More study urged on landing route for bridge
Some members of the Town Planning Board yesterday asked officials to further study the cheapest of four proposed landing routes for the bridge to link Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau.
The landing route will connect the bridge to the North Lantau Highway. The least expensive of the options is also the shortest, costing $4 billion. But its main drawback is that it will be very close to the Tung Chung town centre and potentially cause noise and air pollution. Tung Chung was hit by Hong Kong's worst air pollution levels on record in September last year, when the index reached 201.
'More research should be done on this option since it is the most efficient, and we must see whether residents can accept it,' said board member Tony Kan Chung-nin.
The Islands District Council had ruled out the option because of its proximity to residents, said Andy Lo Kwong-shing, a council member: 'This option is quite cheap and easy to maintain but the problem it that it passes through the town centre.'
Mr Lo said the council would further consult residents on the four options.
The other proposed routes include a bridge north of Tung Chung and bridge-and-tunnel routes that either go around Tung Chung or through it. Costs vary from $4 billion to $10 billion.
The district council and Town Planning Board can provide advice only on the option chosen by the government, which makes the final decision.
Between 9,000 and 15,000 vehicles were expected to cross the bridge each day when it opened, said Lam Chiu-hung, the project manager in Hong Kong. That number would climb to 26,000 to 48,000 a day by 2030. Its projected opening date is 2010.
