ENG-2003 — Page 305

TRANSPORT

* On Lantau Island, it is planned to upgrade the existing Tung Chung Road between Lung Tseng Tau and Cheung Sha to a single two-lane road to improve the island's north-south access and to enhance the safety and capacity of the existing substandard Tung Chung Road. Detailed design has been completed. Construction works are expected to commence in early 2004 for completion in 2006-07.

*Elsewhere, planning is at an advanced stage for the construction of a new boundary bridge at the Sha Tau Kok crossing, which is intended to improve traffic flow and increase capacity. Works are expected to commence in early 2004 for completion in early 2005.

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 230 new road openings each day in 2003. Road openings are coordinated 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.

To coordinate and monitor road opening works more effectively and to minimise traffic disruption, the Highways Department has

has established a three-tier communication system with participants ranging from high level management to working level staff of utility companies and relevant government departments. A computerised utility management system has been in use since 1997 to further improve coordination and minimise inconvenience to road users.

Existing Control Area

The Tsing Ma Control Area (TMCA), which was opened to traffic in May 1997, is a 21-kilometre expressway network comprising the Tsing Kwai Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Highway, North-West Tsing Yi Interchange, Tsing Yi North Coastal Road, Lantau Link, Ting Kau Bridge, part of the North Lantau Highway as well as Ma Wan Road. The TMCA is operated and maintained by a private management contractor.

The Lantau Link has a one-way toll collection arrangement. Vehicles travelling on the Lantau Link are charged twice the single journey toll when they return from Lantau Island or enter Ma Wan. The double toll ranges from $20 to $80 for different types of vehicles. A daily average of 40 500 vehicles used the Lantau Link in 2003.

Public Transport

Rail, bus, ferry and other public transport services offer Hong Kong commuters a good choice of different transport modes at reasonable fares and different levels of comfort, speed and convenience.

Railways

Rail travel accounts for some 30 per cent of the total daily public transport volume. The railways are built and operated by the two railway corporations, the Kowloon- Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) and the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL).

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