International engineering, design, and advisory firm Aurecon, in collaboration with Bouygues Travaux Publics, was announced as the winner of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Geotechnical Project Excellence Award 2025 – Tunnels and Cavers Category for their work on the Central Kowloon Route – Central Tunnel (CKR-CT) project.
The project, a landmark in urban infrastructure, is celebrated for its transformative impact on Hong Kong’s mobility, setting new standards in geotechnical engineering and urban connectivity.
The CKR-CT project comprises twin 2.8-kilometre tunnels beneath the city and is designed to significantly improve east-west connectivity across Kowloon. The project will reduce travel times between key urban destinations from 30 minutes to just 5 minutes—an impressive 83% reduction.
This engineering milestone will offer urgently needed relief to the city’s heavily congested road network, easing traffic flow and improving daily commutes for hundreds of thousands of residents.
What sets the CKR-CT project apart is its bold and innovative approach to one of urban engineering’s greatest challenges: tunnelling beneath a living city. Navigating a labyrinth of underground obstacles, including active MTR lines, hospitals, and densely populated residential zones, the engineering team executed the project with surgical precision. With cutting-edge digital solutions, innovative construction techniques, and real-time monitoring systems, they accomplished the extraordinary: delivering a complex underground tunnel while maintaining virtually no disruption to the bustling city life above. This achievement demonstrates not only technical mastery, but also a deep commitment to the communities it serves.
“This award is a meaningful recognition of how our entire team, whose shared commitment made this achievement possible, brought thoughtful engineering to life—creating solutions that serve both commuters and communities they pass through,” said Ray Chan, Managing Director, Hong Kong and Macau, Aurecon. “The CKR-CT project demonstrates that large-scale infrastructure can do more than ease congestion—it can be thoughtfully designed to care for surrounding neighbourhoods and our shared environment.”
Sustainability was not just a consideration; it was a driving force behind the CKR-CT project. From the outset, the team embraced a bold environmental vision, recycling over 2.9 million tons of excavated material and incorporating low-carbon concrete and other eco-friendly materials into the build. These efforts dramatically reduced the project’s environmental footprint while delivering a critical piece of infrastructure for Hong Kong’s future.
Equally impressive was the project’s commitment to safety and innovation. To maintain accident rates consistently below industry benchmarks, the team sets a new standard for responsible construction. At the same time, they introduced pioneering construction technologies that are now transforming Hong Kong’s infrastructure landscape.
Jason Chin, Executive Director, Ground and Underground Engineering, Asia, shared his reflections on the heart of the CKR-CT project. “This tunnel represents more than a feat of engineering excellence—it’s a carefully considered solution to the challenges of building beneath one of the world’s most densely populated cities. From day one, we prioritised space efficiency, uncompromising safety, and sustainable foundations. By combining advanced geotechnical design with digital innovation and community engagement, we’ve delivered a project that not only integrates seamlessly into Hong Kong’s urban fabric, but also elevates it.”
As Hong Kong continues to evolve, the CKR-CT project stands as a testament to how visionary engineering can shape a more connected, resilient, and sustainable urban future. Aurecon and Bouygues Travaux Publics remain steadfast in their commitment to delivering infrastructure that not only meets the demands of today, but also anticipates the challenges of tomorrow, all driven by a shared purpose to enhance lives and protect our planet.
