ConstructioNews
Vol 35 No 1 (09-2025)
Fanling North New Development Area, Phase 1: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section - Hong Kong's First "Horizontal Bridge Rotation Operation"
The Fanling Bypass Eastern Section is a major highway infrastructure under construction in the first phase development of the Fanling North New Development Area (NDA). The bypass is a 4-kilometre long dual two-lane carriageway, which comprises 3.3 kilometres of viaducts and 700 metres of underpass. The alignment starts from the NDA near Shek Wu San Tsuen, and extends through to Fanling Highway Kau Lung Hang section. Upon completion, the bypass will serve as a speedy trunk road linking the NDA and urban area, as well as alleviate the current traffic congestion within Fanling town centre.
The bypass will split into two long-span viaduct crossing the existing MTR East Rail Line near Tong Hang Tsuen. To minimize the risk to the East Rail Line and shorten construction time, the project team adopted the innovative bridge rotation method, which was first-time ever used in Hong Kong. One section of the rotated viaduct is about 136 metres long and weighs more than 7,000 tonnes.
Project Scope
I) Contract No. ND/2019/04
The contract mainly comprises construction of an approximately 2-kilometre-long dual two-lane Fanling Bypass Eastern Section between Shek Wu San Tsuen North and Lung Yeuk Tau comprising viaduct, at-grade road and underpass sections; construction of Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange connecting Fanling Bypass Eastern Section with existing Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau; construction of a footbridge across Ng Tung River and a cycle track cum footbridge over Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange; construction of a sewage pumping station adjacent to Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange; reprovisioning of the On Lok Mun Street Playground, public toilet and refuse collection point near Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange; road junction improvement works in the North District; and associated ground investigation, geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring, slope and retaining wall works, drainage and sewerage works, waterworks, noise barrier works, traffic control and surveillance system installation, electrical and mechanical works and landscaping works. waterworks, sewerage works, traffic control and surveillance system installation, electrical and mechanical works and landscaping works.
II) Contract No. ND/2019/05
The contract mainly comprises construction of an approximately 2 kilometres (km) long dual two-lane Fanling Bypass Eastern Section between Shung Him Tong and Kau Lung Hang mainly on viaducts with two long span overbridges across the existing East Rail Line; realignment of part of the existing Tai Wo Service Road East, Tai Wo Service Road West and Fanling Highway; construction of approximately 2.4 km long noise barriers, and relocation of approximately 400 metres long existing noise barriers along Fanling Highway; alteration and addition works to the existing Ho Ka Yuen footbridge; reprovisioning of a bus-bus interchange at Fanling Highway with a proposed public toilet and covered walkway; and associated slope works, ground investigation, geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring, retaining wall, drainage works, waterworks, sewerage works, traffic control and surveillance system installation, electrical and mechanical works and landscaping works.
World’s First Ultra-high Strength S960 Steel Footbridge
To enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the project, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, in collaboration with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has jointly developed a brand new bridge design and construction technique using ultra-high strength S960 steel for the construction of two sections of the footbridge under the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (Shek Wu San Tsuen North to Lung Yeuk Tau) project, which is the world's first application of S960 steel in civil bridge construction.
S960 steel is lighter and stronger than commonly used S355 steel, making it an effective material for bridge construction. However, the welding process can reduce its mechanical properties, limiting its applications. A research team from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has developed a welding technology for efficient applications of ultra-high strength S960 steel. By precisely controlling the heat input during welding, the mechanical properties of the steel are maintained.
The erection of the northern and the southern span of the footbridge across Ng Tung River was completed in late September 2024. The two segments were designed as stiffened box girders made of the S960 steel and were fabricated in a factory with effective control of the welding processes. The new welding technology enables the use of thinner and fewer steel materials, thereby reducing the self-weight of the footbridge, and hence, the number of foundation piles required. This, in turn, has led to decreased carbon emissions and enhanced sustainability.
Hong Kong’s First “Horizontal Bridge Rotation Operation”
Part of the alignment of Fanling Bypass Eastern Section will span across the existing East Rail Line. The use of horizontal bridge rotation method can eliminate the need to carrying out heavy lifting works within the railway protection zone.
In the early morning of 29 September and 3 November 2024, the project team made use of the non-traffic hours of the East Rail Line to horizontally rotate the bridge structures, which had been constructed next to the railway tracks, to span across the railway lines within a short period.
The rotation work can be completed within one night, thereby significantly reduce the amount of night works and shorten the overall construction period. Construction risks to railway operation can be reduced. Besides, majority of the works can be carried out alongside the East Rail Line during daytime without interfering the railway operation.
The construction of bridge rotation structures was planned and designed in detail. To overcome various site constraints, the project team drew on the experience of Mainland specialists on the bridge rotation method and monitoring. The introduction of advanced engineering technology from the Mainland, combined with local design standards, enabled the bridge structures to withstand the strong wind that may occur during the typhoon seasons in Hong Kong before rotation, and thus secured safety and stability throughout the construction process.
The successful use of bridge rotation method earmarked a significant milestone for the bridge construction technology in engineering sector in Hong Kong. The project team showcased their efforts to adopt innovative construction technology to overcome the difficulties of carrying out construction works within Hong Kong's congested urban environment. It has also accumulated valuable experience for application of the same technology on future infrastructure projects with similar constraints.
Source of Information and Pictures: Official Website of Civil Engineering and Development Department and Development Bureau
The bypass will split into two long-span viaduct crossing the existing MTR East Rail Line near Tong Hang Tsuen. To minimize the risk to the East Rail Line and shorten construction time, the project team adopted the innovative bridge rotation method, which was first-time ever used in Hong Kong. One section of the rotated viaduct is about 136 metres long and weighs more than 7,000 tonnes.
Project Scope
I) Contract No. ND/2019/04
The contract mainly comprises construction of an approximately 2-kilometre-long dual two-lane Fanling Bypass Eastern Section between Shek Wu San Tsuen North and Lung Yeuk Tau comprising viaduct, at-grade road and underpass sections; construction of Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange connecting Fanling Bypass Eastern Section with existing Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau; construction of a footbridge across Ng Tung River and a cycle track cum footbridge over Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange; construction of a sewage pumping station adjacent to Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange; reprovisioning of the On Lok Mun Street Playground, public toilet and refuse collection point near Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange; road junction improvement works in the North District; and associated ground investigation, geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring, slope and retaining wall works, drainage and sewerage works, waterworks, noise barrier works, traffic control and surveillance system installation, electrical and mechanical works and landscaping works. waterworks, sewerage works, traffic control and surveillance system installation, electrical and mechanical works and landscaping works.
II) Contract No. ND/2019/05
The contract mainly comprises construction of an approximately 2 kilometres (km) long dual two-lane Fanling Bypass Eastern Section between Shung Him Tong and Kau Lung Hang mainly on viaducts with two long span overbridges across the existing East Rail Line; realignment of part of the existing Tai Wo Service Road East, Tai Wo Service Road West and Fanling Highway; construction of approximately 2.4 km long noise barriers, and relocation of approximately 400 metres long existing noise barriers along Fanling Highway; alteration and addition works to the existing Ho Ka Yuen footbridge; reprovisioning of a bus-bus interchange at Fanling Highway with a proposed public toilet and covered walkway; and associated slope works, ground investigation, geotechnical instrumentation and monitoring, retaining wall, drainage works, waterworks, sewerage works, traffic control and surveillance system installation, electrical and mechanical works and landscaping works.
World’s First Ultra-high Strength S960 Steel Footbridge
To enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the project, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, in collaboration with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has jointly developed a brand new bridge design and construction technique using ultra-high strength S960 steel for the construction of two sections of the footbridge under the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (Shek Wu San Tsuen North to Lung Yeuk Tau) project, which is the world's first application of S960 steel in civil bridge construction.
S960 steel is lighter and stronger than commonly used S355 steel, making it an effective material for bridge construction. However, the welding process can reduce its mechanical properties, limiting its applications. A research team from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has developed a welding technology for efficient applications of ultra-high strength S960 steel. By precisely controlling the heat input during welding, the mechanical properties of the steel are maintained.
The erection of the northern and the southern span of the footbridge across Ng Tung River was completed in late September 2024. The two segments were designed as stiffened box girders made of the S960 steel and were fabricated in a factory with effective control of the welding processes. The new welding technology enables the use of thinner and fewer steel materials, thereby reducing the self-weight of the footbridge, and hence, the number of foundation piles required. This, in turn, has led to decreased carbon emissions and enhanced sustainability.
Hong Kong’s First “Horizontal Bridge Rotation Operation”
Part of the alignment of Fanling Bypass Eastern Section will span across the existing East Rail Line. The use of horizontal bridge rotation method can eliminate the need to carrying out heavy lifting works within the railway protection zone.
In the early morning of 29 September and 3 November 2024, the project team made use of the non-traffic hours of the East Rail Line to horizontally rotate the bridge structures, which had been constructed next to the railway tracks, to span across the railway lines within a short period.
The rotation work can be completed within one night, thereby significantly reduce the amount of night works and shorten the overall construction period. Construction risks to railway operation can be reduced. Besides, majority of the works can be carried out alongside the East Rail Line during daytime without interfering the railway operation.
The construction of bridge rotation structures was planned and designed in detail. To overcome various site constraints, the project team drew on the experience of Mainland specialists on the bridge rotation method and monitoring. The introduction of advanced engineering technology from the Mainland, combined with local design standards, enabled the bridge structures to withstand the strong wind that may occur during the typhoon seasons in Hong Kong before rotation, and thus secured safety and stability throughout the construction process.
The successful use of bridge rotation method earmarked a significant milestone for the bridge construction technology in engineering sector in Hong Kong. The project team showcased their efforts to adopt innovative construction technology to overcome the difficulties of carrying out construction works within Hong Kong's congested urban environment. It has also accumulated valuable experience for application of the same technology on future infrastructure projects with similar constraints.
Source of Information and Pictures: Official Website of Civil Engineering and Development Department and Development Bureau