ExplainerHow can drivers avoid new peak prices at Hong Kong’s cross-harbour tunnel tolls? Plan to ease congestion brings time-adjusted fees, peak-hour price hikes
- City’s three cross-harbour tunnels set to revamp toll pricing from August 2 as part of government’s effort to fix troublesome traffic congestion
- Time-adjusted tolls, where charges increase or decrease by HK$2 every two minutes, introduced to lessen difference between peak-hour and regular time periods
Hong Kong will narrow the difference in charges for the city’s three cross-harbour tunnels from August 2 in a bid to address long-standing traffic congestion issues.
Authorities have also announced they will raise prices later this year to discourage drivers from using the tunnels during peak hours.
The Post takes a closer look at the impact on motorists and the best strategies for crossing the harbour under the new arrangements.
1. What are the proposed changes?
The first phase of the two-stage arrangement to ease congestion will cut tolls for private cars using the Western Harbour Tunnel from HK$75 (US$9.6) to HK$60, while charges for the Eastern Harbour Tunnel and Cross-Harbour Tunnel will increase to HK$30 from HK$20 and HK$25 respectively.
The changes will come into effect on August 2 after the western crossing’s franchise agreement expires and the government takes over the tunnel’s operation.
Taxis will be charged a standardised fee of HK$25 at all three crossings.
The authorities will implement time-adjusted tolls at the tunnels by the end of the year as part of the plan’s second phase.