INNOVATIVE DESIGN FOR A CHALLENGING HIGHWAY WIDENING PROJECT IN HONG KONG

Construction of a novel retaining wall and implementation, for the first time in Hong Kong, of high energy rockfall protection fences contributed to the successful completion of one of the most difficult highway realignment and widening programs ever undertaken in the Territory. The Tuen Mun Highway is one of the major arterial roads linking Hong Kong to China and provides a busy commuter link between the New Territories settlements and Hong Kong Island. This highway has seen some of the region's worst traffic congestion, and in order to alleviate it, a highway realignment and widening program was selected as the most appropriate solution for increasing capacity. Initial works on the widening were initiated in 1994. However, in August 1995, a rockfall occurred resulting in the loss of life of a driver using the highway. Following this incident, the Contractor claimed the contracted design for the Tai Lam Section was inconstructable and a subsequent mediation of the claim found in favour of the Contractor. This paper concentrates on certain aspects of the geotechnical design solutions developed to achieve constructability of this challenging highway widening. Some discussion is also presented of the design site investigation work, and of the key geotechnical issues that arose during construction.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Unlike most groups and organizations that meet on a regular basis, the Highway Geology Symposium has no central headquarters, no annual fees, and no formal membership requirements. The governing body of the Symposium is a Steering Committee. Recent proceedings may be obtained from the Treasurer of the Symposium, Mr. Russell Glass.
• Corporate Authors:

  Mr. Russell Glass

  100 Wolf Cove Road
  Asheville, NC  United States  28804
• Authors:
  • CARTER, T
  • De Graf, P
  • Booth, P
  • Barrett, S
  • Pine, R
• Conference:
  • Better Highways Through Applied Geology. 53rd Annual Highway Geology Symposium
  • Location: San Luis Obispo, California
  • Date: 2002-8-13 to 2002-8-16
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 13-25

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alignment; Design; Fences; Geotechnical engineering; Pavement widening; Retaining walls; Road construction; Rockfalls
• Geographic Terms: Hong Kong (China)
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I43: Rock Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962009
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: CD-ROM
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 7 2003 12:00AM