ENG-2006 — Page 298

246 Transport

Railway Development and Railway Development Strategy 2000

Railways are safe, efficient, reliable, comfortable and environmentally friendly mass carriers. They play a key role in Hong Kong's transport systems strategy and the Government gives high priority to railway development. The Railway Development Strategy 2000, which provides a blueprint for the next phase of railway development, includes a number of new railway schemes to meet Hong Kong's increasing transport needs in a sustainable manner over the next two decades.

The Tseung Kwan O Line, which commenced operation in August 2002, the West Rail, which commenced operation in December 2003, the East Rail Tsim Sha Tsui Extension, which commenced operation in October 2004, the East Rail Tai Wai to Ma On Shan Rail Link, which commenced operation in December 2004, and the Disneyland Resort Line, which commenced operation in August 2005, involved an investment of about $83 billion. Construction works of three railway projects, namely the Spur Line, the Kowloon Southern Link and the Tseung Kwan O South Station, continued in 2006 at a total cost of about $20 billion.

The Sha Tin to Central Link, the West Island Line, the Northern Link and the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link are now in the planning stage.

Transport Infrastructure

Road Network

Hong Kong has 1 984 kilometres of roads and 1 157 road structures, three immersed-tube cross-harbour tunnels, nine road tunnels and three major cable supported bridges. These facilities provide a comprehensive road network for Hong Kong.

Major projects completed during the year included:

• The widening of Yuen Long Highway between Lam Tei and Shap Pat Heung Interchange;

• Deep Bay Link: a dual three-lane carriageway linking the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor with the local road network; and

Tunnels

widening of the section of Castle Peak Road between Ting Kau and Sham Tseng in Tsuen Wan to a dual two-lane carriageway.

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 Cross-Harbour Tunnel, which was opened in 1972, was handed back to the Government on August 31, 1999, when the franchise ended.

The Government owns seven of the road tunnels at: Lion Rock, Aberdeen, Kai Tak, Shing Mun, Tseung Kwan O, Cheung Tsing and Cross-Harbour, which are managed and operated by private companies under management contracts. Use of