ENG-1988 — Page 257

TRANSPORT

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Two other new strategic routes are under construction. Route 5, a seven-kilometre long dual two-lane trunk road connecting Sha Tin with Tsuen Wan, is being constructed at a cost of about $1.3 billion. When completed in 1989, it will form part of the New Territories Circular Road System. Various major sections of Route 6 which include the Eastern Harbour Crossing, Kwun Tong Bypass, Tate's Cairn Tunnel and Road T6 are either under construction or at an advanced planning stage. This route, expected to be completed in late 1991, will greatly ease the traffic congestion in the Lion Rock Tunnel.

Another future strategic route, Route 3, which will provide a direct link between north-western New Territories and Hong Kong Island via Tai Lam Tunnel, Tsing Yi, West Kowloon Trunk Road and Western Harbour Crossing, is under investigation by consultants.

Improvements to Major Road Network

A dual two-lane free-flow facility along Connaught Road from Harcourt Road to Hill Road (Route 7) is being constructed at a cost of $350 million, with completion expected in early 1990. 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 roadworks. The final stage of the Island Eastern Corridor (Route 8) from Shau Kei Wan to Chai Wan, is being constructed at a cost $1.7 billion and is due to be completed in late 1989.

In Kowloon, Route 2 will be improved by the completion of the improvements to the Gascoigne Road Flyover in mid-1990. Route 1 is being improved by the reconstruction of the Princess Margaret Road Flyover to provide two lanes in each direction. Reconstruction will be completed in mid-1989. The Kwun Tong Bypass Phase I which forms part of Route 6 is under construction involving 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. Completion of Phases II and III of the Bypass will tie in with the opening of the Tate's Cairn Tunnel. The total cost of the Bypass is about $1.8 billion.

In the New Territories, the remaining sections of the New Territories Circular Road from Pak Shek Au to Au Tau are being constructed in stages and will be completed in 1991. A principal road link with China at Lok Ma Chau, connecting the New Territories Circular Road by a grade-separated interchange, will be largely completed in early 1989.

In the north-western New Territories, a Tuen Mun to Yuen Long Eastern Corridor and a Yuen Long Southern Bypass have been planned to provide an eastern continuation of Route 2. The Yuen Long Southern Bypass project costs $180 million, comprising the construction of a three kilometres long two-way trunk road to bypass Yuen Long town to the south. Construction is planned to start in mid-1989 for completion in late 1991. The Yuen Long-Tuen Mun Eastern Corridor involves a dual two-lane trunk road along the eastern side of Castle Peak Road to connect with the proposed Yuen Long Southern Bypass. Construction will start in 1989 for completion in 1992.

Other Road Projects

Other road projects completed in 1988 include the provision of grade-separated vehicular and pedestrian access facilities to the Wan Chai reclamation area and the Tonnochy Road Flyover on Hong Kong Island; the flyover from Cheung Sha Wan Road to Boundary Street in Kowloon; Lam Kam Road flyover; a link road from Ma On Shan to Nai Chung and the improvement of Man Kam To Road in the New Territories.

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