Transport Department Vehicle Examination Complex

WSP has been working closely with Hip Hing Joint Venture and Hong Kong Government’s Architectural Services Department and Transport Department to offer structural and MEP solutions for this complex with a site area of 34,850m2. The facility will provide 30 inspection lanes for different kinds of vehicles, from motorcycle to most heavy-duty trucks and trailers, with a range of vehicle inspection facilities such as chassis dynamometers for commercial vehicles, tilting stability test platform, a track lane and test ramps for brake testing, a swept circle testing area and axle weigh bridges. 

Site-sensitive structural solutions

Located at Sai Tso Wan, the industrial area on the western side of Tsing Yi, the project site is bounded by Tsing Sha Highway and Cheung Tsing Highway, the two key highways leading to the Tsing Ma Bridge, the essential link connecting to the Hong Kong International Airport. Hence, WSP’s structural engineers refined the design of the building to reduce the impact of deep excavation to these existing highway bridges at close proximity. 

We also iterated the building and road levels to minimise the excavation works, while excavated materials are treated and reused as part of the filling materials to minimise the demand on imported fill, reducing the cost and environmental impact.

Moreover, as the site is located in a drainage reserve zone with a complex layout, we tailored the foundation design and column locations of this long span structure of over 20m to accommodate the required swept paths for the long vehicles and the space needed for conducting vehicle examinations.

Apart from offering cost effective and simple construction solution, WSP also brought extra values to our client. With limited building code reference available to some of the testing facilities, we leveraged our extensive engineering expertise and proposed applying relevant international practices for these parts of the complex.

Designing an efficient and comfortable complex

The complex consists of three levels of examination halls together with an office block as the back office of the Transportation Department. Full MEP design including air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and drainage, fire services and lift services are provided for the entire office block. For a fast-track installation of building facilities, we have adopted DfMA modules for different areas, such as cooling tower modules, electrical switch board assembly module as well as combined services hanger modules. Modular integrated construction (MiC) method is also adopted in this project, including the use of precast staircases and manholes. Such arrangement not only speeded up the construction process, but also enhanced the accuracy of installation while minimising wastage on site.

Furthermore, the three examination halls are open to external air. To provide a comfortable working environment for the staff to examine the vehicles especially during hot summer where a high outdoor temperature is coupled with the heat dissipated from running vehicles, our MEP engineers conducted a detail CFD study for an efficient pull and push ventilation system in the halls. Moreover, we help realise a number of green features, such as water-cooled chiller, lift power regeneration, photovoltaic system and demand control of fresh air supply with carbon dioxide sensors. Our MEP expertise is fundamental to achieving energy reduction and a better indoor environment for a facility with high vehicular traffic and emission.

Upon the opening of this new complex, the three existing ones around the Kowloon East area, namely the To Kwa Wan, Kowloon Bay and New Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centres, will cease operations, releasing precious land resources and development potential to shape the emerging new central business district under the government’s Energizing Kowloon East blueprint.