LCQ3: Traffic volume of cross harbour tunnels

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Following is a question by the Hon Ho Chun-yan and a reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Nicholas Ng at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

At present, the respective traffic volume of the Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) and the Western Harbour Crossing (WHC) is less than that of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (CHT). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the original forecast traffic flows of the three tunnels respectively;

(b) of the current traffic flows of the three tunnels during rush hours; and how they compare with the original forecast for rush hours;

(d) whether it has examined if the low traffic volume of WHC constitutes a waste of social resources; and

(e) whether it has examined if the lower traffic volume of EHC and WHC is related to their higher tolls; if so, whether it will take measures such as adjusting the tolls of the three tunnels in order to ease traffic congestion at the CHT?

Reply:

Madam President :

(a) A transport study undertaken by the Transport Department in 1996 estimated that upon the opening of the new airport and the Western Harbour Crossing (WHC) in 1997, the average two-way traffic volume of the Cross Harbour Tunnel (CHT), Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) and WHC would be 106,000, 85,000 and 59,000 vehicles per day respectively, while the two-way traffic volume of these three tunnels during rush hours would reach 6,400, 6,100 and 3,700 vehicles per hour.

(b) In August 1998, the maximum two-way traffic volume of the three tunnels during rush hours was : 6,200 vehicles per hour (97 per cent of the forecast) for CHT, 4,800 (79 per cent ) for EHC and 2,800 (76 per cent ) for WHC.

(c) The opening of the EHC and WHC had the immediate effect of relieving congestion at CHT. Following the opening of the EHC on September 21, 1989, the daily average usage rate of the CHT dropped from 118,400 vehicles in August 1989 to 115,800 vehicles in October 1989, i.e. a reduction of 2.2 per cent. The same effect was observed after the opening of the WHC on April 30, 1997 - the daily average usage rate of the CHT decreased from 126,100 vehicles in March 1997 to 123,100 vehicles in May 1997, i.e. a reduction of 2.4 per cent.

(d) The three cross-harbour tunnels were planned, approved and built at different times to meet the Government's policy objectives on transport and development. The CHT was constructed in the sixties to link the Hong Kong Island with the Kowloon Peninsula to provide a direct and convenient all-weather strategic route across the harbour. Its impact was immediate and most significant.

It was due to the growing volume of cross harbour traffic that the EHC was constructed in the eighties to help relieve congestion at the CHT. Its site was chosen to serve another purpose, i.e. to promote the development of Island East, Kowloon East and Tseung Kwan O. Again, the impact was obvious.

The WHC is one of the Airport Core Programme Projects, the construction of which is designed with a capacity adequate to cope with the transport needs of the new airport and the future overall development of Hong Kong. The new airport was just commissioned in July this year. Tung Chung new town is only at the initial stage of development while the land at West Kowloon Reclamation is yet to be developed. It is expected that the usage rate of the WHC will increase when these developments gradually take shape. WHC's strategic role will then become apparent.

(e) The usage rate of the cross-harbour tunnels is affected by a number of factors namely, the distribution of population and employment, economic development, road networks, number of vehicles, toll charges and the destination of the commuters.

Where it is judged by the tunnel operators that the toll level may have an impact on patronage, the operators may seek an adjustment in accordance with the provisions in the relevant laws governing their operation.

End/Wednesday, September 16, 1998

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