Improved Tung Chung Road to fully open on February 6

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (January 14) that the section of Tung Chung Road between Lung Tseng Tau and Cheung Sha (near San Shek Wan) on Lantau Island would be fully open to traffic from February 6 after the completion of improvement works.

     Upon the opening of the new road section, the existing road section between Pak Kung Au and Cheung Sha will be closed.  All vehicles will be diverted to use the new road section between Pak Kung Au and San Shek Wan.  The speed limit on Tung Chung Road between Lung Tseng Tau and San Shek Wan will continue to be 30km per hour.

     "Due to the natural geographical situation, motorists driving on Tung Chung Road should still drive with extra care and pay attention to the road conditions and traffic signs along the road.  They should particularly observe the imposed speed limit, do not overtake on the road section with double white lines and always stay in low gear when driving downhill," said a spokesman for the department.

     The spokesman also reminded motorists that the section of Tung Chung Road between Shek Mun Kap and San Shek Wan would remain a Lantau Closed Road.  All vehicles without a "Lantau Closed Road Permit" are prohibited from entering this road section.  Moreover, this road section will continue to be designated as a daily prohibited zone for all goods vehicles with gross weight over 5.5 tonnes; and daily from 8am to 6pm for all vehicles, except franchised buses, Lantau taxis and those with a "Tung Chung Road Prohibition Zone Permit".

     The South Lantau residents and business operators who currently possess valid a "Lantau Closed Road Permit" issued by the TD can apply for one "Tung Chung Road Prohibited Zone Permit" for each residential or business address.  For those who have already submitted the application, a "Tung Chung Road Prohibited Zone Permit" will be sent to them progressively by registered mail two weeks in advance of the opening of the new road after the TD has considered their applications.

     The spokesman reminded tourism services operators that only a maximum of 30 coaches would be allowed to access Tung Chung Road daily.  The permits will be issued on first-come-first-served basis.

     Tourism services operators who intend to arrange tours to and from South Lantau via Tung Chung Road or other motorists who need to drive on Tung Chung Road on Lantau must possess the concerned permits issued by the TD.  Motorists will be prosecuted for entering Tung Chung Road if they do not have valid permits.

     Application forms for the "Lantau Closed Road Permit" and "Tung Chung Road Prohibited Zone Permit" can be downloaded at the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/public_forms/td_forms/permit/index.htm).  The application form for the tourism sector is TD348B; the form for other motorists is TD348.

     On public transport services, New Lantao Bus (NLB) Route 3M (Tung Chung - Mui Wo) will no longer operate along the section of South Lantau Road between Cheung Sha Bridge and San Shek Wan. Commuters can make use of the alternative service, NLB Route 11 (Tung Chung - Tai O), to travel to and from Tung Chung. NLB will display notices at the concerned bus stops and inside bus compartments to inform passengers of the arrangements.  Passengers may browse NLB's website (http://www.newlantaobus.com/) or call its hotline at 2984 9848 for more details.

     Also, private car and motorcycle parking spaces and a taxi stand will be provided at the southern side of San Shek Wan roundabout.

     For further information, please visit the TD's website (http://www.td.gov.hk/) or call 1823.

Ends/Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:36