XN000022-1972-11-13 — Page 8

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Monday, November 13, 1972

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF LION ROCK TUNNEL

Traffic through the Lion Rock Tunnel has more than doubled since

its opening five years ago from a daily average of 5,596 in 1967 to 11,200

so far this year.

On days with particularly heavy traffic, over 20,000 vehicles travel-

ling between Kowloon and Sha Tin pass through this mile-long tunnel which

operates on a round-the-clock basis.

With the development of the Sha Tin valley and the projected new

race course at Sha Tin, it is estimated that traffic will rise to a daily

average of 25,000 vehicles by 1977.

Mr. F.W. May, who has been Superintendent of the Lion Rock Tunnel

since its opening, said that the main operational problem was "the rapid

turnover in staff which resulted in many of the Tunnel Control Officers

working long hours of overtime."

The officers are responsible for detecting and preventing speeding

offences and overtaking inside the tunnel.

Mr. May added that due to construction work for a flyover at the

junction of Waterloo Road and Lung Cheung Road, there was also a problem of

temporary delays to south bound traffic at weekends.

He said the delays often resulted in the stopping of traffic at the

Sha Tin entrance to avoid having stationary traffic inside the tunnel.

With a mile