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WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1989
RELIEF TO CROSS HARBOUR CONGESTION IN SIGHT
* * * * *
THE OPENING OF THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING IN A FEW MONTHS WOULD PROVIDE A WELCOME RELIEF TO THE CONGESTION AT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL AND AT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY NATHAN ROAD CORRIDOR, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR JAMES 80, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE DRIVE-THROUGH CEREMONY FOR THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING, MR SO SAID THAT WITH THE DEDICATION AND EFFICIENCY OF BOTH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE NEW HONG KONG TUNNEL COMPANY AND THE CONTRACTOR,
CROSSING WAS LIKELY THE
TO BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE IN AUGUST.
THE NEW ROAD CROSSING IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT ABOUT 35,000 TO 40.000 VEHICLES PER DAY IN 1989 WHILE THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE EXISTING CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL IS ESTIMATED TO DROP ΤΟ ABOUT 108,000 VEHICLES PER DAY.
H
"THIS WILL REMOVE THE LONG QUEUES WE NOW SEE EACH DAY AT THE APPROACHES TO THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR, MR SO SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT AWARDED THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING PROJECT TO THE NEW HONG KONG TUNNEL COMPANY IN DECEMBER 1985 TO FINANCE, BUILD AND OPERATE THIS NEW FACILITY AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3.4 BILLION.
EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING
THE MR SO NOTED THAT
A COMPRISED STANDARD DUAL TWO-LANE ROAD TUNNEL AND A RAILWAY TUNNEL FOR THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.
ON THE CHA KWO LING SIDE, THE TUNNEL APPROACH ROAD WILL BE CONNECTED TO LEI YUE MUN ROAD, AND ALSO TO THE FUTURE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL THROUGH THE KWUN TONG BYPASS.
ON THE HONG KONG SIDE, THE TUNNEL WILL LINK UP WITH THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR AND KORNHILL IN QUARRY BAY. THE CAPACITY OF THE ROAD TUNNEL IS AROUND 120,000 VEHICLES PER DAY.
MR SO ALSO NOTED THAT THE RAIL TUNNEL WOULD PROVIDE A SECOND
TRANSIT RAILWAY JOINING KWUN CROSS HARBOUR LINE FOR THE MASS
TONG STATION, THROUGH A NEW STATION IN LAM TIN, WITH QUARRY BAY STATION ON HONG KONG SIDE.
"THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING WILL CERTAINLY AFFECT TRAFFIC PATTERNS BY BRINGING ABOUT A RE-DISTRIBUTION OF TRAFFIC, IN PARTICULAR IN EAST KOWLOON AND THE EASTERN PART OF HONG KONG MR SO ADDED.
ISLAND
"
"THIS SITUATION WILL NEED TO BE CLOSELY MONITORED MANAGEMENT MEASURES WILL HAVE TO BE INTRODUCED TO TRAFFIC PATTERNS IN THE AREAS AFFECTED."
-AND
MEET
THE
TRAFFIC CHANGING
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