WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1981
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PLANS IN HAND TO EASE TUNNEL TRAFFIC
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POSITIVE STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR PLANS TO BE MADE TO RELIEVE THE SERIOUS TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON JOHN TODD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER WONG, MR TODD SAID THE CONSULTANTS COMMISSIONED LAST YEAR HAD EXAMINED THE LONG TERM FEASIBILITY OF ADDITIONAL HARBOUR CROSSINGS AND SHORT TERM MEANS OF BETTER UTILISATION OF THE EXISTING CAPACITY OF THE CROSS HARBOUR FACILITIES.
THE CONSULTANTS HAVE ALREADY REPORTED ON THE SHORT TERM MEANS AND WILL BE SUBMITTING A DRAFT REPORT ON THE LONG TERM MEASURES WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
+ON SHORT TERM MEASURES, THE CONSULTANTS HAVE SUGGESTED AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICE AND A NUMBER OF MINOR WORKS TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL APPROACH AREAS, HE SAID.
THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED.
MR TODD SAID THE CONSULTANTS HAD NOT RECOMMENDED THE ADOPTION OF THE CROSS HARBOUR COMPANY'S PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE A MEZZANINE DECK IN THE EXISTING TUNNEL.
*THE REASONS ARE PRINCIPALLY, DISRUPTION TO TRAFFIC DURING CONSTRUCTION, ENHANCED RISK DUE TO RESTRICTED ACCESS FOR FIRE FIGHTING AND DIFFICULTIES WITH ADDITIONAL CONNECTING APPROACH ROADS.+
NEVERTHELESS, A REAPPRAISAL OF THE PROPOSAL IS BEING UNDERTAKEN TO SEE IF THE PROBLEMS COULD BE OVERCOME.
IN THE MEDIUM AND LONG TERM, MR TODD SAID, CONGESTION IN THE EXISTING CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED IF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONSULTANTS REPORT ON LONG TERM IMPROVEMENT MEASURES WERE IMPLEMENTED.
+THESE COULD TAKE THE FORM OF EITHER A BRIDGE AT LEI YUE MUN, IF THE PROBLEM OF THE KAI TAK AIRPORT APPROACH GUIDANCE SYSTEM CAN BE RESOLVED, OR A THIRD TUBE ALONGSIDE THE EXISTING TUNNEL, HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, A WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING LINKING HONG KONG ISLAND WITH KOWLOON VIA STONECUTTERS ISLAND MAY BE REQUIRED IN THE LONG TERM, HE ADDED.
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