View source for Ap Lei Chau Bridge

{{short description|Bridge in Aberdeen, Hong Kong}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}

{{Infobox bridge
| name                = Ap Lei Chau Bridge
| native_name         = 鴨脷洲大橋
| native_name_lang    = zh-Hant
| image               = Ap Lei Chau Bridge 201508.jpg
| caption             = Ap Lei Chau Bridge viewed from the north. [[Jumbo Kingdom]] is visible underneath the central span and [[Ocean Park Hong Kong|Ocean Park]] in the distance.
| official_name       = 
| also_known_as       = 
| carries             = Vehicles, pedestrians
| crosses             = [[Aberdeen Channel]]
| locale              = [[Ap Lei Chau]] and [[Aberdeen, Hong Kong|Aberdeen]], Hong Kong
| design              = Box girder bridge
| mainspan            = 
| length              = {{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| width               =
| height              =
| load                =
| clearance_above     = 
| clearance_below     = {{convert|14|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| traffic             = 
| begin               = {{Start date and age|1977}} (first bridge)
| open                = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1980|3|28}} (first bridge)<br/>{{Start date and age|df=yes|1994|7|28}} (duplicate bridge)
| cost                = {{Currency|64000000|HKD}}
| toll                = Free of charge
| coordinates         = {{coord|22.245877|114.159704|region:HK_type:landmark|display=inline}}
}}
{{Chinese
|t=鴨脷洲大橋
|y=Aap leih jāu daaih kìuh
|j=Aap3 lei6 zau1 daai6 kiu4
}}

'''Ap Lei Chau Bridge''' is a highway bridge in Hong Kong connecting the island of [[Ap Lei Chau]] (Aberdeen Island) to the community of [[Aberdeen, Hong Kong|Aberdeen]] on [[Hong Kong Island]].

==First bridge==
Started in April 1977 and completed in 1980, the first bridge had one lane of traffic in each direction. It is a [[Cantilever bridge|double-cantilever]], [[Pre-stressed concrete|prestressed-concrete]] bridge, with a {{convert|115|m}} main span, two {{convert|60|m}} side spans, and associated ramps. [[Maunsell & Partners]] were the bridge consultants.<ref name="Hines">''Beanz means Hines / Peter Hines — the worldwide civil engineer'' {{ISBN|978-1-71-456394-4}} page 14.</ref>

[[Peter Gordon Hines|Peter Hines]] was the resident engineer of the bridge. During the construction, he realised that the pre-stressed cantilevers of the bridge would not meet in the centre, necessitating an "emergency raise".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-01-25 |title=Peter Hines, civil engineer who worked on large-scale projects around the world – obituary |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2021/01/25/peter-hines-civil-engineer-worked-large-scale-projects-around/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

==Second bridge==
Construction of the twin Second Ap Lei Chau Bridge on the north side of the first bridge was started in May 1991 and completed in July 1994 to provide two traffic lanes in each direction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.akfwa.com/info.html |script-title=zh:景點 |trans-title=Attractions |language=zh |publisher=Apleichau Promotion of Tourism Association |access-date=2015-05-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/existing/road_network/hk.html |title=Roads in Hong Kong Island |publisher=Hong Kong Highways Department |access-date=2015-05-13}}</ref> Both sides of the bridge have pavements for pedestrian use.

Legislators approved funding for the Second Ap Lei Chau Bridge on 1 May 1991.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lau|first1=Jeremy|title=Go-ahead for bridge plan|work=South China Morning Post|date=7 March 1992|page=5}}</ref> It opened on 28 July 1994.<ref name="scmp94">{{cite news|last1=Ball|first1=Steve|title=New bridge prepares to take the strain|work=South China Morning Post|date=27 July 1994|page=3}}</ref> The first person to drive across it was [[Kwong Hon-sang]], Director of Highways, officiating at the opening ceremony.<ref name="scmp94"/>

The two bridges are Ap Lei Chau's only ''road'' links with Hong Kong Island. There is a railway bridge, the [[Aberdeen Channel Bridge]], opened on 28 December 2016 as part of the [[MTR]]'s [[South Island line]].

==See also==
{{Commons category|Ap Lei Chau Bridge}}
* [[Aberdeen Typhoon Shelters]]

==References==
<references />

{{Bridges in Hong Kong}}
{{Coord|22|14|45|N|114|9|36|E|type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Aberdeen, Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Ap Lei Chau]]
[[Category:Bridges in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Roads on Hong Kong Island]]