XN000022-1997-04-16 — Page 47

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Speed limit imposed on Route 3 and Route 9

Following is a question by the Hon Howard Young and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Gordon Siu, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

As Route 3 and Route 9 are the only two arteries connecting Tsing Yi Island with the new airport at Chek Lap Kok and the rest of the territory, will the Government inform this Council:

Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

of the comparison in terms of the higher traffic volume handled and speed limit imposed on Route 3/Route 9 and other major highways in the territory:

of the traffic volume on Route 3 and Route 9 since they have become operational; and

whether the Government will consider relaxing the present speed limit imposed on other major highways in the territory to bring it in line with that imposed on Route 3 and Route 9, so as to avoid the occurrence of a "bottlenecks" on those highways as a result of traffic coming in from the direction of the new airport and the North Lantau Expressway; if not, why not?

The speed limits imposed on Route 3/Route 9 and other major highways and their capacities are shown in the Annex;

As regards Route 3, the West Kowloon Expressway and the Kwai Chung Viaduct were open to traffic in February 1997. The peak hour traffic volume is about 1,200 vehicles/ hour one way on both highways. The rest of Route 3 and Route 9 are not yet open to traffic.