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Transport

Tunnels

The government owns 11 road tunnels, all managed and operated by private companies under management contracts: the Cross-Harbour, Lion Rock, Aberdeen, Kai Tak, Shing Mun, Tseung Kwan O, Cheung Tsing, Tai Wai, Sha Tin Height, Eagle's Nest and Nam Wan tunnels. The last four are located in the Tsing Sha Control Area, while Cheung Tsing Tunnel is located in the Tsing Ma Control Area. Use of the Kai Tak Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Tunnel and Nam Wan Tunnel is free of charge. Tolls for the rest are provided for in their governing legislation.

Four other tunnels are operated by private companies under 'Build, Operate and Transfer' arrangements: the Eastern Harbour Crossing, Tate's Cairn Tunnel, Western Harbour Crossing and Tai Lam Tunnel.

There is also a private tunnel, the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link, which was built and is operated and maintained by Discovery Bay Road Tunnel Company Limited. It is open only to vehicles taking goods to Discovery Bay, or providing services to residents there.

Major Road Projects under Construction

The Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link (CWB) forming part of the east- west strategic route along the north shore of Hong Kong Island are being constructed to alleviate traffic congestion at Connaught Road Central/Harcourt Road/Gloucester Road and cater for the anticipated growth in road traffic. The CWB is a 4.5-kilometre dual three-lane trunk. road with a 3.7-kilometre tunnel. When the CWB is completed in 2017, it will take about five minutes to travel from Central to the Island Eastern Corridor at North Point.

Reconstruction and improvement of Tuen Mun Road is under way to bring the expressway's dual three-lane carriageway up to current standards as far as practicable, and to provide hard shoulders wherever possible. This project and widening works of the Tuen Mun Road Town Centre section are scheduled for completion in 2014.

Widening of Tolo Highway between the Island House Interchange and Tai Hang to upgrade the existing dual three -lane carriageway to a dual four-lane carriageway is under way. Construction of this section commenced in 2009 and is expected to be largely completed in the first quarter of 2014.

Widening of Fanling Highway between Tai Hang and Wo Hop Shek Interchange to upgrade the existing dual three-lane carriageway to a dual four-lane carriageway is under way. Construction commenced in July 2013 for completion of the major works by 2018.

Construction of the Bus-Bus Interchange for Tuen Mun bound buses on Tuen Mun Road was completed and fully opened in July 2013.

Works in respect of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), including the Main Bridge within Mainland waters and local works in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), continued. The target is to commission the HZMB in 2016.

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