ENG-2006 — Page 302

250 Transport

Feasibility studies are being made of the possible highway options identified in the Northwest New Territories Traffic and Infrastructure Review. The options include Tuen Mun Eastern Bypass, Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, Tuen Mun Western Bypass and Link Options between Tuen Mun and Lantau. Another feasibility study for Tsing Yi Lantau Link is scheduled to start in early 2007. These projects are intended to cope with increasing road use in northwest New Territories and north Lantau.

• Reconstruction and improvement of Tuen Mun Road is scheduled to start in early 2008 for phased completion by the end of 2012. The project is to upgrade the dual three-lane carriageway of the expressway section to current expressway standards, including the provision of hard shoulder lanes wherever practicable. Design and site investigation works started at the end of 2005. The widening of Tuen Mun Road Town Centre Section is scheduled to start in late 2008 for completion in 2010.

• Planning of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass is under way. It is the final stage of a strategic highway running through the northern part of the Hong Kong Island. It will connect the existing flyover near Rumsey Street in Central to the existing Island Eastern Corridor. This dual three-lane carriageway will relieve congestion along Connaught Road Central/Harcourt Road/Gloucester Road corridor, and improve the network reliability of the east-west link.

• The preliminary engineering review of the Central Kowloon Route and widening of Gascoigne Road Flyover was completed in 2006. The proposed Central Kowloon Route will connect West Kowloon reclamation and the future Kai Tak development with a 3.8 kilometre-long dual three-lane tunnel. The project on the widening of Gascoigne Road Flyover is to upgrade the existing single two-lane carriageway to dual two-lane configuration. Planning of the two projects continues.

• Trunk Road T4 is a proposed dual two-lane carriageway, which will connect. Sha Tin Road with the future Trunk Road T3 and Shing Mun Tunnel Road, and will serve as a bypass to Tai Po Road (Sha Tin section) and other district. distributor roads. Works is scheduled to start in 2007 for completion by 2010.

Road Opening Works

Besides serving as carriageways for vehicles and pedestrians, roads also accommodate different 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 works. In order to regulate such activities, permits are issued for any excavation work on carriageways and footpaths maintained by the Highways Department. In 2006, the department issued about 38 000 excavation permits.

The Highways Department has established a three-tier communication system with management and staff of utility companies to coordinate and minimise traffic disruption arising from street excavations.