WORK on Tsing Ma Bridge, which will become one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, took a major step forward yesterday with the completion of the ''shoes'' for the two towers off Ma Wan Island.
A specially designed barge carrying two massive caissons of reinforced concrete was piloted to north Lantau at the weekend and submerged, allowing the caissons to float free.
The caissons, about six storeys high, were then secured.
A site engineer said the caissons were to be towed to the bridge site and placed on the seabed when excavation and preparation of the foundation was completed at Ma Wan Tower later this month.
Special concrete will be used to fill in the space between the caissons and the foundation.
It is understood the upper portion of the caissons will form the base for the tower legs, to secure them.