ENG-1998 — Page 300

TRANSPORT

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To improve the junction between Hiram's Highway and Clear Water Bay Road, the construction of Phase II of the Hiram's Highway improvement works started in January 1997 for completion in 2000. Phase III of the works in Nam Wai and Ho Chung is scheduled to start in early 1999 for completion in 2001

Improvement works to Castle Peak Road from Siu Lam to So Kwun Tan started in February 1997 for completion in late 1999. To further improve the road network to the new airport, construction of the Tsing Yi North Coastal Road is scheduled to start in January 1999 for completion in 2002.

Planned Road Projects

To further expand and improve Hong Kong's road network to cope with traffic demand, several strategic road projects are currently under study and design.

The eight-kilometre section of Route 7 connecting Kennedy Town to Aberdeen will provide a much-needed linkage to the southern part of Hong Kong to support the strategic development of the area.

Route 10 will run about 27.5 kilometres from Hong Kong Island to the North-West New Territories via North Lantau. Together with the planned Deep Bay Link, it will form part of the proposed crossing between Hong Kong and Shekou in Shenzhen. Route 10 will also relieve the traffic burden of the Lantau Link, and maintain road access to Lantau in the event that the Lantau Link has to be closed under inclement weather or emergencies.

Route 9 (section between Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin) will be a new 5.6- kilometre highway running from Sha Tin to West Kowloon. It will significantly alleviate traffic congestion at the Lion Rock Tunnel, Tate's Cairn Tunnel and Tai Po Road.

Other major new road projects under planning include the Central Kowloon Route between To Kwa Wan and Yau Ma Tei, the Central-Wan Chai Bypass and another section of Route 9 connecting Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan.

Environmental Considerations

The environmental impact of new transport projects during both the construction and operation phases is carefully examined at the planning stage. Environmental mitigation measures, such as landscaping, artificial contouring of surrounding hillsides, the installation of noise barriers and noise insulation works are implemented where necessary to minimise the environmental impact of transport projects.

Road Opening Works

Besides serving as carriageways for vehicles and pedestrians, roads also accommodate various utility services, such as water and gas mains, sewers and electricity and telephone cables. To cope with the increasing demand for utility services and maintenance work, utility companies often have to excavate the carriageways and footpaths to lay more pipes, cables and ducts, and to carry out repair work. There were about 150 new road openings on each day in 1998. Road openings are co- ordinated and controlled by the Highways Department through a permit system, under which utility companies are required to carry out work to a required standard and within a time limit.

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