TRANSPORT
Sai Kung) began in March 1999 for completion by the end of 2001. 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 for completion in 2002.
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 2007. To further improve the road network serving the airport, 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 for completion in 2003.
Planned Road Projects
Several strategic road projects are under study and design with the aim of further expanding and improving the road network.
Route 10 between Yuen Long Highway and North Lantau is planned as a dual three-lane expressway to relieve the anticipated traffic burden on the Lantau Link and Tuen Mun Road. It will also maintain road access to Lantau in the event that the Lantau Link has to be closed because of inclement weather or an emergency. Route 10, together with the proposed Deep Bay Link, will form the major local highway network connecting to the future Shenzhen Western Corridor between Hong Kong and Shenzhen across Deep Bay.
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 Container Terminal 9, which is under construction. An international competition has been held on the conceptual design of the main element of the route the Stonecutters Bridge, which will have a span of about 1 000 metres.
Other major new road projects under planning include the Deep Bay Link (which will connect the proposed Shenzhen Western Corridor to the local highway network), the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, Route 7 between Aberdeen and Kennedy Town and the Chok Ko Wan Link Road.
Road Opening Works
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 188 new road openings each day in 2000. Road openings are co-ordinated and controlled by the Highways Department through a permit system, under which
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