Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section) will be commissioned at 8am on May 3 (Sunday).
The Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section), with a total length of about 4 kilometres, is the first major transport infrastructure project completed under the development of the Northern Metropolis (NM). In accordance with the “infrastructure-led” development principle, the Civil Engineering and Development Department has constructed the Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section) to support the development of the NM and the Fanling North New Development Area (NDA) within the NM, and to enhance the connectivity of nearby villages, creating favourable conditions for “urban-rural integration”.
The bypass is a dual two-lane carriageway. It comprises at-grade roads, underpasses, and viaducts. It starts at Fanling Highway near Kau Lung Hang in Tai Po, passing through the On Lok Tsuen Industrial Area and the Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange, extending along the Ng Tung River, and connecting to Shek Wu San Tsuen and the Fanling North NDA. It serves as an important bypass linking North District of the New Territories with the urban areas. Upon commissioning, motorists can travel between Fanling Lung Yeuk Tau, Luen Wo Hui, and Fanling Highway via the new route without passing through the busy roads in the town centres of Sheung Shui and Fanling, saving approximately 10 minutes of travel time during peak hours. The Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section) will also effectively divert the future traffic of the Fanling North NDA, alleviate the amount of traffic on the existing major roads in Fanling and Sheung Shui, improve the overall road conditions, and enhance the operational efficiency of the road network in North District.
The Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section) is a large-scale project with a complex construction environment. The bypass route spans across developed and rural areas, as well as the existing road network. During construction, the project team had to simultaneously maintain traffic flow, ensure the smooth operation of the community, and protect public facilities and nearby buildings, making the construction arrangements particularly challenging. To enhance construction efficiency and address these challenges, the project team proactively adopted innovative technologies. A noteworthy aspect is the design and construction of a cycle track and pedestrian bridge at the Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange, which utilised China-made ultra-high strength S960 steel. Its strength is nearly three times that of conventional steel, significantly reducing steel consumption and the weight of the bridge, making it the first footbridge in the world to utilise steel of this grade. Furthermore, the horizontal bridge rotation method was adopted in Hong Kong for the first time for the construction of the section spanning across the East Rail Line railway, significantly shortening construction time and reducing construction risks.