ENG-2004 — Page 321

Transport | 271

• improvement to Castle Peak Road between Ka Loon Tsuen and Siu Lam by upgrading it to dual two-lane carriageway standard. Works commenced in March for completion in mid-2007.

• Improvement to Tung Chung Road between Lung Tseng Tau and Cheung Sha by upgrading it to a single two-lane road to improve Lamma Island's north-south access and to enhance the safety and capacity of the existing substandard Tung Chung Road. Construction works commenced in June for completion in end 2006.

The new boundary bridge at the Sha Tau Kok crossing, which is a single two-lane bridge, will improve traffic flow. Works commenced in May for completion in January 2005.

Road Projects Under Planning

A number of road construction/improvement projects are under planning to further expand and improve the existing road network:

• The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Advance Work Coordination Group has embarked on a feasibility study on the bridge. An investigation and preliminary design study on the Hong Kong section of the bridge and the related connecting infrastructure is under way;

• Reconstruction and improvement of Tuen Mun Road will commence tentatively in end 2005 for completion in end-2011. The project is intended to upgrade the carriageway to the current expressway standard to enhance road safety and to cater to growing traffic demand. Design and site investigation works started in mid- 2004.

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Planning of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass and the Island Eastern Corridor Link is under way. This dual three-lane carriageway aims at relieving traffic congestion along Connaught Road Central/Harcourt Road/Gloucester Road, which is the key east-west traffic route along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island linking the Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay areas.

• Improvements to San Tin Interchange by providing traffic lanes to Lok Ma Chau Crossing from northbound San Tin Highway and westbound Fanling Highway to bypass the elevated roundabout of the interchange. Construction works would commence in April 2005 for completion in March 2007.

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. In order to regulate such activities, any excavation work on carriageways and footpaths maintained by the Highways Department needs an excavation permit. In 2004, the Highways Department issued about 43 000 excavation permits.