TRANSPORT
Road Opening Works
Besides serving as carriageways for vehicles and pedestrians, the highways also provide space to install various utility services, such as water mains, sewers and electric and telephone cables. To cope with the demand resulting from the rapid development in Hong Kong, utility companies often have to excavate the carriageways and footways to maintain services by renewal, repair, and enlargement of pipes, cables and ducts. On average 160 new road openings are started every working day. These are co-ordinated and controlled by the Highways Department through a permit system, under which utility companies are required to carry out works to a required standard and in a limited period of time. In order to co-ordinate these works and to minimise disruption, the department holds monthly Road Opening Co-ordinating Committee meetings with the utility companies, police and the Transport Department.
Tunnels
The Lion Rock Tunnel, which links Kowloon and Sha Tin, began single tube operation in 1967 with a second tube added in 1978. At a flat toll of $6 per vehicle, it is the most heavily-used government tunnel. It was used by 77 000 vehicles a day in 1992.
The Aberdeen Tunnel was opened in 1982. It links the north and south sides of Hong Kong Island, with a daily traffic volume of 50 000 vehicles. This government owned tunnel is operated and managed by a private tunnel company under a management contract for three years. The toll is $5.
The Shing Mun Tunnels, opened to traffic in 1990, link Sha Tin to Tsuen Wan. The average daily traffic, which has increased steadily since opening, was 40 000 vehicles in 1992. The toll is $5.
The Tseung Kwan O Tunnel was opened in late 1990. Linking Kowloon to Tseung Kwan O New Town, it was used by 14 000 vehicles daily, charging a $3 toll per vehicle. From July 1, 1992, the operation hours of the tunnel were extended to operate between 7 am and midnight. The tunnel opened for 24 hours per day from January 1993.
The toll-free Airport Tunnel provides direct road access from Hung Hom to Hong Kong International Airport, and also passes underneath the airport runway to Kowloon Bay. Opened in 1982, it was used by an average of 53 000 vehicles per day in 1992.
Similar to Aberdeen Tunnel, the management of the Lion Rock Tunnel, Airport Tunnel, Shing Mun Tunnels and Tseung Kwan O Tunnel have been contracted out by the Government to the private sector with effect from January 1993. Toll charges remain under government control.
The Cross Harbour Tunnel, opened in 1972, connects Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island and Hung Hom in Kowloon. Used by an average of 120 000 vehicles each day in 1992, it is one of the world's busiest four-lane road tunnels. Tolls now range from $4 to $30, including a government passage tax.
The Eastern Harbour Crossing is the second cross-harbour road tunnel. Opened in September 1989, it links Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island and Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon. It is connected by an elevated section of Route 6 to the Kowloon portal of Tate's Cairn Tunnel. By the end of 1992, traffic in this tunnel averaged 70 000 vehicles per day. Tolls now range from $5 to $30.
The Tate's Cairn Tunnel was opened to traffic in June 1991, to provide an additional direct road link between the north-east New Territories and Kowloon. The tunnel
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