COWI wins large bridge contract in Hong Kong 

With a main span of 1018m, Stonecutters Bridge will have the largest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in the world.

The Danish engineering and consultancy company COWI, together with Ove Arup and Partners in Hong Kong, have just signed a contract with the client Highways Department in Hong Kong for the detailed design and construction supervision of the bridge. The construction budget for the bridge is expected to amount to approximately DKK 5 billion, and the construction of the bridge will be completed towards the end of 2007.

The project will be a part of Route 9, which will connect the islands of Tsing Yi and Kowloon. The bridge will span the Rambler Channel - the entrance to one of the world's busiest container ports. It will be located vis-à-vis Hong Kong's business centre, and will thus be an important landmark for the city.

"Stonecutters Bridge is one of COWI's most prestigious projects so far, won in competition with the world's largest engineering companies. The amazing location of the bridge in itself - right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong's business centre - makes it unique," says Lars Hauge, Head of COWI's Department for Major Bridges.

With this project, COWI affirms its leading international position within the design of major cable-stayed bridges. The project is a natural consequence of COWI's involvement in major Scandinavian and other international bridge projects, such as the bridges to Botniabanen and Årsta Bridge in Sweden, Chacao Bridge in Chile and Naini Bridge in India.

For the implementation of this assignment, COWI will draw on experience gained on other projects - Øresund Bridge and Farø Bridge in Denmark, as well as Pont de Normandie in France - where the main span also consisted of a cable-stayed bridge. At the peak of project activity the involvement of some 20 COWI engineers will be required.

Published: 05.03.2005
By John Jørgensen, jhj@cowi.com