ENG-2003 — Page 296

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TRANSPORT

comprises nine stations and connects West Kowloon with Yuen Long and Tuen Mun, began operation on December 20.

To meet Hong Kong's increasing transport needs in a sustainable manner over the next two decades, the Government has formulated the Railway Development Strategy 2000 (RDS-2000) based on the findings of the Second Railway Development Study. The RDS-2000 provides a blueprint for the next phase of railway development, and following its recommendations, two new projects the Kowloon Southern Link and the Shatin to Central Link - are targeted for completion within a window between 2008 and 2011. Other projects under consideration include the West Hong Kong Island Line, South Hong Kong Island Line, Northern Link and Regional Express Line.

Transport Infrastructure

Existing Road Network

At the end of 2003, Hong Kong had 1934 kilometres of roads and 1057 road structures, three immersed-tube cross-harbour tunnels, nine road tunnels and three major bridges. These facilities provide a comprehensive road network for Hong Kong.

Major projects completed during the year included:

* Widening of Fo Tan Road between Yuen Wo Road and Kwei Tei Street from dual two-lane to dual three-lane with improvements to the capacities of the adjoining junctions. The project caters for the traffic demand arising from the industrial and residential developments in the Fo Tan and Sui Wo areas.

* Widening of the section of Tolo Highway between the Island House Interchange and the Ma Liu Shui Interchange by adding one traffic lane in each direction.

* The improvement to the Island Eastern Corridor section between the North Point Interchange and Sai Wan Ho to alleviate the problem caused by weaving and merging traffic.

Existing Tunnels

The Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Eastern Harbour Crossing, Tate's Cairn Tunnel, Western Harbour Crossing and 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 franchise for the tunnel, which was opened in 1972, ended on August 31, 1999, and the facility was handed back to the Government. With a daily patronage of 119 800 vehicles in 2003, it is one of the world's busiest four-lane road tunnels. The tolls ranged from $8 to $30 for different types of vehicles.

The two-kilometre 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 71 300 vehicles used the tunnel in 2003. 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 37 300 vehicles daily in 2003. Statutory tolls ranged from $30 to