1.1.1
Highways Department of Hong Kong SAR
Government commissioned Maunsell Consultants Asia Ltd. to undertake Agreement
No. CE 38/2005 (HY) “Traffic Improvement to Tuen Mun Road Town Centre Section –
Feasibility Study” (hereafter referred to as “the Assignment”).
1.1.2
This Assignment comprises traffic improvement works to Tuen Mun Road –
Town Centre Section (TMRTCS) between Yan Oi Tong in the north and Wong Chu Road in
the south. This road section is about 1.8km long and is basically a road
widening works from the existing dual two-lane highway to dual three-lane
highway.
1.1.3
In the morning peak period (7a.m.
– 9a.m.), the
volume/capacity (v/c) ratios of the southbound two-lane carriageways are in the
range of 0.89- 0.99, the most critical being the Wong Chu Road
section. In other words, TMRTCS at
these two-lane sections is operating close to its design capacity and there is
little spare capacity to cater for any substantial increase in traffic.
1.1.4
TMRTCS is currently operating close to its capacity and there is
virtually no spare capacity to cater for any substantial increase in
traffic. In particular, there would
be potential congestion of TMRTCS after opening of the Hong
Kong – Shenzhen Western Corridor (HK-SWC) and the Deep Bay Link
(DBL) in late 2006/ early 2007. It
is anticipated that HK-SWC will bring additional traffic through TMRTCS. To alleviate the problem, a medium term
measure to improve the traffic condition of TMRTCS should be investigated to
meet the medium term traffic demand till 2016.
1.1.5
The objective of the Assignment is to propose improvement measures to
resolve the traffic congestion problem of TMRTCS. The traffic improvement options under
the Assignment were compared and evaluated against the criteria including
traffic benefits, social benefits, engineering feasibility, land requirement,
programme and cost. The “Dual
3-land widening from Yan Oi Town
Square to Wong Chi Road” option is selected as the
preferred option of the Project.
1.1.6
Maunsell Consultants Asia Limited (MCAL) was commissioned by the
Highways Department to undertake the investigation, design and construction of
the traffic improvement measures proposed for TMRTCS. The proposed traffic improvement
measures mainly comprised of duel three-lane road widening works along TMRTCS
from Yan Oi Town Square
to Wong Chu Road
(hereafter referred to as “the Project”).
Further studies including Geotechnical Assessment Study, Traffic Impact
Assessment Study and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study were also
carried out.
1.1.7
Under Section A.1 of Schedule 2, Part 1 of the Environmental Impact
Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499), the Project is a designated project and
therefore will require an environmental permit.
`
1.2.1
The Project involves widening the following sections of TMR from
dual-two carriageway to dual-three carriageway:
Ø
Wong Chu Road Section, (from Wong Chu Road Interchange to Tuen Hing Road);
Ø
Tuen Mun
Town Plaza Section, (from Yan Oi Town Square to Tuen Hing Road).
1.2.2
The proposed Tuen Mun Road
– Town Centre is located between Lam Tei Interchange and Wong Chu Road, a heavy-trafficked
strategic road. The area, in the vicinity of the construction works, is
generally a populated area dominated by high-rise buildings. The Project
location is shown on Figure 1.1.
1.2.3
The construction works of the Project are anticipated to commence in 2009
and be completed by 2012.
1.3.1
The scope of work of the Project comprises:
(a)
Widening
of the TMRTCS from dual 2-lane carriageway to dual 3-lane carriageway from Yan Oi Town Square
to Wong Chu Road
for both southbound and northbound;
(b)
Construction
of a one-lane flyover extending from Tuen
Hing Road, running along Tsing Hoi Circuit and
merging with TMR Kowloon bound;
(c)
Implementation
of local road re-alignment and widening and modification to existing traffic
light signal-controlled junctions along CPR and Tsing Hoi Circuit;
(d)
Reconstruction
of approximately 80m long of the existing Wong Chu Road slip road to facilitate
proper merging with the new flyover described in (b);
(e)
Demolition
and reconstruction of 4 existing footbridges spanning across TMRTCS which could
interfere with the execution of the Project;
(f)
Implementation
of traffic management measures such as local road re-alignment and widening and
modifications to existing traffic light signal-controlled junctions along CPR;
(g)
Construction
of associated noise barriers and noise enclosures, earth retaining structure,
slope works, geotechnical works including hazard mitigation measures, and works
on environmental mitigation, landscaping, drainages, road lightings, and
watermains; and
(h)
Provision
of traffic control & surveillance system (TCSS) including lane control
signals, variable speed limit signs, automatic incident detectors,
closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, etc. at Tuen Mun Town Centre and
variable message signs (VMS) between Yuen Long and Tuen Mun and on TMR,
including their integration with the central control systems at the TD’s
Traffic Control Centre in Wanchai or other TCSS as appropriate.
1.4.1
The purpose of this Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual
is to guide the set up of an EM&A programme to ensure compliance with the
EIA study recommendations, to assess the effectiveness of the recommended
mitigation measures and to identify any further need for additional mitigation
measures or remedial action. This
Manual outlines the monitoring and audit programme for the construction and
operational phases of the Project.
It aims to provide systematic procedures for monitoring, auditing and
minimising environmental impacts associated with construction works and
operational activities.
1.4.2
Hong Kong environmental regulations and
the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines have served as environmental
standards and guidelines in the preparation of this Manual. In addition, the
EM&A Manual has been prepared in accordance with the requirements stipulated
in Annex 21 of the EIAO-TM.
1.4.3
This Manual contains the following information:
Ø
Responsibilities
of the Contractor, the Engineer or Engineer’s
Representative (ER), Environmental Team (ET) and Independent Checker
(Environment) (IEC) with respect to the environmental monitoring and audit
requirements during the course of the Project;
Ø
Project
organization;
Ø
The
basis for, and description of the broad approach underlying the EM&A
programme;
Ø
Requirement
with respect to the construction programme schedule and the necessary
environmental monitoring and audit programme to track the varying environmental
impact;
Ø
Details
of the methodologies to be adopted, including all field laboratories and
analytical procedures, and details on quality assurance and quality control
programme;
Ø
The
rationale on which the environmental monitoring data will be evaluated and
interpreted;
Ø
Definition
of Action and Limit levels;
Ø
Establishment
of Event and Action plans;
Ø
Requirements
for reviewing pollution sources and working procedures required in the event of
non-compliance with the environmental criteria and complaints;
Ø
Requirements
for presentation of environmental monitoring and audit data and appropriate
reporting procedures;
Ø
Requirements
for review of EIA predictions and the effectiveness of the mitigation measures
/ environmental management systems and the EM&A programme
1.4.4
For the purpose of this manual, the ET leader, who shall be responsible
for and in charge of the ET, shall refer to the person delegated the role of
executing the EM&A requirements.
1.5
Project
Organization
1.5.1
The roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved in the
EM&A process and the organizational structure of the organizations
responsible for implementing the EM&A programme are outlined below. The proposed Project organization and
lines of communication with respect to environmental protection works are shown
in Figure 1.2.
The Contractor
1.5.2
The Contractor shall report to the Engineer. The duties and
responsibilities of the Contractor are:
Ø
Provide
assistance to ET in carrying out monitoring and auditing;
Ø
Submit
proposals on mitigation measures in case of exceedances of Action and Limit
levels in accordance with the Event and Action Plans;
Ø
Implement
measures to reduce impact where Action and Limit levels are exceeded;
Ø
Implement
the corrective actions instructed by the Engineer;
Ø
Accompany
joint site inspection undertaken by the ET; and
Ø
Adhere
to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation.
Environmental Team
1.5.3
The Environmental Team (ET) is employed by the Project Proponent to
undertake monitoring, laboratory analysis and reporting of environmental
monitoring and audit.
1.5.4
The ET Leader and the ET shall be employed to conduct the EM&A
programme and ensure the Contractor’s compliance with the project’s environmental
performance requirements during construction. The ET Leader shall be an independent
party from the Contractor and have relevant professional qualifications. The ET
shall be led and managed by the ET leader.
The ET leader shall possess at least 7 years experience in EM&A.
1.5.5
The duties and responsibilities of the ET are:
Ø
Monitor
various environmental parameters as required in this EM&A Manual;
Ø
Analyse
the environmental monitoring and audit data and review the success of EM&A
programme to cost-effectively confirm the adequacy of mitigation measures
implemented and the validity of the EIA predictions and to identify any adverse
environmental impacts arising;
Ø
Carry
out regular site inspection to investigate and audit the Contractors' site
practice, equipment and work methodologies with respect to pollution control
and environmental mitigation, and effect proactive action to pre-empt problems;
carry out ad hoc site inspections if significant environmental problems are
identified;
Ø
Audit
and prepare monitoring and audit reports on the environmental monitoring data
and site environmental conditions;
Ø
Report
on the environmental monitoring and audit results to the IEC, Contractor, the
ER and EPD or its delegated representative;
Ø
Recommend
suitable mitigation measures to the Contractor in the case of exceedance of
Action and Limit levels in accordance with the Event and Action Plans; and
Ø
Adhere
to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation.
Engineer or Engineer’s Representative
1.5.6
The Engineer is responsible for overseeing the construction works and
for ensuring that the works undertaken by the Contractor in accordance with the
specification and contractual requirements. The duties and responsibilities of
the Engineer with respect to EM&A may include:
Ø
Supervise
the Contractor’s activities and ensure that the
requirements in the EM&A Manual are fully complied with;
Ø
Inform
the Contractor when action is required to reduce impacts in accordance with the
Event and Action Plans;
Ø
Participate
in joint site inspection undertaken by the ET; and
Ø
Adhere
to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation.
Independent Checker (Environment)
1.5.7
The Independent Checker (Environment) (IEC), employed by the Project
Proponent, shall advise the Engineer’s Representative on environmental issues
related to the Project. The IEC shall have project management experience in
additional to the requirements of the ET Leader stated above.
1.5.8
The duties and responsibilities of the IEC are:
Ø
Review
and audit the EM&A works performed by the ET (at least at monthly
intervals);
Ø
Carry
out random sample check and audit the monitoring activities and results (at
least at monthly intervals);
Ø
Review
the EM&A reports submitted by the ET;
Ø
Audit
the results of the EM&A works carried out by the ET;
Ø
Review
the effectiveness of environmental mitigation measures and project
environmental performance;
Ø
Review
the proposal on mitigation measures submitted by the Contractor in accordance
with the Event and Action Plans; and
Ø
Adhere
to the procedures for carrying out complaint investigation.
1.5.9
Sufficient and suitably qualified professional and technical staff shall
be employed by the respective parties to ensure full compliance with their duties
and responsibilities, as required under the EM&A programme for the duration
of the Project.