Road to the future: An artist's impression of the Northern Section of the Deep Bay Link, due to be completed in 2005.

Officials have signed the Northern Section contract of the Deep Bay Link project, paving the way for the fourth road crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

The  Northern Section construction is expected to start this month and finish in 2005.

Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Rita Lau signed the $ 1.7 billion Northern Section contract with Gammon Skanska Ltd.

The Northern Section contract will cover the construction of a four-kilometre route at Yuen Long and Tuen Mun which is mostly on viaduct; and the interchange at Ha Tsuen. Associated works include drainage, landscaping and slope works.

The construction works will be located at rural areas near the Castle Peak foothills and the more built-up areas around Tuen Mun. Noise barriers and ecological compensation works have been incorporated into the contracts to minimise impacts on nearby communities.

The Deep Bay Link is an integral part of the fourth road crossing which comprises the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor (HK-SWC) from Shekou to Ngau Hom Shek at Yuen Long, and the Deep Bay Link which connects the Western Corridor to Yuen Long Highway.

The Link comprises a 5.4-km dual three-lane trunk road together with interchanges at Ha Tsuen and Lam Tei to provide connections to existing roads. The project is divided into two contracts, the Northern Section and the Southern Section.

The Southern Section contract will cover the construction of about 200 metres of the Deep Bay Link mainline and associated slip roads connecting Yuen Long Highway in the form of viaduct, together with widening of two kilometres of the Yuen Long Highway between Lam Tei Interchange and Tan Kwai Tsuen.

Associated works include drainage, landscaping and slope works.

Permanent Secretary for Environment, Transport & Works Lo Yiu-ching will sign the $1.2 billion Southern Section contract with China State Joint Venture on June 23.