Section of Tsing Sha Highway to open on Friday

The section of Tsing Sha Highway between Sha Tin and Cheung Sha Wan will open at 7am on Friday (March 21).

    "Upon the commissioning of this section of Tsing Sha Highway, it will only take about five minutes to travel along Sha Tin Heights Tunnel, Eagle's Nest Tunnel and Lai Chi Kok Viaduct to and from Sha Tin and West Kowloon," a spokesman for the Transport Department said today (March 18).

    "The toll charge for all vehicles using the tunnels along the Tsing Sha Highway is $8.  It is anticipated that there will be a diversion effect to ease the increasing traffic flow in the Lion Rock, Tate's Cairn and Shing Mun Tunnels as well as along Tai Po Road.

    "The highway will also bring a more effective and efficient way to travel between Sha Tin and container terminals, as well as various districts in Kowloon.  It is estimated that the travelling time from Sha Tin to Kwai Chung Container Port via Tsing Sha Highway will save about 15 minutes when compared to using Shing Mun Tunnel; a trip to West Kowloon (Lai Chi Kok, Cheung Sha Wan and Sham Shui Po) will save about five minutes compared to Lion Rock Tunnel; a trip to Yau Tsim Mong area will save about 15 minutes compared to Lion Rock Tunnel," the spokesman said.

    This section of Tsing Sha Highway connecting Sha Tin and Cheung Sha Wan is 5.9 kilometres long and is part of Route 8, which is a strategic road linking Sha Tin and North Lantau.  The section linking Tsing Yi and North Lantau came into operation in 1997.  The section of Tsing Sha Highway between Cheung Sha Wan and Tsing Yi is now under construction.

    The highway is designated a control area to ensure safe and efficient traffic operation.  Motorists should comply with the rules and regulations made under the Tsing Sha Control Area Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation.  New Territories taxis and red minibuses are not permitted to operate in the Tsing Sha Control Area.

    Copies of the leaflet "Driving along the Tsing Sha Highway" have been distributed at the toll plaza of Lion Rock Tunnel and Shing Mun Tunnel, Transport Department's Licensing Offices and some government carparks to give motorists more information.

    People can also call 2804 2600 (answered by staff of 1823 Government hotline) for further enquiries.  More detailed routing information are available at Transport Department's website (http://www.td.gov.hk/transport_in_hong_kong/index.htm).

Ends/Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:05