Cecil Wong reports
All road and rail traffic to Lantau was cut off for around two hours on Friday evening, as the only bridge linking the island, and the airport, to the rest of Hong Kong had to be closed for emergency inspections, following a suspected boat collision.
The Director of Highways, Peter Lau, said a vessel with a very tall structure was spotted after motion sensors at the Kap Shui Mui Bridge, which along with the Tsing Ma Bridge makes up the Lantau Link, were set off. It then left the scene.
Officials decided to reopen the bridge shortly before ten o'clock after inspectors determined that no structural damage had been caused.
Mr Lau stressed that the unprecedented decision to close the bridge was not an overreaction.
“We must check carefully and ensure that the bridge is safe for travel,” he said.
The closure of the bridge resulted in traffic chaos, with thousands of commuters and motorists stranded.
Airlines delayed some flights due to the disruption.
Many travellers, desperate not to miss their flights, rushed to take the ferry from Central to Discovery Bay on Lantau, so they could then take the bus to the airport.
Deputy Commissioner for Transport, Law Fung Ping, said emergency measures were taken right away.
"We immediately contacted ferry operators to enhance frequency," she said.
The government said it is very concerned about the incident, but denied that having only one road link to Lantau was a planning failure.
A new tunnel linking Tuen Mun to Lantau is due to be completed by the end of 2018.
The Chief Executive, CY Leung, will chair an inter-departmental meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the incident
The Director of Highways, Peter Lau, said a vessel with a very tall structure was spotted after motion sensors at the Kap Shui Mui Bridge, which along with the Tsing Ma Bridge makes up the Lantau Link, were set off. It then left the scene.
Officials decided to reopen the bridge shortly before ten o'clock after inspectors determined that no structural damage had been caused.
Mr Lau stressed that the unprecedented decision to close the bridge was not an overreaction.
“We must check carefully and ensure that the bridge is safe for travel,” he said.
The closure of the bridge resulted in traffic chaos, with thousands of commuters and motorists stranded.
Airlines delayed some flights due to the disruption.
Many travellers, desperate not to miss their flights, rushed to take the ferry from Central to Discovery Bay on Lantau, so they could then take the bus to the airport.
Deputy Commissioner for Transport, Law Fung Ping, said emergency measures were taken right away.
"We immediately contacted ferry operators to enhance frequency," she said.
The government said it is very concerned about the incident, but denied that having only one road link to Lantau was a planning failure.
A new tunnel linking Tuen Mun to Lantau is due to be completed by the end of 2018.
The Chief Executive, CY Leung, will chair an inter-departmental meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the incident
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1219269-20151024.htm
