ENG-1999 — Page 301

TRANSPORT

one-way toll collection arrangement. Vehicles travelling on the Lantau Link are charged twice the single journey toll when they return from Lantau Island. The double toll ranges from $20 to $80. The link is part of the TMCA and is operated and maintained by a private management contractor. The TMCA is equipped with an extensive traffic control and surveillance system. The system provides a high degree of automation to regulate traffic flows, to assist in dealing with incidents and to provide useful information to motorists.

In other facilities, the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Crossing, Tate's Cairn Tunnel, Western Harbour Crossing and the Tai Lam Tunnel were built by the private sector under 'Build, Operate and Transfer' franchises.

The 1.9-kilometre Cross-Harbour Tunnel connects Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island and Hung Hom in Kowloon. The tunnel was opened in 1972. Its franchise ended on August 31, 1999 and was handed back to the Government. With a daily patronage of 118 600 vehicles, it is one of the world's busiest four-lane road tunnels. The tolls, after adjustments since September 1, 1999, ranged from $8 to $30 for different types of vehicles.

The Eastern Harbour Crossing was opened in 1989. It links Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island and Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon. A daily average of 73 500 vehicles used the two-kilometre tunnel in 1999. Tolls ranged from $8 to $45.

The two-kilometre Western Harbour Crossing is the first six-lane cross-harbour road tunnel in Hong Kong. Opened in 1997, it links Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island and the West Kowloon Reclamation near Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon. It was used by an average of 43 300 vehicles daily in 1999. Tolls ranged from $15 to $95.

The Government owns seven of the road tunnels - Lion Rock, Aberdeen, Airport, Shing Mun, Tseung Kwan O, Cheung Tsing and Cross-Harbour

which are managed and operated by private companies under management contracts. Tolls are set and monitored by the Government. The use of the Airport Tunnel and the Cheung Tsing Tunnel is free of charge.

The Lion Rock Tunnel, linking Kowloon and Sha Tin, began single-tube operation in 1967, with a second tube added in 1978. The 1.4-kilometre tunnel was used by 92 200 vehicles daily in 1999. The toll was $8.

The Aberdeen Tunnel, opened in 1982, links the northern and southern parts of Hong Kong Island. It is 1.9 kilometre long and was used by 57 400 vehicles daily in 1999. The toll was $5.

The toll-free Airport Tunnel between Hung Hom and Kowloon Bay passes under the former airport site at Kai Tak and was opened in 1982. It is 1.3 kilometres long and was used by 59 700 vehicles daily in 1999.

The Shing Mun Tunnels between Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan were opened in 1990 and are 2,6 kilometres long. An average of 55 100 vehicles each day paid the $5 toll in 1999.

The 900-metre Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, opened in 1990, links Kowloon and the new town at Tseung Kwan O. It was used by 68 000 vehicles daily in 1999. The toll was $3.

The toll-free, 1.6-kilometre Cheung Tsing Tunnel was opened in 1997 and links Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi. It was used by 77 000 vehicles daily in 1999.

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