The “Connecting Tuen Mun South” (2nd Edition) is out! In this issue, we have for you:

The Tuen Mun South Extension (TME) Project worksites are being gradually adorned with a new look! Positioned as a Community Railway, the TME project site hoardings blend in with the distinctive landmarks of the Tuen Mun South community. In addition, the project team collaborated with four schools in the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier area for the TME Hoarding Drawing Competition where winning entries and finalists are exhibited on the hoardings and in the community to appreciate students’ creative achievements.

Alongside with the commencement of TME construction, we took this opportunity to beautify the community. The site hoardings adopt a printmaking design, using elements such as lines, dots, and patterns to outline the distinctive landmarks of the Tuen Mun South community, echoing with the community environment and integrating the railway project into the community.

The TME project collaborated with four schools in the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier area, including Carmel Bunnan Tong Memorial Secondary School, Taoist Ching Chung Primary School (Wu King Estate), TWGHs Sun Hoi Directors’ College, and YCH Law Chan Chor Si Primary School for the TME Project Hoarding Drawing Competition. Under the theme of “My Ideal Railway Community”, the competition encouraged students to transform their anticipation towards the future railway and the community into vivid and fascinating drawings.

The entries are of a high standard and competitive. Winning entries of different categories were identified after a prudent and stringent judging process. Click to view the winning entries.

The drawings of the winners and finalists are now displaying at the covered walkway adjacent to the Wu King Road Garden works site. Come check them out!

Tuen Mun South Station will be an elevated station on Wu King Road near the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier, adjacent to the Light Rail and connecting to the promenade. To create space for the station construction, the bridge decks of Siu Hei Bridge and Wu Yuet Bridge across Wu King Road were demolished in August and September 2024 respectively.

As these two bridges are situated on the bustling Wu King Road, the project team meticulously worked on calculations and procedures in advance to ensure minimal impact on the surrounding neighourhood. The team first made use of daytime hours for preparation works, followed by the progressive lifting of the bridges’ roofs and decks after closing Wu King Road in the middle of the night. Thanks to residents’ cooperation and understanding, the demolition works were successfully completed. Let’s take a look at the video of relevant works.

Siu Hei Bridge will be re-provisioned and connected to the future Tuen Mun South Station, while Wu Yuet Bridge will be replaced by a permanent at-grade crossing, connecting to the future Tuen Mun South Station entrance.

The Phase 1 re-reprovisioning of the Tuen Mun River (Eastern Bank) Garden and Pet Garden has been completed and was opened to members of the public by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on 9 October 2024. It is the first re-provisioned community facility to be completed under the Tuen Mun South Extension project. The re-provisioned Eastern Bank Garden features brand-new fitness equipment, serving as a great place for nearby residents, especially the elderly, to rest and exercise. The Pet Garden has also become a popular gathering spot for residents to walk their pets since its opening (Click to check out the new look of the garden).

The project team is pushing forward the construction of the Tuen Mun South Extension. Click to view the progress of various works sites.

Relevant Works Notices

The viaduct and part of the A16 Station of the Tuen Mun South Extension will be constructed along the Tuen Mun River. To prepare for the foundation and structural works for the viaduct and A16 Station, temporary working platforms are being built using concrete blocks, rocks and steel materials. Engineering divers are also involved in some of the work procedures. Curious about the role of engineering divers in the project? Click for more details: Engineering Divers and Viaduct Construction.

The MTR Corporation attaches great importance to environmental protection in the planning and design process when implementing railway projects. The Tuen Mun South Extension project makes every effort in the planning and design process to minimise impacts on the surrounding environment and communities, such as minimising the works areas in Tuen Mun Park. During the construction, the Corporation is always mindful of handling trees along the alignment, with a priority to retain trees at their original locations as much as possible. When removal or transplantation of trees is unavoidable due to space constraints or construction needs, the Corporation follows the tree preservation guidelines and technical circulars issued by the government and seeks the government’s approval for tree removal applications and compensatory planting schemes. Suitable parts of the removed trees will be sent to the recycling centre for upcycling.

In response to the community’s feedback, the project team has erected a new type of additional 4-metre-high noise barriers at the Wu King Road works site, adopted silent piler for sheet piling works where practicable, and the use of hydraulic hammer for foundation works of the temporary working platforms on Tuen Mun River, in order to effectively further reduce construction noise to cater to the needs of the neighborhood.

The Tuen Mun South Extension (TME) project team co-organised a six-day railway-themed STEAM week with YCH Law Chan Chor Si Primary School, integrating railway knowledge into arts, creative, scientific, and teaching activities. The project team also participated in the event by setting up a TME-themed booth at the school to introduce the latest project information to parents and students. Students also transformed into little engineers which enriched their learning experiences. Check out the activity highlight.

The TME project team co-organised a “Viaduct STEAM Workshop” with the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers as the TME project commences construction over the Tuen Mun River. Integrating railway knowledge into STEAM education via fun and stimulating activities, the workshop educated students about the features of constructing viaducts over the river, fostered their creative thinking and brought engineering knowledge into the school campus. Click here for more details.

The MTR Corporation maintains a close relationship with the local community when developing new railway projects. The Tuen Mun South Extension (TME) project team actively participated in festive events such as the Tuen Ng Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, reaching out to the community to engage residents and deepen their understanding about railway development.

During the Tuen Ng Festival, the project team actively participated in the annual Tuen Mun Dragon Boat Race, upholding this intangible cultural heritage with the local community. Additionally, they collaborated with Islamic Primary School for a Tuen Ng handicraft workshop, sharing the origins of the festivities with ethnic minority students. Click here for more details.

Besides, the project team sponsored and fully supported the “Joyful Get2gether Mid-Autumn Lantern-making Workshop”, a parent-child lantern painting workshop organised by the Tuen Mun Women’s Association. More than 100 parents and primary school students participated in the workshop and dozens of lanterns were displayed at the temporary bus stops provided under the TME project at Wu King Road, enhancing the festive atmosphere of the community. Click here for more details

The project team has been maintaining communication with the community. Since April 2024, the project team has held over 20 community and school liaison group meetings and site visits, engaging district councilors and local stakeholders on the arrangements and progress of the footbridges demolition works, as well as the Phase 1 re-provisioning of the Tuen Mun River (Eastern Bank) Garden and Pet Garden. (further reading: Community Liaison Group Meeting Documents)

Note: The station names are working titles only