TRANSPORT
To provide a direct access between Kennedy Town and Pok Fu Lam Road, the construction of Smithfield Extension started in February 1995 for completion in June 1997.
Construction of the Yau Ma Tei Section of the West Kowloon Corridor commenced in phases from mid-1992 to improve traffic in Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei districts. The first phase, which included an extension along Ferry Street and a 700-metre flyover along Ferry Street and Tong Mi Road, was completed in January 1995. The second phase, construction of an associated footbridge and subway system, was completed in September 1996.
The Lung Cheung Road and Ching Cheung Road Improvements started in July 1994 for completion in October 1997. The works include the widening of Ching. Cheung Road and the section of Lung Cheung Road between Ching Cheung Road and Lion Rock Tunnel Road from dual two-lane to dual three-lane. When completed, it will improve the Route 4 link between East Kowloon and the new airport.
The construction of Hung Hom Bypass and the Princess Margaret Road Link started in March 1996 for completion in early 1999. It will be an elevated highway built on Hung Hom Bay Reclamation, including a 1.3-kilometre Hung Hom Bypass from Salisbury Road to Hung Hom Road and a 1.2-kilometre Princess Margaret Road Link connecting the Hung Hom Bypass to Princess Margaret Road.
To improve cross-border traffic and access to the north-western New Territories, the construction of the Country Park Section of Route 3 started in May 1995 under a 'Build, Operate and Transfer' franchise for completion in mid-1998. It will be a dual three-lane carriageway connecting Ting Kau in Tsuen Wan with Au Tau in Yuen Long.
To improve traffic flow, construction of additional climbing lanes on the Kowloon- bound carriageway of Tuen Mun Road started in May 1994. These climbing lanes, with a total length of 8.5 kilometres at Sam Shing Hui, So Kwun Wat, Tai Lam and Ting Kau, were completed in stages in July and August 1996 except for a section at Tai Lam between Brother's Point and Ka Loon Tsuen. A consultancy study is being done on the feasibility of completing the remaining works.
New Airport Access
Work is progressing well on all major highway projects related to the new airport at Chek Lap Kok and developments along the north-western shore of Lantau. They include the Western Harbour Crossing, the West Kowloon Expressway, the Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi sections of Route 3, the Lantau Link and the North Lantau Expressway.
The Airport Core Programme also includes a rail link, which will provide a fast and efficient train service to the new airport and a domestic service to relieve congestion on the Nathan Road Corridor of the Mass Transit Railway. The rail link will also serve new developments on West Kowloon Reclamation and in Tung Chung new
town.
Environmental Impact of Road Construction
At the planning stage, the Highways Department carefully appraises the environmental impact of new road projects. Where practical, measures such as
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