XN000022-1986-10-11 — Page 10

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1986

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EXACT PAYMENT RULE APPLIES AT TUNNELS FROM MONDAY

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MOTORISTS ARE REMINDED THAT FROM MONDAY (OCTOBER 13), THEY WILL HAVE TO TENDER THE EXACT TOLL PAYABLE WHEN USING +EXACT PAYMENT+ LANES AT GOVERNMENT ROAD TUNNELS.

+THE NEW REQUIREMENT IS STIPULATED IN THE ROAD TUNNELS (GOVERNMENT) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1986 AND IS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE TRAFFIC FLOW AT THESE TUNNELS, THE ACTING CHIEF TRANSPORT OFFICER (TUNNEL ADMINISTRATION) OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, MR SAM CHAN, EXPLAINED.

STATISTICS SHOW THAT AN +EXACT TOLL+ BOOTH CAN HANDLE 115 MORE VEHICLES PER HOUR THAN AN ORDINARY BOOTH.

MR CHAN NOTED THAT MONDAY IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOLLOWING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL, AND MANY PEOPLE WILL BE VISITING GRAVES THAT DAY IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE TERRITORY.

+WE THEREFORE EXPECT HEAVIER TRAFFIC THAN USUAL AT THE LION ROCK TUNNEL AND THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL ON MONDAY AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR MOTORISTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE GOING TO AND FROM CEMETERIES VIA THE TUNNELS, TO COMPLY WITH THE 'EXACT PAYMENT' RULE, + MR CHAN EMPHASISED,

UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS, A DRIVER WHO TENDERS MORE THAN THE TOLL AMOUNT AND REQUIRES CHANGE AT AN +EXACT PAYMENT+ BOOTH COMMITS AN OFFENCE AND IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $1 000. IT WILL NOT, HOWEVER, BE AN OFFENCE IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT DEMAND CHANGE.

OF THE THREE GOVERNMENT ROAD TUNNELS, A TOLL OF $3 IS LEVIED

THE FOR BOTH THE LION ROCK TUNNEL AND THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL. AIRPORT TUNNEL IS TOLL-FREE.

MR CHAN ADDED THAT BY MONDAY, BOTH THE LION ROCK TUNNEL AND THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL WILL HAVE FOUR +EXACT PAYMENT+ LANES TWO EACH FOR SOUTHBOUND AND NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC.

+MOTORISTS SHOULD WATCH FOR BLUE SIGNS MARKING THE +EXACT PAYMENT+ BOOTHS AND SELECT THE APPROPRIATE LANE, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THEY REQUIRE CHANGE, HE SAID.

DRIVERS TENDERING PRE-PAID TICKETS FOR GOVERNMENT TUNNELS

CAN ALSO USE THE EXACT PAYMENT+ LANES.

+WE ENCOURAGE THE USE OF PRE-PAID TICKETS AT THE TUNNELS BECAUSE THEY WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE BOOTHS AND HENCE FACILITATE TRAFFIC FLOW,+ MR CHAN ADDED.

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