1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Purpose of the Annex
1.1.1
Objections to the
proposed Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) have been received on the grounds that no direct connections are to be provided between Taikoo Shing Estate and the Tunnel at the Quarry Bay landfall. As a consequence, it is claimed that Taikoo Shing traffic using the EHC will create unnecessary congestion on the local road network and thereby suffer increased journey times and travel costs.
1.1.2
Alternative schemes suggesting how direct connections could be provided have been submitted by the Objectors. These schemes have been assessed in terms of their capability to satisfy engineering and operational standards and the purpose of this Annex is to summarise the findings of this assessment. In addition, the impact of the EHC on traffic conditions within the existing road network have been examined and the findings are also presented in this Annex.
1.2
The Proposed Eastern Harbour Crossing and Objectors Schemes
1.2.1
The principal road corridors through the Quarry Bay and Sai Wan Ho Districts are the Island Eastern Corridor (IEC) and King's Road/Shau Kei Wan Road. In road hierachy terms, the former acts as
a Primary Distributor and the latter as a District Distributor. The main centres of population are provided with connection to the IEC via interchanges at Healthy Street, Taikoo Shing and Kornhill/Sai Wan Ho. (See Figure No. D1)
1.2.2
The Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) will connect to the IEC by means of the Quarry Bay Interchange which is located immediately to the west of the Taikoo Shing Interchange (See Figure No. D2).
1.2.3
Following completion of the EHC, access to the IEC will remain substantially unchanged for all areas in the Quarry Bay and Sai Wan Ho Districts. Such access will also afford ingress and egress to the EHC except for Taikoo Shing traffic. to and from the EHC are illustrated in Figure No. D3.
1.2.4
Access routes
Objectors and
Three schemes have been submitted by the these are illustrated in Figure Nos. D4, D5 and D6. Each Scheme involves modification of the proposed EHC arrangements by adding links to connect to Taikoo Shing Estate and, on two of the Schemes, making changes to the alignment of some of the proposed and existing connections.
D1