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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1992
TUNNEL CONGESTION INCURS HIGH COST
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THE EXTRA COST TO THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF TRAVEL TIME WASTED DUE TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COULD AMOUNT то AT LEAST $350 MILLION A YEAR.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, AT THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR LEUNG SAID SINCE THE CROSS HARBOUR TRAFFIC WAS CONTINUING TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 4 PER CENT EACH YEAR, CONGESTION AT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL WOULD THEREFORE DETERIORATE FURTHER UNTIL THE WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING OPENS IN 1997.
"THE PROBLEM MUST BE ADDRESSED. TO DO NOTHING WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE. IT WOULD RESULT IN EVEN GREATER CONGESTION, INCONVENIENCE THOSE WHO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT, AND INCREASE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND HENCE AIR POLLUTION.
MR LEUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN ALL POSSIBLE STEPS TO DEAL WITH THE CONGESTION PROBLEM.
THESE INCLUDE THE OPENING OF THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING IN 1989, AND THE KWUN TONG BYPASS AND TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL IN 1991; NUMEROUS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES IMPLEMENTED IN THE APPROACH ROADS TO THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL; AND TO ENCOURAGE GREATER USE OF THE VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICE WHICH DOES HAVE SPARE CAPACITY.
MR LEUNG SAID IN PARALLEL, EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE USE OF EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING CONTINUED. OVER 170 ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONAL SIGNS HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND ROUTE MAPS HAD BEEN DISTRIBUTED. THE TUNNEL COMPANY HAD JUST INTRODUCED A DISCOUNT TICKET SCHEME TO ATTRACT MORE REGULAR USERS.
MR LEUNG SAID THERE HAD BEEN PROPOSAL ΤΟ ENCOURAGE CAR POOLING, BY BANNING ONE PERSON VEHICLES FROM USING THE TUNNEL OR IMPOSING A HIGHER TOLL ON THEM AS A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
AND
"HOWEVER, THE RESULT WOULD BE TO SLOW DOWN THE PASSAGE OF CARS THROUGH THE TOLL BOOTHS, TO CONSTRAIN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUTOTOLL TO FAVOUR THOSE WHO HAVE CHAUFFEUR DRIVER CARS. A SIMILAR SCHEME BEEN TRIED BUT DROPPED IN SINGAPORE."
HAS
ON THE SUGGESTION TO ALLOW VEHICLES WITH ODD AND EVEN REGISTRATION NUMBERS TO USE THE TUNNEL ON ALTERNATE DAYS, MR LEUNG SAID THIS WOULD ALSO SLOW DOWN PASSAGE THROUGH THE TOLL BOOTHS, FAVOUR OWNERS WITH MORE THAN ONE VEHICLE, AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF ESSENTIAL TUNNEL USERS.
MR LEUNG SAID THE SUGGESTION OF ALLOWING GOODS VEHICLES TO USE THE TUNNEL ONLY OUTSIDE PEAK HOURS, OR BE DIVERTED TO THE OTHER TUNNEL WOULD CREATE NEW CONGESTION PEAKS DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY IN VIEW OF ITS EFFECT ON BUSINESSES.
/"THE GOODS