Following agreement by the governments of Guangdong Province, Macau and Hong Kong  to adopt the concept of ‘separate locations of BCF mode’, Arup undertook a study to identify the possible site options and recommend the best option for the boundary crossing facilities within the Hong Kong territory.

An artificial island at the north-eastern waters of the Airport Island has been created for the HKBCF. This has major benefits in terms of convenience for travelers, providing ready connectivity to highways and the airport. The location also avoids the principal fairway of Urmston Road and Tung Chung Navigation Channel. The site also reduces the environmental impact by integrating the reclamation of southern landfall of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link Tunnel.

Arup was also commissioned for the detailed design of the reclamation works for the HKBCF. Apart from traditional treatment of in-situ marine mud using band drain with surcharge in the main body of reclamation, we formulated an innovative fully non-dredged reclamation scheme involving a maximum 32m diameter steel circular cofferdam comprising thin steel sheet piles with ground treatment, in the form of stone columns, for the seawalls to form 150ha artificial island with all the in-situ marine sediment left in place. 

Negating the removal of soft subsea sediment, reducing the construction vessel traffic density as well as seeking a suitable marine dump site for the excavated sediment has resulted in a holistic sustainable solution. The works also reduce the impact on the marine habitat, such as Chinese white dolphins, which can be seen in the nearby waters. Arup also proposed an unconventional finished sloping seawall profile to minimise the wave impact to the island. 

The completed reclamation was tested by two severe typhoons passing by Hong Kong before the HKBCF became operational.