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SCMP Reporter

I refer to J. Green's letter headlined, 'Reject a new Lantau road', which appeared in the South China Morning Post, on July 29.

 Tung Chung Road has only one lane but needs to cater for two-way traffic. It has sharp bends and steep gradients (1:10 to 1:5) for a total length of four kilometres.

 Since the opening of North Lantau Highway, the Hong Kong International Airport and completion of the first phase development in Tung Chung, the traffic demand between north and south Lantau has increased significantly and exacerbated the traffic situation on Tung Chung Road.

 The road is now assessed as having severe safety and capacity problems during most daytime hours, based on actual traffic and safety statistics.

 The Government conducted a study on Tung Chung Road widening in late 1996 with a view to improving this substandard road.

 However, the study concluded that upgrading of this road would not be feasible, because of the adjacent difficult terrain and the associated adverse impact on about 10 hectares of country park. Even if the road is widened into a two-lane carriageway, it will still be a substandard one with sharp bends and extremely steep gradients.

 In the light of the findings, we decided not to pursue plans for full-scale widening of the road and the Highways Department has conducted a study on the proposed Lantau North-South Road Link as an alternative to improve the linkage between north and south Lantau. As part of the study, an environmental impact assessment has been conducted for the identified options of road alignment covering the impact of ecology, air quality, noise, water quality, waste management, and so on.

 Since the proposed North-South Link will act as a replacement for Tung Chung Road, it will cater for the land transport demand of the whole of south Lantau, although its southern connection happens to be located in Mui Wo where the gateway town is.

 Mr Green noticed that we have carried out local improvements on Tung Chung Road including local widening and provision/extension of passing bays. However, these local improvements will only enhance road safety slightly, but cannot increase the throughput capacity of the road, which remains as a one-lane road for two-way traffic.

 On Mr Green's suggestion to make use of electronic light controls on Tung Chung Road, we consider that traffic light control will be far less efficient and flexible than the present give-way arrangement at passing bays. Also, traffic allowed to proceed in one direction when the green lights are on may be blocked by the traffic queue in the opposite direction on this single-lane road.

 Finally, Mr Green mentioned ferry connections between Mui Wo and the rest of the territories as an alternative to the proposed North-South Link. However, such ferry connections are not viable substitutes for the proposed road link, since they travel only between urban areas and Mui Wo instead of spatially addressing the travel demand between north and south Lantau. A Lantau north-south road link does address this demand.

 C. W. LI for Commissioner for Transport 



Road has severe safety and capacity problems