TRANSPORT
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Circular Road system. Various major sections of Route 6 including the Eastern Harbour Crossing, Kwun Tong Bypass, Tate's Cairn Tunnel and Road T6 linking Tate's Cairn Tunnel to the Tolo Highway are either completed or at an advanced construction stage. This route, expected to be completed in mid-1991, will greatly ease the traffic congestion in the Lion Rock Tunnel. The total cost of the Kwun Tong Bypass is $1.82 billion and for Tate's Cairn Tunnel, $2.65 billion.
Route 3, another future strategic route which will provide a direct link between the north-western New Territories and Hong Kong Island via Tai Lam Tunnel, Tsing Yi, West Kowloon Expressway and Western Harbour Crossing is under investigation by consultants. A second stage feasibility study to select the alignment of the section of Route 3 from the north-western New Territories to West Kowloon has been completed. A feasibility study for the Western Harbour Crossing also commenced in November 1989.
Improvements to Major Road Networks
On Hong Kong Island, a major project (Route 7) to provide a two-way free-flow facility along Connaught Road from Harcourt Road to Hill Road including the construction of two flyovers at Harcourt Road and Rumsey Street, an underpass at Pedder Street, widening of Connaught Road West and several footbridges were substantially completed in December 1989. The final stage of the Island Eastern Corridor (Route 8) from Shau Kei Wan to Chai Wan was also opened to traffic in October.
In Kowloon, Route 2 will be improved upon completion of work on the Gascoigne Road Flyover in mid-1990. Route 1 has been improved by the completion of the Princess Margaret Road Flyover reconstruction in mid-1989.
In the New Territories, the remaining sections of the New Territories Circular Road from Pak Shek Au to Au Tau are being constructed in stages and will be completed in 1991. A principal road link with China at Lok Ma Chau, which will connect the New Territories Circular Road by a grade-separated interchange, was completed in December.
A Tuen Mun to Yuen Long Eastern Corridor and a Yuen Long Southern Bypass have been planned in the north-western New Territories, to provide an eastern continuation of Route 2. The Yuen Long Southern Bypass project will cost $290 million, comprising the construction of a three-kilometre, two-way trunk road to bypass Yuen Long town to the south. Construction is due to start in 1991 for completion in 1993. The Yuen Long-Tuen Mun Eastern Corridor project is a two-way trunk road along the eastern side of Castle Peak Road to connect with the proposed Yuen Long Southern Bypass. Construction will start in 1990 for completion in mid-1993.
Environmental Impact of Road Construction
The environmental impact of new roads is carefully considered at the planning stage by the Highways Department. Where practical, such measures as landscaping works, artificial contouring of surrounding hillsides and the installation of noise barriers are considered. The pre-cast decorative concrete panels applied to the retaining wall of the Gascoigne Road Flyover project and the enclosed-type noise barrier for the section of the future Tate's Cairn Tunnel approach roads near Richland Gardens in Kowloon Bay are two good examples of such measures.
Complaints on Road Openings
Besides serving as carriageways for 'vehicles and pedestrians, Hong Kong's highways also provide space for utility companies to lay pipes and cables for their services to the public.