An alternative road costing less than a fifth of the controversial multibillion-dollar Route 10 project in the New Territories has been proposed by a rival operator.
The proposal by the Route 3 (CPS) Company, which has been submitted to the Government, involves the construction of a dual-lane carriageway for $4 billion, compared to $22 billion for Route 10. It would link the planned cross-border bridge - the Shenzhen Western Corridor - with Route 3 via Yuen Long, running from Tin Shui Wai to Kam Tin.
The Finance Committee is scheduled to decide on March 8 whether to approve $133.7 million in design work for Route 10.
Route 3 (CPS) Company has been a major opponent of Route 10 because it runs almost parallel to the already under-used Route 3. The Government has said Route 10 will not be needed until 2011 but maintains design work has to start now.
'Just last week we were told of huge deficits for years to come. There is no reason why we should waste $22 billion to build an unneeded road,' the company's vice-chairman, Winston Chu Ka-sun, said.
Mr Chu said his company's proposed link road could be completed in 2005 - the same time as the Shenzhen Western Corridor.