XN000022-1988-04-29 — Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1988

TAC AND DB'S TO BE CONSULTED ON TUNNEL STUDY REPORT

THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND RELEVANT DISTRICT BOARDS WILL BE CONSULTED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DRAFT FINAL REPORT OF THE LION ROCK TUNNEL TRAFFIC STUDY.

THE DRAFT FINAL REPORT WAS TABLED EARLIER ᎪᎢ AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING WHICH NOTED THAT THE RESULTS OF THE CONSULTATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BB PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL FOR ADVICE IN JULY THIS YEAR.

THE LION ROCK TUNNEL TRAFFIC STUDY WAS COMMISSIONED IDENTIFY MEANS OF ALLEVIATING TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE TUNNEL \TAI PO ROAD CORRIDOR PRIOR TO THE OPENING OF TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL.

TO

AND

HAVING CONSIDERED AN INTERIM REPORT ON THE "MAJOR SCHEMES" IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ENDORSED THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BRACON HILL TUNNEL PROPOSAL SHOULD NOT BE PURSUED FURTHER AS THE TAI PO ROAD WIDENING SCHEME WOULD PROVIDE EXTRA ROAD CAPACITY ΤΟ RELIEVE CONGESTION AT THE LION ROCK TUNNEL.

THE TRAFFIC STUDY HAD ALSO EXAMINED A NUMBER OF OTHER TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEMES, AMONGST WHICH THE MOST IMPORTANT WERE THE OPERATION OF A "TIDAL-FLOW" SCHEME AND THE USE OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO CONTROL MERGING MOVEMENTS IN THE MORNING PEAK PERIOD.

BOTH HAD INCREASED PEAK PERIOD TUNNEL CAPACITY BY ABOUT 10 PER CENT, ELIMINATED SOUTHBOUND QUEUES BEFORE 7.30 AM AND REDUCED THEM SUBSTANTIALLY AFTER 7.30 AM.

IN ADDITION, A MAJOR EXTENSION TO THE BUS LANE ON THE TUNNEL APPROACHES WAS ALSO INTRODUCED IN MARCH THIS YEAR TO ALLOW BUSES TO AVOID TRAFFIC QUEUES.

ALL THESË MEASURES HAD RESTORED TRAFFIC DELAYS AT THE PEAK PERIODS TO ACCEPTABLE LEVELS.

IN ITS DRAFT FINAL REPORT, THE CONSULTANTS HAD DEVISED A BTRATEGY TO MAINTAIN THE TRAFFIC SITUATION IN THE CORRIDOR AT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL UNTIL THE OPENING OF THE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL.

THE REPORT ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT A TOLL INCREASE SHOULD ONLY BR USED AS A LAST RESORT TO SUPPRESS DEMAND IF TRAFFIC GREW AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN EXPECTED, OR IF ROUTE 5 OR TAI PO ROAD WIDENING WORKS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED.

IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE "TIDAL-FLOW" AND SIGNAL CONTROLLED MERGING SCHEMES SHOULD CONTINUE. IN ADDITION, ΤΟ IMPROVE THE "CONTROLLED MERGING" SCHEME, THE GAZETTED TUNNEL AREA IN KOWLOON SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO FACILITATE OPERATION BY TUNNEL STAFF.

/THE REPORT