Eagle's Nest Tunnel Breaks ThroughThe construction of Route 8 in Hong Kong has reached a significant milestone with the breakthrough on 19th October, 2005 of the Eagle's Nest tunnel. The tunnel and associated works include the construction of two 2.1 km-long three-lane tunnels with lighting and ventilation and other electrical and mechanical installations, 500 metres of approach roads in Butterfly Valley, an administration building at the toll plaza at Sha Tin Valley and two portal buildings, and the associated drainage, sewerage, geotechnical and landscaping works. The contractor for this tunnel contract is a Leighton / Kumagai JV. The works are supervised by the Maunsell / Hyder JV on behalf of the Highways Department. The tunnel is blasted using four Axera T12 DATA-315 three-boom jumbos supplied by Sandvik Tamrock and bulk emulsion explosives from Orica. The tunnel generated nearly two million tonnes of excavated rock being either reused on other projects or processed into aggregates. The contract cost is about HKD1.8 billion. Visit www.tamrock.sandvik.com and www.orica.com Route 8 (ex route 9) will offer a direct link between the northeast New Territories, Kwai Chung container ports and the airport when fully completed at the end of 2008. Motorists will enjoy an almost signal-free route from Tai Po and Fanling to West Kowloon, Kwai Chung and Chek Lap Kok. The new route will relieve other road links between the northeast New Territories and Kowloon. The section between Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin, including the Eagle's Nest tunnel, is expected to be completed in mid-2007. It will be the first stage of Route 8 to be opened, slashing in half travel time between Sha Tin and Cheung Sha Wan. Click here for more and cn/61. Read E-News Weekly 22/2004. 46/05.