Advice to motorists on first day of EHC toll increase

The Transport Department (TD) today (April 30) reminded the public to pay heed of traffic conditions of Cross Harbour Tunnel (CHT), Western Harbour Crossing (WHC) and roads around on May 1 when the Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) toll starts to increase.

As the first two days (May 1 and 2) after the toll rise is a Sunday and a public holiday, TD estimated that the peak hours of CHT would be different from that on weekdays. Hence, traffic situations from 10am to midnight are estimated to be congested. Motorists are advised to be patient when waiting in the queue to cross the harbour.

A TD spokesman said TD would activate the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre in the first week of May to closely monitor the situation and maintain close communication with other relevant parties, including management companies of the tunnels, franchised bus operators and the police, so as to make appropriate reactions promptly.

TD and the Police will put additional staff at major road junctions, especially junctions of traffic lights to monitor traffic flow. Using closed circuit TVs equipped at these junctions, they will adjust the duration of traffic lights to enhance traffic flow. The Government would also issue frequent traffic messages to the public via radio stations, TV broadcast and the Internet. The public, especially students, are advised to start their trips earlier.

"The three franchised bus companies would maintain close liaison with TD to redeploy their buses when needed and send additional staff on roads to monitor its fleet. The mass transit railways would also increase frequencies of their trains when required. Unnecessary road works will be suspended while electronic real-time boards would be used to remind drivers of the road situation so that they could consider alternate routes," The spokesman said.

He also advised the public to plan their travel routes well in advance and start the trips earlier if they are going to use WHC or CHT and roads around.

Starting from May 1, the public can also call the Hotline at 1823 to get the most updated cross-harbour traffic information.

TD also reminded taxi passengers traveling via EHC to pay the new tunnel surcharge with affect from May 1. The new EHC tunnel surcharge is $40 (including $15 EHC return toll surcharge); or $25 if their hiring begins from a cross-harbour taxi stand.

"At the same time, taxi drivers are also reminded to adhere to the new tunnel surcharge for passengers traveling via EHC after the hiring," he said.

Ends/Saturday, April 30, 2005