LCQ18: Carrying capacity and incident handling of Tsing Ma Bridge
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Questions:
As Tsing Ma Bridge is the only land transport link connecting Lantau Island and the urban areas, with the continuous growth of the population and traffic flow in North Lantau, the capacity of Tsing Ma Bridge and the carrying capacity of its surrounding road network have aroused concern. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the average hourly traffic volume per day and the traffic volume/capacity ratio of Tsing Ma Bridge over the past five years; when the Administration anticipates that traffic saturation will occur, and of the specific mitigation measures in place;
(2) given views that as the bridge deck of Tsing Ma Bridge is not equipped with hard shoulders, motorists will lack a safe refuge space in the event of vehicle breakdowns or traffic accidents, of the Administration's specific enhancement measures (such as adjusting the traffic control and incident management systems of the Lantau Link, and introducing dynamic lane control, smart monitoring or warning systems) to shorten the time for handling traffic incidents, reduce traffic congestion and prevent secondary accidents, so as to enhance the overall operational efficiency of Tsing Ma Bridge;
(3) in order to increase route options between Lantau Island and the urban areas, of the latest progress of the proposed "Tsing Yi-Lantau Link" (the Link) (including the planning stage, alignment options and expected construction commencement time); as there are views that Ma Wan currently relies entirely on Tsing Ma Bridge for its external land transport and that Ma Wan would become an isolated island in the event of an operational breakdown of Tsing Ma Bridge, whether the authorities will add an entrance/exit connecting Ma Wan to the Link to provide an alternative route; and
(4) given that the Government indicated at the meeting of the Panel on Transport on January 30, 2026 that the investigation study of Route 11 had been substantially completed, among which the Tsing Lung Bridge project would be commenced first, with the target of commissioning in or before 2033, of the current status of the relevant project, including the latest progress, the specific construction timetable, and the expected traffic diversion effect on Tsing Ma Bridge upon commissioning?
Reply:
President,
The Tsing Ma Bridge has always been one of the major land links connecting Lantau Island with the urban areas. Although the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link now provides an alternative route to and from Lantau Island, the Tsing Ma Bridge remains the trunk road connecting North Lantau and the airport with Kowloon and the south-east New Territories. My response to the question raised by the Hon Kwok Fu-yung is as follows:
(1) The hourly traffic volume and utilisation rate (measured as the ratio of traffic volume to capacity) of the Tsing Ma Bridge during peak hours over the past five years (i.e. 2021 to 2025) are set out in the Annex.
The current utilisation rate of the Tsing Ma Bridge during peak hours is about 0.8, indicating that there is still spare capacity. To support the development of the Northern Metropolis, the Government is taking forward the Route 11 project to strengthen the connectivity between the Northern Metropolis and the urban area (the Harbour Metropolis). With further development of the Northern Metropolis and North Lantau, population growth and expansion of the road network, traffic volumes on the Tsing Ma Bridge are expected to increase significantly. In this regard, the Government plans to proceed with the Tsing Yi-Lantau Link to divert traffic from the Tsing Ma Bridge. The Government will continue to monitor the overall traffic situation and implement relevant works projects in a timely manner to meet long-term transport needs.
(2) The Transport Department (TD) has always attached great importance to road safety and operational efficiency on the Tsing Ma Bridge. The Tsing Ma Bridge is currently equipped with an advanced traffic control and monitoring system that integrates facilities such as lane control signals, variable message signs, closed-circuit television and an incident detection system. The operator of the Tsing Ma Control Area monitors traffic conditions on the Tsing Ma Bridge in real time, 24 hours a day, via a control centre. Should any abnormal situation be detected, the incident detection system within the surveillance area will proactively issue safety alerts, assisting the operator in swiftly implementing traffic management measures. These include closing traffic lanes using lane control signals and disseminating real-time traffic information to motorists via variable message signs and tunnel break-in announcements, thereby minimising the impact of incidents on traffic flow.
The TD has stipulated service requirements for handling traffic accidents, including specific timeframes for operational staff to arrive at the scene, for rescue vehicles to arrive, and for traffic lanes to be reopened. For example, on the upper deck of the Lantau Link, the operator's staff must arrive at the scene within five minutes of being notified of an incident. The TD has been closely monitoring the operator's service performance, including reviewing the operator's reports, in particular the incident investigation reports, conducting on-site inspections in the control area, etc. The TD is now reviewing the current accident handling procedures and their effectiveness, with a view to continuously improving road safety and overall operational efficiency on the Tsing Ma Bridge.
(3) The Highways Department (HyD) is currently carrying out investigation study for the Tsing Yi-Lantau Link project. The proposed Tsing Yi-Lantau Link is a major road connecting North Lantau, the proposed Route 11 (section between Yuen Long and North Lantau) and Tsing Yi. Its primary purpose is to cater for the traffic demand arising from the progressive developments in the Northern Metropolis. The current design alignment of the Tsing Yi-Lantau Link will not connect to Ma Wan. The Government will constantly review the cost-effectiveness of the project and implement relevant project in a timely and orderly manner according to the priority and urgency of the project.
(4) The investigation study for the Route 11 (section between Yuen Long and North Lantau) project has been largely completed. The HyD had also gazetted the project in accordance with the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance (Cap. 370), and the relevant works project had been authorised. Upon the full commissioning of the proposed Route 11 together with the Tsing Yi-Lantau Link, it will effectively divert traffic from surrounding roads (including the Tsing Ma Bridge). Among these, Route 11 is planned to be implemented in phases. Study is currently underway to prioritise the construction of the Tsing Lung Bridge at the southern end to divert traffic from the existing major roads (including Tuen Mun Road (Sham Tseng Section) and Ting Kau Bridge), thereby alleviating traffic congestion and strengthening the connectivity between the Northern Metropolis and the urban area.
Ends/Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:30
Issued at HKT 11:30
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