTS’ FEES

Breakdown of estimates for consultants’ fees

*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.). A multiplier factor of 2.1 is applied in the case of site staff supplied by the consultants.
2. The figures given above are based on estimates prepared by the Director of Highways. We will only know the actual man months and actual fees when we have selected the consultants through the usual competitive lump sum fee bid system.

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Checklist for issue of PWSC Submission

592TH - Hiram’s Highway Improvement Phase 2 - Flyover and junction

improvement at junction with Clear Water Bay Road

1. Necessity to go to PWSC

We intend to seek the PWSC/FC’s funding approval before awarding the contract.

2. Authority

The project is in furtherance of general transport policy in relation to the Government’s obligation to improve transport infrastructure.

3. Funding

The current project estimate is $138.95 million at Dec 95 prices. The 1996 RAE Preamble provides for $135.397 million. Savings of $3.553 million is to be offset from 37TI - Transport interchange at Diamond Hill.

4. Political assessment

We do not anticipate any objections from political parties.

5. Clearance with District Officer

We have cleared the Public Consultation paragraph with District Officer (Sai Kung).

6. Consultation with LegCo Panel

We did not consult the LegCo Panel on Transport.

7. Lobby requirement

Lobbying should not be necessary as we do not foresee any resistance from Members.

8. Fallback option

To withdraw the paper for amendment and re-submission at a later date.

9. Attendance at the PWSC meeting

Director of Highways will attend the meeting.

10. Special consideration

Nil.

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