Central–Wan Chai Bypass

The Central–Wan Chai Bypass is a 4-kilometre (2.5 mi) trunk road running between Sheung Wan and Fortress Hill on Hong Kong Island. The original design consists of a 2.3 km dual three-lane tunnel running under new reclamation areas provided by the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation project,[1] and also connections to Connaught Road West flyover and Island Eastern Corridor. It substitutes Connaught Road Central, Harcourt Road, Gloucester Road and Victoria Park Road to be part of Route 4.[2]

"Island Eastern Corridor Link" redirects here. For the expressway that connects Causeway Bay and Chai Wan, see Island Eastern Corridor.
Route 4 shield}}
Central–Wan Chai Bypass
Part of Route 4
Central–Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel western portal 2019-01-26 (11).jpg
Tunnel portal in Central (January 2019)
Route information
Maintained by Highways Department
Length4 km (2.5 mi)
Major junctions
East endFortress Hill
West endSheung Wan
Location
CountryChina
Special administrative regionHong Kong
DistrictsEastern, Wan Chai, Central and Western
Highway system
Central–Wan Chai Bypass
Traditional Chinese中環及灣仔繞道
Simplified Chinese中环及湾仔绕道

The bypass opened to traffic on 20 January 2019.[3]

History

The project, originally estimated to cost HK$28 billion, was approved by the Legislative Council finance committee in 2009, following a "decade of objections and legal challenges" from environmentalists and citizens concerned by further reclamation of Victoria Harbour.[4] An Environmental Permit was issued under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance and construction began the same year.

Lawmakers were "shocked" in 2013 by cost overruns. The Transport and Housing Bureau requested HK$8 billion in extra funding, bringing the total bill to HK$36 billion. Gary Fan, a member of LegCo's transport panel, asked: "Did the government deliberately underestimate the cost in order to get Legco to pass it?"[4] The government bureau blamed unforeseen geotechnical difficulties as well as fluctuating labour and materials costs for the 28 per cent budget increase.[4]

On 15 September 2015, the Director of Highways announced that the Central–Wan Chai Bypass would not open in 2017 as previously anticipated. He blamed a large metal object (probably a sunken ship) that was found on the seabed at the reclamation site in Wan Chai. As a result of the discovery, reclamation works were suspended for some time.[5]

The first phase of the project opened on 20 January 2019 with the entire project becoming operational on 24 February that year.[6]

Alignment

The bypass starts from Rumsey Street Flyover at Sheung Wan. It enters a tunnel outside the International Finance Centre in Central, then heads east past the Tamar site in Admiralty with an interchange at Wan Chai. It continues to head east under the proposed reclamation areas of Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Tin Hau.

The original design to have the bypass via Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter leave the tunnel and connect with Island Eastern Corridor at Fortress Hill[1] was amended so that the bypass would now emerge from the tunnel between the IEC carriageways, merging with them near Oil Street, Fortress Hill.[7]

Tunnel ventilation

Ventilation is an indispensable part for the operation of the tunnel as it will supply fresh air to maintain good air-quality environment to the commuters inside the tunnel while discharge vitiated air in a controlled manner at pre-determined suitable locations of exhaust. The tunnel ventilation system is also required to remove smoke in case of tunnel fire incidents. It is proposed to have three ventilation buildings sited near the western end, mid-length and eastern end of the Bypass to achieve the three objectives of supplying fresh air, extracting vitiated air and removing smoke during fire.

To achieve an energy efficient ventilation system by shortening the air extraction path, the location of proposed East Ventilation Building (EVB) needs to be as close to the tunnel portal as possible.[8]

  • Construction site in 2010, looking west from Wan Chai.
    Construction site in 2010, looking west from Wan Chai.
  • Construction site in 2011, looking east from the footbridge outside IFC.
    Construction site in 2011, looking east from the footbridge outside IFC.
  • Admiralty section construction site.
    Admiralty section construction site.
  • Central section construction site.
    Central section construction site.
  • Causeway Bay section construction site.
    Causeway Bay section construction site.
  • Semi-submersible ship used to install large precast unit.
    Semi-submersible ship used to install large precast unit.
  • Heavy crane ship use in the construction.
    Heavy crane ship use in the construction.
  • Construction works, as seen from Fleming Road in 2017.
    Construction works, as seen from Fleming Road in 2017.

See also

References
  1. Central–Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Route Diagram – Route 4
  3. "Commissioning of Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link to take place on January 20". Hong Kong Government. 28 December 2018.
  4. Siu, Phila (13 November 2013). "Anger as bill for Central-Wan Chai Bypass goes up HK$8b to HK$36b". South China Morning Post.
  5. "HyD's response to media enquiries on latest progress of Central - Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link project". Hong Kong Government. 15 September 2015.
  6. "中環灣仔繞道通車 有司機隧道內違例切線行車". Now 新聞 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  7. Public Engagement Digest - Harbourfront Enhancement Review
  8. Central - Wan Chai Bypass Connecting Island Eastern Corridor Enhancement Scheme for East Ventilation Building Public Consultation Leaflet Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Central-Wan Chai Bypass.
Preceded by
Island Eastern Corridor		 Hong Kong Route 4

Central–Wan Chai Bypass		 Succeeded by
Connaught Road West
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