HONG KONG, May 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Hong Kong is to build the world longest cable-stay bridge -- the Stonecutters Bridge (SCB) as partof its Route 8 and the bridge building project contract was signed Tuesday.

    Hong Kong Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Tuesday signed a 2.76-billion HK dollars (353.84 million US dollars) construction contract of SCB with the contractor Maeda-Hitachi-Yokogawa-Hsin Chong Joint Venture, an international consortium.

    She said with the completion of the 1,596-meter Stonecutters Bridge and Route 8 Hong Kong's role as an international world class city will be strengthened even further.

    Speaking about the bridge building, she said "this is more thanan engineering feat which our engineers will no doubt take pride. This is a defining piece of architecture for Hong Kong and a reflection of the confidence of this world city to rise up to the challenges of the new millennium."

    Liao said the bridge which had a main span of 1,018 meters caught international attention not only because of its length.

    "The bridge design was adopted from the winning design of an international competition in 2000 which elicited participation from the best design and engineering firms in the world," she said.

    The SCB is an important part of Route 8 between Tsing Yi and Sha Tin. The government will be adding an east-west strategic route linking the eastern part of the New Territories to the Airport upon completion of this section of Route 8.

    "This new highway will provide direct access to Container Terminals No 8 and No 9 in Kwai Chung, which will further enhance Hong Kong as an important international logistics and transportation hub," she said.

    Liao noted that the SCB project was yet another clear demonstration the government's commitment to invest in Hong Kong'sfuture while at the same time creating 1,400 job opportunities. Enditem