TRANSPORT
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The Tate's Cairn Tunnel was opened to traffic in 1991, providing an additional direct road link between the north-eastern New Territories and Kowloon. At 3.9 kilometres, it is the longest road tunnel in Hong Kong. It was used by an average of 67 200 vehicles daily in 1999. Tolls ranged from $8 to $20.
The Tai Lam Tunnel is 3.8 kilometres long and 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 44 700 vehicles daily in 1999. Tolls ranged from $10 to $60.
Besides the network of road tunnels and highways, railways also form a vital part of Hong Kong's transport network. Hong Kong's rail system comprises a heavily utilised urban railway (the Mass Transit Railway — MTR), a busy suburban and cross-boundary railway (the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) East Rail), the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Airport Railway (AR).
The AR is an integral part of the transport links connecting the urban areas with the new airport and the new town at Tung Chung. It comprises two services the Tung Chung Line and the Airport Express. They were opened to the public in June and July 1998 respectively. The Airport Express (AEL) provides a dedicated express rail service for passengers travelling to and from the airport. Running at a maximum speed of 135 kilometres per hour, the AEL trains carried about 28 500 passengers each day in 1999 with a journey time of about 23 minutes. It is the world's first purpose-built railway serving an airport with in-town check-in facilities. The Tung Chung Line provides a commuter service between Tung Chung new town and the urban areas with interchange facilities with other MTR lines at Central and Lai King.
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.
New Transport Infrastructure in 1999
The construction of the Hung Hom Bypass and the Princess Margaret Road Link was completed in July and August respectively. This road system connects Hung Hom and Tsim Sha Tsui East with a system of elevated roads linking with Princess Margaret Road and Chatham Road. The strategic link provides access to the developments in the Hung Hom Bay reclamation and relieves traffic congestion at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel approach roads.
New Railway Projects
The Government is implementing or planning six new railway projects. Total investment in these projects exceeds $100 billion. They are:
The 30.5-kilometre West Rail (Phase I) that connects West Kowloon with Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. Construction started in September 1998 for completion by the end of 2003;
The 12.5-kilometre Tseung Kwan O Extension that extends the MTR from Lam Tin to Tseung Kwan O. Construction started in November 1998 for completion by the end of 2002;