Chapter 14: Transport Infrastructure

At the end of 2001, Hong Kong had 1 911 kilometres of roads and 1 038 road structures, three immersed-tube cross-harbour tunnels, nine road tunnels and three bridges built high above sea level. These facilities provide a comprehensive road network for Hong Kong.

Recent major road projects completed include:

Route 3: Route 3 is a 29-kilometre strategic highway built to dual three-lane expressway standard. It connects the western part of Hong Kong Island and the north-western New Territories.

Tsing Ma Control Area (TMCA): the TMCA is a 17-kilometre expressway network comprising the Tsing Kwai Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Highway, North-West Tsing Yi Interchange, Lantau Link, Ting Kau Bridge and part of the North Lantau Highway. It has a one-way toll collection arrangement. Vehicles travelling on the Lantau Link are charged twice the single journey toll when they return from Lantau Island. The double toll ranges from $20 to $80. The TMCA is operated and maintained by a private management contractor, and is equipped with an extensive traffic control and surveillance system. The system provides a high degree of automation to regulate traffic flows, to assist in dealing with incidents and to provide useful information to motorists.

The Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Crossing, Tate's Cairn Tunnel, Western Harbour Crossing and the Tai Lam Tunnel were built by the private sector under 'Build, Operate and Transfer' franchises.

The 1.9-kilometre Cross-Harbour Tunnel connects Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island and Hung Hom in Kowloon. The franchise for the tunnel, which was opened in 1972, ended on August 31, 1999, and the facility was handed back to the Government. With a daily patronage of 120 400 vehicles in 2001, it is one of the world's busiest four-lane road tunnels. The tolls ranged from $8 to $30 for different types of vehicles.

The two-kilometre Eastern Harbour Crossing was opened in 1989. It links Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island and Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon. A daily average of 74 600 vehicles used the tunnel in 2001. Tolls ranged from $8 to $45.

The two-kilometre Western Harbour Crossing is the first six-lane cross-harbour road tunnel in Hong Kong. Opened in 1997, it links Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island and the West Kowloon Reclamation near Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon. It was used by an average of 39 700 vehicles daily in 2001. The tolls ranged from $20 to $125. The tunnel company offers concessionary tolls and the actual tolls ranged from $20 to $100.

The four-kilometre Tate's Cairn Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in Hong Kong, was opened to traffic in 1991, providing an additional direct road link between the north-eastern New Territories and Kowloon. It was used by an average of 64 000 vehicles daily in 2001. Tolls ranged from $10 to $20.

The 3.8-kilometre Tai Lam Tunnel, together with the 6.3-kilometre Yuen Long Approach Road, forms the Route 3 (Country Park Section), which extends from Ting Kau to Au Tau. Opened in May 1998, it was used by an average of 43 800 vehicles daily in 2001. Tolls, after adjustment on April 1, ranged from $20 to $90. The tunnel company offers concessionary tolls and the actual tolls ranged from $17 to $75.

The 2.4-kilometre Discovery Bay Tunnel Link, which comprises a 630-metre single tube two-way tunnel and a 1 770 metre approach road, is operated and maintained by the Discovery Bay Road Tunnel Company Limited, which also built it. It extends from Discovery Bay through Yi Pak Au to Cheung Tung Road. The tunnel link is only open to Discovery Bay residents' services and goods vehicles providing delivery of goods or a servicing function. Opened in May 2000, the tunnel link was used by an average of 500 vehicles daily. It has a one-way toll collection arrangement. The vehicles are charged a single journey toll when they enter Discovery Bay. The tolls ranged from $50 to $250.

The Government owns seven of the road tunnels (Lion Rock, Aberdeen, Airport, Shing Mun, Tseung Kwan O, Cheung Tsing and Cross-Harbour) which are managed and operated by private companies under management contracts. Tolls are set and monitored by the Government. The use of the Airport Tunnel and the Cheung Tsing Tunnel is free of charge.

The 1.4-kilometre Lion Rock Tunnel, linking Kowloon and Sha Tin, began single-tube operation in 1967, with a second tube added in 1978. The tunnel was used by 90 900 vehicles daily in 2001. The toll was $8.

The 1.9-kilometre Aberdeen Tunnel, opened in 1982, links the northern and southern parts of Hong Kong Island. It was used by 58 600 vehicles daily in 2001. The toll was $5.

The 1.3-kilometre toll-free Airport Tunnel between Hung Hom and Kowloon Bay passes under the former airport site at Kai Tak and was opened in 1982. It was used by 60 000 vehicles daily in 2001.

The 2.6-kilometre Shing Mun Tunnels between Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan were opened in 1990. A daily average of 53 800 vehicles paid the $5 toll in 2001.

The 900-metre Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, opened in 1990, links Kowloon and the new town at Tseung Kwan O. It was used by 72 000 vehicles daily in 2001. The toll was $3.

The 1.6-kilometre toll-free Cheung Tsing Tunnel was opened in 1997 and links Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi. It was used by 81 000 vehicles daily in 2001.

Besides the network of road tunnels and highways, railways also form a vital part of Hong Kong's transport network. The rail system comprises a heavily utilised Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system, the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) East Rail which also provides cross-boundary service, a dedicated express rail passenger service connecting the urban areas with the airport (the Airport Railway (AR)) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT). The system now covers about 143 kilometres and has three MTR harbour crossings.

There is also a tramway serving as a local distributor on the northern shore of the Hong Kong Island and a funicular tramway running between Central (Garden Road) and the Peak.

The six railway projects being implemented or planned are:

* The 12.5-kilometre Tseung Kwan O Extension comprises a diversion of the Kwun Tong Line beyond Lam Tin to Tiu Keng Leng and the creation of a new Tseung Kwan O Line that will provide a direct service between the new town and Hong Kong Island. Construction started in November 1998 for completion in 2002.

* The 30.5-kilometre West Rail that connects West Kowloon with Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. Construction started in September 1998 for completion by the end of 2003.

* The 11.4-kilometre Ma On Shan to Tai Wai Rail Link (MOS Rail) connects the Ma On Shan New Town to the existing KCR East Rail at Tai Wai Station. Construction started in November 2000 for completion in 2004.

* The KCR Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui Extension (TST Extension) extends the KCR East Rail by about one kilometre from the existing Hung Hom terminus to a new station at Tsim Sha Tsui East. Construction started in March 2001 for completion in 2004.

* The Penny's Bay Rail Link is a 3.5-kilometre single-track system connecting a new Yam O station on the existing Tung Chung Line to Penny's Bay where the Hong Kong Disneyland is to be built. Detailed design for the project has commenced and construction will start in 2002 for commissioning in 2005.

* The 7.4-kilometre Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (Spur Line) will connect the KCR East Rail at Sheung Shui with a new passenger boundary crossing at Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang. The Spur Line project is undergoing statutory processes and is targeted for commissioning before mid-2007.

The six railway projects under planning are:

* The Island Line Extensions that will comprise a new North Hong Kong Island Line (NIL) and a new West Hong Kong Island Line (WIL). The NIL will be an extension of the existing MTR Tung Chung Line eastwards along the north shore of Hong Kong Island to join up with the eastern half of the MTR Island Line (ISL) at Fortress Hill. At the same time, the MTR Tseung Kwan O Extension will be connected with the ISL's western half at Tin Hau. The WIL will be an extension of the existing ISL from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town. The MTRCL has submitted a proposal for the extensions.

* The 17-kilometre Sha Tin to Central Link (SCL) that will be a strategic corridor from the New Territories to Hong Kong Island, via south-eastern Kowloon. The MTRCL and the KCRC have submitted bids for the construction and operation of this rail link. As the SCL comprises three sections of railway (the Tai Wai to Diamond Hill Link, the East Kowloon Line and the Fourth Rail Harbour Crossing), they could be completed in phases to better match demand.

* The Kowloon Southern Link (KSL) that will connect the KCR East Rail and West Rail at the southern tip of the Kowloon peninsula. Upon completion, passengers will be able to interchange between the East Rail and the West Rail at Hung Hom. The KCRC has submitted a proposal for this railway.

* The Northern Link that will link the West Rail to the Lok Ma Chau boundary crossing. It will also link up the East Rail and the West Rail to enable passengers to travel more widely in the northern parts of the New Territories. Its implementation will depend on the growth of cross-boundary traffic from the western part of the HKSAR and developments in the north-west New Territories. The situation is being closely monitored and the KCRC will be invited to put forward a proposal when necessary.

* The Regional Express Line (REL) that will provide a new express connection between the boundary and the urban area for train services to Shenzhen and through-train service to major cities beyond. Domestic (with limited stops) services could run on this new line. The timing for construction of the line will depend on cross-boundary passenger growth.

* The Port Rail Line (PRL) that will complete a new freight rail connection from Lo Wu to a new terminal at Kwai Chung. The PRL will allow freight from the deep hinterland of the Mainland (i.e., beyond the Pearl River Delta) to have access to the container port at Kwai Chung. The KCRC is investigating the implementation of the planned railway.

To enhance the safety of motorists and the flow of traffic between the Nam Wai and Ho Chung areas, Phase III of the improvements to Hiram's Highway (the main route to Sai Kung) began in March 1999 for completion in 2002. The work involves realignment of the road in the two areas.

To improve the traffic capacity at the Fo Tan and Sui Wo areas in Sha Tin, construction works to widen the existing Fo Tan Road between Yuen Wo Street and Kwei Tei Street started in December 1999 for completion in early 2003.

The Tolo Highway and the Fanling Highway are being widened to dual four-lane carriageway standard in phases, with the works due to be completed in 2006. To further improve the road network serving the airport at Chek Lap Kok, construction of the Tsing Yi North Coastal Road started in February 1999 for completion in 2002.

To cope with future growth in traffic demand in the eastern districts of Hong Kong Island and to ease traffic congestion near the Eastern Harbour Crossing, improvement works to the Island Eastern Corridor section between the North Point Interchange and Sai Wan Ho started in July 2000 for completion in 2003.

Several strategic road projects are under study and design with the aim of further expanding and improving the road network.

The Shenzhen Western Corridor is an additional cross-boundary link between Shekou in Shenzhen and Ngau Hom Shek in Hong Kong. The new crossing is proposed to relieve the traffic burden on the existing three boundary crossings. The planned new road is a 5.1-kilometre dual three-lane highway, of which 3.2 kilometres are within the HKSAR.

The Deep Bay Link is a 5.4-kilometre approach road connecting the Shenzhen Western Corridor with the Yuen Long Highway at Lam Tei. The road is planned to be a dual three-lane trunk road providing access to the Shenzhen Western Corridor and the Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area in the north-western New Territories.

The existing Yuen Long Highway is a dual two-lane corridor between Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. To cope with the anticipated growth in traffic, it is proposed to widen the 6.7-kilometre section of the Yuen Long Highway between Lam Tei and Shap Pat Heung Interchange from dual-two to dual-three lanes.

Route 10 between the Yuen Long Highway and North Lantau is planned as a dual three-lane expressway to provide an improved link between the north-western New Territories and North Lantau. It will also serve as a second extension road link to Lantau Island in the event that the Lantau Link has to be closed because of emergency. Route 10 will have viaducts, tunnels and a major suspension bridge, the Tsing Lung Bridge. With a span of 1 418 metres, the Tsing Lung Bridge will be the fourth longest suspension bridge in the world.

Route 9 (Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin section) will be a dual three-lane expressway connecting West Kowloon at Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin at Tai Wai. It will significantly alleviate traffic congestion at the Lion Rock Tunnel and the Tate's Cairn Tunnel, and in Tai Po Road.

Route 9 (Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan section) will be a dual three-lane expressway connecting the West Kowloon Highway and the North-West Tsing Yi Interchange. It will also provide access to the existing Container Terminal 8 and to Container Terminal 9, which is under construction. An international competition has been held for the conceptual design of the main element of the route — the Stonecutters Bridge, which will have a span of about 1 000 metres. The results of the competition were announced in 2000. The detailed design of the bridge is being developed based on the winning design in the competition.

Planning is under way for upgrading the existing Tung Chung Road to a two-lane rural road. This would replace the previously proposed Lantau North South Road Link between Tai Ho Wan and Mui Wo, which was found to have unacceptable environmental impacts.

Other major new road projects under planning include the Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link, Route 7 between Aberdeen and Kennedy Town and the Chok Ko Wan Link Road on Lantau.

Besides serving as carriageways for vehicles and pedestrians, roads also accommodate various utility services, such as water and gas mains, sewers and electricity and telephone cables. To cope with the increasing demand for utility services and maintenance work, utility companies often have to excavate the carriageways and footpaths to lay more pipes, cables and ducts, and to carry out repair work. There were about 216 new road openings each day in 2001. Road openings are co-ordinated and controlled by the Highways Department through a permit system, under which utility companies are required to carry out work to a required standard and within a time limit.

To co-ordinate and monitor road opening works more effectively and to minimise traffic disruption, the Highways Department has established a three-tier communication system with participants ranging from high level management to working level staff of utility companies and relevant government departments. A computerised utility management system has been used since 1997 to further improve co-ordination and minimise inconvenience to road users.