Hong Kong to implement fresh time-varying toll plans at 3 cross-harbour tunnels in December in bid to reduce traffic jams during peak hours
- New charges are set to kick in on December 10 at 5am to ease congestion
- Traffic at three cross-harbour tunnels is expected to drop by at least 5 per cent, Transport Department spokesman says
Hong Kong will introduce time-varying tolls at the city’s three cross-harbour tunnels in December with the overall traffic expected to be cut by at least 5 per cent.
The Transport Department said on Wednesday that starting on December 10 at 5am, tolls at the city’s three harbour crossings would vary depending on the time of day as part of the government’s move to streamline tunnel traffic during peak hours.
The time-adjusted tolls will serve as the second stage of revamped fees at the three crossings after the government narrowed their charge difference from August 2 in a bid to address long-standing traffic congestion issues.
“Following the resumption of normality, overall cross-harbour traffic has resumed to the pre-pandemic level, and there may be a growing trend of the traffic volume with further resumption of social and economic activities,” a department spokesman said.
“We, therefore, see a cogent need to implement time-varying tolls at the three cross-harbour tunnels to streamline the traffic and discourage drivers from using the tunnels during peak hours.”
The spokesman added the vehicle flow at the Western crossing increased by 13 per cent and dropped by 5 per cent at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel following the first stage.
In August, the toll for private cars was adjusted to HK$60 at the Western Harbour Tunnel and HK$30 at the Eastern Harbour Tunnel and Cross-Harbour Tunnel.