Highways Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Promoter) intends to construct a bridge across the entrance to the Kwai Chung container port as part of Route 9 between Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan. The clear width of the port entrance is about 900m and the bridge shall have a span of at least 1000m with a vertical clearance of at least 73.5mPD over the full width of the port entrance.

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View towards Kwai Chung container port entrance (Bridge type for illustration only)

The bridge will be a prominent feature on the Hong Kong skyline, and the Promoter therefore desires to invite the best bridge design teams in the world to participate in the competition. The exact form of the structure will be selected by competition.

The purpose of the competition is to explore solutions, which both technically and aesthetically will make Stonecutters Bridge stand out among the world's long-span bridges. Some form of cable supported structure is envisaged for the crossing. A suspension bridge is the customary solution for the required span length and a cable-stayed bridge would have the longest cable-stayed span in the world. However, recent developments have extended the range of cable-stayed bridges and they now compete with suspension bridges at this length of span. A feasibility study of the project confirms that both suspension and cable-stayed bridges are feasible. The study concludes that the cable-stayed option has programming advantages due to the late availability of back-up land on the western side of the port entrance. The Promoter is therefore particularly interested in having this option explored in the competition but other options will also be considered.

The task is to establish a Reference Scheme to be used as the basis for procuring the detailed design for the Stonecutters Bridge. The design competition aims at securing a Reference Scheme which is world class and a fitting landmark and gateway for the port underlining and promoting the image of Hong Kong as a vibrant and important centre of international trade.

The competition will embrace all aspects of the design of this major crossing. Emphasis will be put on the structural and construction aspects of the design.