The Highways Department has awarded a $73-million contract to Kier-Wai Kee (C&T) Joint Venture for reconstructing Causeway Bay Flyover and widening Victoria Park Road.

The flyover is the most direct route for traffic from the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Central and Wan Chai to approach Causeway Bay, Tai Hang and Happy Valley.

It is overloaded during peak hours and congestion is particularly acute on Happy Valley race days, affecting the throughput of tunnel traffic and vehicular movement to Hong Kong east.

To tackle the problem, the flyover and its adjoining footbridge will be demolished so a 210-metre two-lane one-way flyover can be built connecting Victoria Park Road eastbound to Gloucester Road southbound.

The works also cover the construction of a covered footbridge spanning Victoria Park Road, widening and realignment of a section of the road westbound to five traffic lanes, realignment of a section of the road eastbound and associated works such as landscaping.

Works will start this month for completion in mid-2007.