Chen Meibao: Has instructed the Highway Department to prepare for extreme weather.

The Director of Transport and Logistics, Chen Meipo, said in a blog that the recent sweltering weather serves as a reminder that the typhoon season is approaching, and she has already instructed the Highways Department to make preparations for extreme weather.

Chen Meipo said that in recent years, when the Highways Department has dealt with sudden road incidents caused by heavy rain or typhoons striking Hong Kong, it has demonstrated very high efficiency, and it has taken a series of preventive measures to strengthen its capacity to prepare for harsh weather. In addition to conducting drills and training, it has also carried out advance inspections of locations with high floodwater inundation risks, as well as the drainage pump room equipment inside tunnels. Working with relevant departments, it has intensified the clearing of public road catchpits, sumps and channels to reduce the risk of flooding. It also conducts regular inspections of road-edge slopes and trees within its jurisdiction, and completes the corresponding risk mitigation measures.

She said that in recent years the department has introduced technology to protect roads on both the software and hardware fronts. On the software side, such as using a “Structural Health Monitoring System” made up of smart sensors and robots that move along cables, it makes monitoring the condition of the Cross-Harbour Bridge and inspecting cables more efficient and safer. On the hardware side, it is also actively developing and applying better road surfacing materials, which can reduce road maintenance and improve riding comfort.

A section of Lung Cheung Road in the eastbound direction will be resurfaced with new asphalt material

She also mentioned that the Highways Department will pave, with a new “High-Performance Ultra-Thin Wearing Course” asphalt material, an eastbound section of Lung Cheung Road from Hollywood Plaza to the Ngau Tau Kok Fire Station, covering about 900 meters. The works are expected to begin in mid-July and be completed within the third quarter. The material consists of highly viscoelastic asphalt and a tough, wear-resistant greenish basalt, with excellent crack resistance and skid resistance. It also has good waterproofing performance, effectively protecting the underlying structure of the road surface, making the road more durable, and helping improve driving comfort.

After completing the relevant resurfacing works, the Highways Department plans to review experience and optimize construction arrangements, and will continue to apply the “High-Performance Ultra-Thin Wearing Course” to resurface other suitable road sections, such as the remaining sections of Lung Cheung Road that are paved with concrete and the Cheung Yung Road.

Chen Meipo said that to help Hong Kong better integrate into the overall national development framework and to consolidate the role of “super connectors,” it is crucial to continue improving the transport infrastructure network. In the coming years, the Highways Department’s work will be demanding, and multiple major projects under its purview are currently being pushed forward at full speed.

On roads, the North Tuen Mun Highway, with a total length of about 24 kilometers, will run through the main development focus areas of the Northern Metropolitan Area, including Ngau Tam Mei, the New Town Technology City, Kwu Tung North/Fanling North, and the new towns in Northern New Territories, unlocking development potential. In addition, in terms of railways, the Northern Link will become a major transportation backbone for the Northern Metropolitan Area. The main line connects East Rail’s Kwu Tung Station and Tuen Ma Line’s Kam Sheung Road Station, while the branch line connects from the main line at San Tin Station via Chau Tau and River Loop to the Shenzhen Xinhuanggang Port, facilitating cross-border passenger travel. The two projects will be promoted in parallel under a new approach, aiming for simultaneous commissioning in 2034 or earlier.

The Highways Department will also seize opportunities presented by the latest technology to introduce a “Smart Green Collective Transport System” to the hillside areas in eastern Kowloon. After it is expected to open in 2033, it can provide more convenient and environmentally friendly travel options for more than 300,000 residents across over 40 public housing estates and private residential developments along the route.