Traffic in Tseung Kwan O to worsen on Sunday after opening of 2 new road links, Hong Kong’s transport chief warns

Hong Kong’s transport chief has warned that traffic in Tseung Kwan O is likely to temporarily worsen on Sunday following the opening of two long-awaited road links set to attract more vehicles to the area.

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung on Saturday said motorists needed time to become familiar with the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel and the connecting Cross Bay Link, set to begin toll-free services at 8am on Sunday. The two routes are expected to relieve traffic in the long run by up to 40 per cent at the highly congested Tseung Kwan O Tunnel in eastern Hong Kong.

“Although my colleagues and I are confident that [the two road links] can improve the district’s traffic in the long run, based on past experience they will attract a lot of motorists wanting to explore the new routes there,” he wrote on his blog.

“As motorists also need to take time to get familiar with the new routes, we expect that there will be traffic congestion in the district even though the road links open on Sunday.”

The new tunnel and its connecting bridge, which respectively cost HK$15 billion (US$1.91 billion) and HK$5.6 billion to build, link Lohas Park and the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate to the Eastern Harbour Tunnel and the commercial hub of Kwun Tong. The initial planned opening for the links in 2021 was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking at an officiating ceremony for the infrastructure projects on Saturday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the road links would shorten the commuting time between Lohas Park and Kwun Tong town centre by about 20 minutes during rush hour.

“The new road links provide convenience for residents which can save time and costs … Those living in Tseung Kwan O may have more time to spend with their families as they can now afford to go out a bit later for work and get home earlier,” he said.