Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Link


The Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Link is a road project under construction in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It comprises two elements: the "Northern Connection" and the "Southern Connection". The Northern Connection comprises an undersea tunnel crossing the Urmston Road, linking Tuen Mun to the "Boundary Crossing Facilities", an artificial peninsula connected to Chek Lap Kok Airport. The Southern Connection, officially named Shun Long Road, comprises viaducts linking the BCF to North Lantau Highway on Lantau Island.
Though the project lies entirely within Hong Kong territory, its construction is associated with the new Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. The estimated cost of the design, site investigation, and construction of the TM–CLKL is about HK$46.71 billion. The project is expected to be fully commissioned by the end of 2020; the Southern Connection mainline opened on 24 October 2018 to tie in with HZMB's commissioning.

History

The contract to construct the Northern Connection tunnel was awarded to the Dragages-Bouygues Joint Venture on 26 July 2013. It commenced on 5 August 2013. The contract to construct the southern section was awarded to Gammon Construction in June 2013.

Design

The tunnel portion will be approximately five kilometres in length. It will carry a two-lane dual carriageway.

Construction

The dual sub-sea tunnels are being bored up to 55 metres below sea level using the Tuen Mun - Chek Lap Kok TBM, the world's largest tunnel boring machine.
Originally scheduled for opening in 2018, completion of the link has been delayed at least two years. It is now expected to open in the end of 2020.