ENG-1990 — Page 285

TRANSPORT

The Cross-Harbour Tunnel, opened in 1972, runs beneath the harbour between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. An average of 118 300 vehicles used the tunnel each day in 1990. It is one of the world's busiest four-lane tunnels. Traffic congestion at the approaches of the tunnel eased slightly after the opening of the Eastern Harbour Crossing.

The Eastern Harbour Crossing, the second cross-harbour tunnel, opened in September 1989. This tunnel links Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island and Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon by means of an immersed twin-tube crossing incorporating both road and rail links. By the end of 1990, traffic in this tunnel averaged about 32 100 vehicles per day.

Two new road tunnels were opened in 1990. The Shing Mun Tunnel, opened to traffic on April 20, 1990, links Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan, and the average daily traffic is 30 100 vehicles. The Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, opened to traffic on November 9, 1990, links Kwun Tong to Tseung Kwan O New Town, and the average daily traffic is 6 500 vehicles.

Traffic Management and Control

At the end of the year, there were about 920 signalised junctions in operation, of which 330 junctions were under the control of the Kowloon Area Traffic Control (ATC) System and 190 were under the control of the Hong Kong ATC System.

The Kowloon ATC System has been in operation for more than 13 years. It needs to be replaced by an expanded system in order to cope with increasing demand and to implement more efficient traffic control methods. A consultancy study for the replacement of the system was completed during the year, and work on the recommended system is expected to start in mid-1991.

The Kowloon ATC System is supplemented by a traffic monitoring closed-circuit television system. This system at present covers only the western, southern and northern parts of Kowloon. As part of the Kowloon ATC System replacement project, the television system needs to be expanded to east Kowloon and its coverage of other areas of Kowloon needs to be increased. This expansion is expected to start in 1992 and its completion is aimed to coincide with the commissioning of the new Kowloon ATC System.

About 190 signalised junctions on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan are operating under computer control. The expansion of the Hong Kong ATC System to Mid-Levels and Happy Valley is scheduled for completion by the middle of 1991.

A consultancy study was commissioned in June 1990 to investigate, design and supervise the civil works in connection with the Hong Kong Island Closed Circuit Television System. Thirty-five cameras are planned, to be commissioned by the end of 1992.

The Transport Department also plans to extend computerised area traffic control to Tsuen Wan New Town. Consultants were commissioned to assist in the preparation of detailed design and contract documents for the new ATC system and work is expected to commence in mid-1991 for completion in 1994–5.

Parking

The government owns 14 multi-storey carparks which provide 8 200 parking spaces. These are operated and managed by a private company under a management contract. Off-street public parking is also provided by the Civil Aviation Department at Hong Kong Inter- national Airport and by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation at railway stations. The private sector operates multi-storey and open-air public carparks in commercial

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