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Lo Hoi-ying

Lam Ka-sing

The Tai Lam Tunnel in Hong Kong’s New Territories recorded a 10 per cent increase in traffic on Monday morning, after authorities took control and introduced cheaper fees over the weekend.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Monday the government would also review pricing at the Aberdeen Tunnel and Shing Mun Tunnel with the citywide implementation of the e-toll payment system.
The government took control of the Tai Lam Tunnel, which connects Yuen Long with western Tsuen Wan, in the early hours of Saturday after a 30-year franchise ended.
Chan said traffic had increased by 10 per cent between midnight and 6am on Monday as she inspected the situation at the site in the morning.
Monday marked the tunnel’s first working day after the government took over operations.
She also revealed that the traffic flow on Sunday had increased by 40 per cent compared with previous Sundays.
Chan attributed the increase in traffic to the “significant drop” in toll fees for private vehicles from HK$58 (US$7.40) to a fixed toll of HK$18 throughout the day on Sundays and general holidays.
“We hope to see more vehicles using the Tai Lam Tunnel to alleviate traffic congestion on Tuen Mun Road during peak hours,” she said. “We are aiming to divert about 5 per cent of traffic.”
The tunnel, which connects Pat Heung and Ting Kau in the New Territories, was the city’s last franchised tunnel.
It was also the last tunnel in Hong Kong to have manual toll collection before authorities demolished the toll plaza and modified lanes for smoother traffic flow.
The 3.8km-long (2.4 miles) tunnel has been run by a consortium since 1995 under a build-operate-transfer model, with the franchise for its operation expiring at the end of May.
Under the government’s control, a new fee structure was introduced on Saturday that substantially reduced the tolls, allowing drivers of private cars to save as much as HK$40.
Private cars passing through the tunnel will pay between HK$18 and HK$45, depending on the time of day, with the maximum amount being charged during peak hours. The original toll was fixed at HK$58.

Taxis will be charged a fixed toll of HK$28, while other commercial vehicles will pay HK$43. The original fee ranged from HK$58 to HK$213, depending on the type of vehicle.
With transport authorities completing their roll-out of the HKeToll system across all tunnels in the city, Chan said the toll policy would be “comprehensively reviewed” in the future.
“For example, the Aberdeen Tunnel and Shing Mun Tunnels, which have not increased their tolls for many years, will be considered for adjustments first,” she said.
The former connects Happy Valley with Wong Chuk Hang, while the latter links Tsuen Wan with Sha Tin.
“We will also review whether to charge tolls on new tunnels such as the Central Kowloon Route to manage traffic while recovering costs,” Chan said.
She added that transport authorities would report to the Legislative Council later this month.
Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, honorary life president of the Hong Kong, China Automobile Association, said he expected the new arrangement would prompt some drivers to opt for the Tai Lam Tunnel, given the previous HK$58 toll was “relatively expensive”.
He said that, in the past, “unless they didn’t mind the cost and were in a hurry, most people would use a free route, like Tuen Mun Road”.
He added that the extent of the tunnel’s usage had been considered low since its launch.
Lee added that the lower fuel cost of travelling to Kowloon using the tunnel instead of the road could help to offset the toll fees.
The tunnel was unlikely to experience traffic jams during peak hours due to the e-toll payment system, which could help to increase the route's capacity, he said.
Lee called on the Transport Department to review the adjustment in a year. If traffic flow had increased by more than 30 per cent, it was a sign that the current fee structure was appropriate.
If the growth rate remained at a low level of between 5 and 20 per cent, authorities should consider lowering the toll fees, he said, adding the government should also check the extent of any decrease in traffic on Tuen Mun Road as well.


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Hong Kong transport

Traffic at Hong Kong’s Tai Lam Tunnel up 10% on first working day under government

The government recently took over management of the Tai Lam Tunnel, which connects Yuen Long with western Tsuen Wan. Photo: Sun Yeung

Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan addresses the media after inspecting traffic conditions at the Tai Lam Tunnel on Monday. Photo: Sun Yeung

New toll system, cheaper fees in place as Hong Kong’s Tai Lam Tunnel handed over

A consortium had run the 3.8km tunnel since 1995, with the franchise expiring at the end of May. Photo: Eugene Lee

Commissioner for Transport Angela Lee (centre) visits the tunnel in the early hours. Photo: ISD

Hong Kong’s Tai Lam Tunnel to close for 2 hours on Saturday for HKeToll launch

The 3.8km-long tunnel has been run by a consortium since 1995 under a build-operate-transfer model, with the franchise for its operation expiring at the end of May. Photo: Eugene Lee

Drivers of private cars will save as much as HK$40 in toll fees under the changes. Photo: Eugene Lee

News

Hong Kong

Transport

City’s transport chief says authorities will also review pricing at Aberdeen and Shing Mun Tunnels amid roll-out of e-toll payment system


City’s transport chief says authorities will also review pricing at Aberdeen and Shing Mun Tunnels amid roll-out of e-toll payment system.
