XN000022-1992-03-24 — Page 2

1

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1992

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES AT CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL

TODAY

(TUESDAY)

THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) DISCUSSED WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE CONGESTION PROBLEM AT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL AND THE OVERLOADING OF GOODS VEHICLES.

HAD

MEMBERS NOTED THAT A NUMBER OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES BEEN INTRODUCED TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW ON THE TUNNEL APPROACH ROADS AND TO FACILITATE GREATER USE OF THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING.

THESE INCLUDED PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL LANES FOR CENTRAL-BOUND TRAFFIC ON THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR AND ON GLOUCESTER HOAD NEAR THE EXCELSIOR HOTEL, AND WIDENING OF GLOUCESTER ROAD NEAR THE MARSH ROAD FLYOVER TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL EASTBOUND LANE.

WORKS ARE ALSO UNDERWAY TO WIDEN VICTORIA PARK ROAD NEAR THE NOON-DAY GUN SITE TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL EASTBOUND LANE BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR AND ALSO TO WIDEN GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND NEAR PERCIVAL STREET TO PROVIDE A THIRD LANE FOR CENTRAL-BOUND TRAFFIC.

HOWEVER, MEMBERS NOTED THAT WHILE THESE MEASURES HAD AND WOULD BRING SOME RELIEF, THEY WERE INSUFFICIENT TO CONTAIN CONGESTION AT CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TO WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LIMITS.

THEY WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 8.8 PER CENT IN CROSS HARBOUR TRAFFIC FROM 171,900 VEHICLES A DAY IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE OPENING OF THE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL IN JUNE TO 187,000 VEHICLES A DAY IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR.

A

THE INCREASE WAS DUE TO THE RELEASE OF SUPPRESSED DEMAND AND SHIFT FROM CAR FERRY TO TUNNEL USAGE. HOWEVER, THE OPENING OF TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL AND EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING HAD NOT RESULTED IN A REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC USING THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL.

THE DAILY TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL (CHT) REMAINED AT THE HIGH LEVEL OF 120,500 VEHICLES A DAY LAST SEPTEMBER. THE FIGURE ROSE TO 123,000 IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.

GIVEN THAT THE CROSS HARBOUR TRAFFIC IS FORECAST то GROW BY FOUR PER CENT PER ANNUM, THE CONGESTION SITUATION AT THE CHT IS LIKELY TO DETERIORATE FURTHER AND THE CONGESTION IS EXTENDING TO EARLIER HOURS IN THE MORNING OR LATE HOURS INTO THE NIGHT.

PEAK

THE CONGESTION HAS INCREASED DELAYS, PARTICULARLY AT HOURS, REDUCING THE EFFICIENCY OF BUSES AND GOODS VEHICLES AND AFFECTED THE OPERATION OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

IT WAS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT TAC LOOLED INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING GREATER USE OF VEHICULAR FERRIES, RATIONALISING THE CLASSIFICATION AND TOLLS FOR GOODS VEHICLES USING THE (HT, AND INCREASING PASSAGE TAX FOR CHT DURING CERTAIN HOURS OF THE DAY.

/NO DECISION