ENG-1987 — Page 237

TRANSPORT

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Island, Route 8 runs along the northern shore from the Cross Harbour Tunnel through the Island Eastern Corridor to Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan in the east. Route 7 stretches from the Cross Harbour Tunnel, along the north shore, through Harcourt Road and Connaught Road to Kennedy Town in the west. In Kowloon, Route 2 follows the west coast of Kowloon Peninsula and runs from the Cross Harbour Tunnel through the West Kowloon Corridor to Lai Chi Kok. Route 3 follows the east coast of Kowloon Peninsula from the Cross Harbour Tunnel through the East Kowloon Way and the Airport Tunnel to Kwun Tong. Route 4 runs along the base of the foothills separating Kowloon from the New Territories, and connects Kwun Tong with Lai Chi Kok.

The strategic road system in the New Territories connects each of the new towns. The major link in the western New Territories is Route 2, which consists of the Tsuen Wan Bypass and its connections into Kowloon, the Tuen Mun Highway and the existing dual carriageway from Tuen Mun to Yuen Long. Route 6, also in the western New Territories, connects Lai Chi Kok with Tsuen Wan by way of Castle Peak Road. In the eastern New Territories, the major link is the continuation of Route 1 from Sha Tin through Tai Po and Fanling to Pak Shek Au in the north.

Further improvements to this strategic road network are being constructed or planned. On Hong Kong Island, a major project (Route 7) to provide a dual-two-lane free flow facility along Connaught Road from Harcourt Road to Hill Road is being constructed at an estimated cost of $525 million, with completion expected in late 1989. It involves the construction of two flyovers at Harcourt Road and Rumsey Street, an underpass at Pedder Street, widening Connaught Road West, six footbridges and ancillary road works. The final stage of the Island Eastern Corridor (Route 8) from Shau Kei Wan to Chai Wan is being constructed. When completed in late 1989, the corridor will total nine kilometres in length. The total estimated cost is about $1.7 billion.

In Kowloon, Route 2 will be improved by the completion of the Cheung Sha Wan section of the West Kowloon Corridor. Route 1 is being improved by the reconstruction of the Princess Margaret Road Flyover. The old flyover, which was built in 1966, had only three traffic lanes for two-way traffic and has been a bottleneck for some time. The new flyover, which will be completed in mid-1989, will provide two lanes in each direction. Another strategic route being constructed in Kowloon is the Kwun Tong Bypass Phase 1 which involves the construction of elevated roads linking Junk Bay Road and Lei Yue Mun Road with Wai Yip Street and the Eastern Harbour Crossing. It will be completed in late 1989 to tie in with the opening of the Eastern Harbour Crossing. Construction of Phases II and III will be programmed for completion to coincide with the opening of the proposed Tate's Cairn Tunnel. When fully completed, the Kwun Tong Bypass will provide a direct connection between the new Eastern Harbour Crossing, Junk Bay Tunnel and Tate's Cairn Tunnel without the need to pass through ground level roads in Kwun Tong. The total estimated cost of the Kwun Tong Bypass is $940 million.

For cross harbour travel, a second road and rail crossing known as the Eastern Harbour Crossing is under construction for completion in late 1989.

In the New Territories, another section of the New Territories Circular Road from Fanling to Pak Shek Au was completed in April 1987. The remaining section from Pak Shek Au to Au Tau is being carried out in stages at a total cost of about $750 million and will be completed in 1991. A principal road link with China at Lok Ma Chau, which will connect with the New Territories Circular Road by a grade separated interchange, is also being constructed. It will cost $280 million and will be largely completed in late 1988.