Ap Lei Chau Bridge

Ap Lei Chau Bridge

鴨脷洲大橋
Ap Lei Chau Bridge viewed from the north. Jumbo Kingdom is visible underneath the central span and Ocean Park in the distance.
Coordinates 22.245877°N 114.159704°E / 22.245877; 114.159704
Carries Vehicles, pedestrians
Crosses Aberdeen Channel
Locale Ap Lei Chau and Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Characteristics
Design Box girder bridge
Total length 230 m (750 ft)
Clearance below 14 m (46 ft)
History
Construction start 1977 (first bridge)
Construction cost HK$64,000,000
Opened 28 March 1980 (first bridge)
28 July 1994 (duplicate bridge)
Statistics
Toll Free of charge
Location
Ap Lei Chau Bridge
Traditional Chinese 鴨脷洲大橋

Ap Lei Chau Bridge is a highway bridge in Hong Kong connecting the island of Ap Lei Chau (Aberdeen Island) to the community of Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island.

First bridge

Completed in April 1977, the first bridge had one lane of traffic in each direction. It is a double-cantilever, prestressed-concrete bridge, with a 115 metres (377 ft) main span, two 60 metres (200 ft) side spans, and associated ramps. Maunsell & Partners were the bridge consultants.

Peter Hines was the resident engineer of the bridge. During the construction, he realised that the pre-stressed cantilevers of the bridge would not be able to meet in the centre, which needed an "emergency raise".

Second bridge

Construction of the twin Second Ap Lei Chau Bridge on the north side of the first bridge was started in May 1991 and completed in July 1994 to provide two traffic lanes in each direction. Both sides of the bridge have pavements for pedestrian use.

Legislators approved funding for the Second Ap Lei Chau Bridge on 1 May 1991. It opened on 28 July 1994. The first person to drive across it was Kwong Hon-sang, Director of Highways, officiating at the opening ceremony.

The two bridges are Ap Lei Chau's only road links with Hong Kong Island. There is a railway bridge, the Aberdeen Channel Bridge, opened on 28 December 2016 as part of the MTR's South Island line.

See also