TRANSPORT
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Tunnels
In January, the management of the Lion Rock Tunnel, Airport Tunnel, Shing Mun Tunnels and Tseung Kwan O Tunnel was contracted out, following competitive tendering, to reduce the need for staff resources and to improve efficiency. The contractors are responsible for operating and managing the tunnels on behalf of the government. Toll charges remain under government control.
Lion Rock Tunnel, which links Kowloon and Sha Tin, began single tube operation in 1967, with a second tube added in 1978. It is the most heavily-used government tunnel and was used by 78 000 vehicles a day in 1993.
The toll-free Airport Tunnel provides direct road access from Hung Hom to Hong Kong International Airport. It also passes underneath the airport runway to Kowloon Bay. Opened in 1982, it was used by an average of 55 000 vehicles per day in 1993.
The Shing Mun Tunnels, opened to traffic in 1990, link Sha Tin to Tsuen Wan. The average daily traffic, which has increased steadily since opening, was 47 000 vehicles during the year under review.
Tseung Kwan O Tunnel was opened in 1990. Linking Kowloon to Tseung Kwan O new town, it was used by 23 000 vehicles daily.
The Aberdeen Tunnel was opened in 1982. It links the north and south sides of Hong Kong Island, with a daily traffic volume of 56 000 vehicles in 1993.
The Cross Harbour Tunnel, the Eastern Harbour Crossing and the Tate's Cairn Tunnel were all built by the private sector under 'build, operate and transfer' franchises.
The Cross Harbour Tunnel, opened in 1972, connects Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island and Hung Hom in Kowloon. Used by an average of 122 000 vehicles each day in 1993, it is one of the world's busiest four-lane road tunnels. The tolls ranged from $4 to $30, including a government passage tax.
The Eastern Harbour Crossing is Hong Kong's second cross-harbour road tunnel. Opened in 1989, it links Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island and Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon. It is connected by an elevated section of Route 6 to the Kowloon portal of the Tate's Cairn Tunnel. At the end of the year, traffic in this tunnel averaged 80 000 vehicles per day. The tolls ranged from $5 to $30.
Tate's Cairn Tunnel was opened to traffic in 1991, to provide an additional direct road link between the northeastern New Territories and Kowloon. Measuring four kilometres from portal to portal, it is the longest road tunnel in the territory. The daily traffic flow at the Tate's Cairn Tunnel increased to 78 000 vehicles a day at the end of 1993. The tolls ranged from $4 to $8.
In August, automatic tunnel toll collection (autotoll) was introduced in the Cross Harbour Tunnel and the Aberdeen Tunnel, to enable motorists to drive through toll booths without stopping and to reduce tunnel operating costs.
The automatic toll collection, based on microwave technology, was initially for one toll lane in each direction, following amendments to the Road Tunnels (Government) Ordinance and Cross Harbour Tunnel Bylaws. Drivers need not stop to pay tolls as the toll is automatically deducted from the vehicle user's account. At the end of the year, there were about 23 800 registered autotoll users, making daily averages of 18 600 and 14 400 trips through the Cross Harbour and the Aberdeen Tunnels, respectively.