Coastal Pedestrian Access at Ma Wan Chung Village in Tung Chung wins CIHT Infrastructure Award 2026
The award recognises outstanding civil engineering achievement, highlighting how the project reconnects a historic community with a rapidly growing new town.
Last updated: 22nd June 2026
The Coastal Pedestrian Access (CPA) at Ma Wan Chung Village, a landmark project within the Tung Chung New Town Extension, has been named the winner of the CIHT Infrastructure Award 2026 at the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) Awards Dinner 2026.
The award celebrates outstanding civil engineering achievement. By reconnecting a historic fishing village with a rapidly growing new town, the CPA forges meaningful social, cultural and economic links between urban and rural communities. It forms part of the wider Tung Chung West Extension, which received the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Edmund Hambly Award 2024 for its creative design and contribution to climate resilience and sustainable development.
For decades, Ma Wan Chung Village, one of Tung Chung's oldest fishing settlements, remained physically separated from Tung Chung Town, with limited pedestrian access and few ways to enjoy its unique coastal setting. Today, the new 240-metre-long, four-metre-wide barrier-free walkway provides a seamless and inclusive connection along the waterfront, reducing travel time between the village and town centre by around half and creating a safe, accessible route for people of all ages.
At its heart, the project is about strengthening urban-rural integration. As Tung Chung evolves into a major new community, the CPA ensures that historic villages remain connected to new opportunities, while preserving the area’s distinct character and cultural identify. The result is a shared public asset that supports active travel, recreation and social interaction, helping bridge the gap between old and new neighbourhoods.
Delivered for the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) in partnership with our contractor Build King – Richwell Civil JV, the project was shaped through extensive engagement with the District Council, Rural Committee, village representatives and relevant government authorities. This collaborative approach ensured that community aspirations, local concerns, heritage protection requirements and environmental considerations were embedded throughout the planning, design and construction.
The route was carefully designed to respect several significant heritage assets, including the declared Tung Chung Battery — a Qing Dynasty coastal defence monument dating back to 1817 — and the nearby Fu Tei Wan Kiln Site of Archaeological Interest. To protect these culturally important sites, archaeological watching briefs were established alongside settlement, crack-width, tilt and vibration monitoring before any sensitive excavation commenced.
Sunset at the Coastal Pedestrian Access
Given the coastal terrain and heritage constraints, the strategic adoption of a hybrid solution—comprising an 80m footbridge near the Battery and a 160m at-grade footpath—allowed the access to follow the steep gradients of Tung Chung Road North while remaining below the monument. This approach preserves unobstructed views from the Tung Chung Battery, minimises ground disturbance and slope cutting, and provides resilience to extreme weather conditions, particularly given the project’s close proximity to the coastline.
Construction methods were equally tailored to minimise impacts on the surrounding environment and community. The adoption of small-size pre-bored socketed H-piles eliminated the need for heavy piling rigs and extensive temporary working platforms, significantly reducing noise, vibration, visual intrusion and disruption to nearby residents and heritage assets, while improving site safety and efficiency.
As a lasting legacy of the Tung Chung New Town Extension, the project demonstrates how infrastructure can successfully integrate urban growth with rural heritage, delivering enduring benefits and a more inclusive, sustainable and connected future for communities.
Great infrastructure is not measured by its scale, but by the positive change it creates for people and places. The Coastal Pedestrian Access at Ma Wan Chung Village shows how thoughtful design can connect heritage with progress, bringing urban and rural communities closer together. This recognition reflects the collective commitment of our team and partners — and a reminder that the simplest solutions often create the greatest impact.
Roads and streets at Arup
Our team helps road agencies, asset owners and operators to fund, plan, build, operate and maintain sustainable road and street networks.
Learn more about Arup
A global consultancy shaping infrastructure, buildings, energy and sustainability for the built environment.
