ENG-2002 — Page 302

TRANSPORT

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Street is being widened to dual two-lane standard; work started in August 2002 for completion in 2005.

In Tsim Sha Tsui, in order to improve the traffic capacity at the junction of Salisbury Road and Chatham Road South, construction of a dual two-lane underpass along Salisbury Road started in March 2001 for completion in 2004. The work also involves widening of the Salisbury Road section between Wing On Plaza and Canton Road.

Construction of the Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan section of Route 9, connecting the West Kowloon Highway and the North-West Tsing Yi Interchange and providing access to the Container Terminals 8 and 9, started in April 2002. Construction of the Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin section of Route 9 began in November. Both sections are scheduled for completion in 2007. Construction of the dual three-lane Chok Ko Wan Link Road (Penny's Bay section) began in August 2002 for completion in August 2005.

To cope with future growth in traffic demand in the eastern districts of Hong Kong Island and to ease traffic congestion near

near the Eastern Harbour Crossing, improvement works to the Island Eastern Corridor section between the North Point Interchange and Sai Wan Ho started in July 2000 for completion in 2003.

Road Projects Under Planning

Several strategic road projects are under study and design with the aim of further expanding and improving the road network.

The Shenzhen Western Corridor is an additional cross-boundary link between Shekou in Shenzhen and Ngau Hom Shek in Hong Kong. The new crossing is intended to relieve the traffic burden on the existing three boundary road crossings. The planned road is a five-kilometre dual three-lane highway, of which 3.2 kilometres are within the HKSAR.

The Deep Bay Link is a 5.4-kilometre approach road connecting the Shenzhen Western Corridor with the Yuen Long Highway at Lam Tei. The road is planned as a dual three-lane trunk road providing access to the Shenzhen Western Corridor and the Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area in the north-western New Territories.

The existing Yuen Long Highway is a dual two-lane corridor between Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. To cope with the anticipated growth in traffic, it is proposed to widen the 6.7-kilometre section of the Yuen Long Highway between Lam Tei and Shap Pat Heung Interchange from dual-two to dual-three lanes.

Planning is under way for upgrading the existing Tung Chung Road to a two-lane rural road. This would replace the previously proposed Lantau North South Road Link between Tai Ho Wan and Mui Wo, which was found to have an unacceptable environmental impact.

Other major road projects under planning include the Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link, Route 7 between Aberdeen and Kennedy Town, and Route 10 between the Yuen Long Highway and North Lantau.

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