The drive across Hong Kong’s Kowloon peninsula is no longer the frustrating journey it once was. It has been more than a week since the Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass opened, slashing the half-hour travel time between West and East Kowloon to just
five minutes at peak hours.
Transport Secretary Mable Chan
said there was a “marked improvement” and “remarkably smooth” conditions at the notoriously congested Gascoigne Road Flyover on the first business day of operations. Handling eight bus routes, including three new ones, the new 4.7km (2.9mile) two-way transport corridor was made possible by a massive project integrating a range of engineering techniques including flyovers, deep-sea works and complex tunnel blasting.
There have been growing pains, including at least
one minor crash and reports of vehicles heading the wrong way or cutting across double white lines. Markings have been quickly added inside bypass tunnels, however, and the problems have not appeared to be overwhelming.
As drivers adapt and respond to improved signage and enforcement, the focus should quickly shift to the convenience of the new corridor and how it will be an economic asset. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po called the artery a
turning point for the city’s east-west connectivity. He rightly pointed out that an infrastructure-led approach has helped Hong Kong’s public transport system earn a top ranking globally in Time Out magazine.
He also noted that transport infrastructure between Hong Kong and neighbouring cities in the Greater Bay Area must advance along with growing competitiveness and integration with national development. The bay area is Beijing’s plan to link Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in neighbouring Guangdong province into an economic and business powerhouse.
The finance chief said planners will remain focused on infrastructure-led and capacity-creating principles for transport networks. The city has also been promised a Transport Strategy Blueprint, to be released soon with details about the application of technology and artificial intelligence. Promoting autonomous vehicles, implementing smart highway management, improving public transport efficiency and boosting Greater Bay Area transport links are all on the agenda.
