Have new tolls got Hong Kong out of a jam? Traffic congestion at busiest harbour tunnel cut by 1km, more vehicles opt for Western crossing
- Between December 18 and 21, the average daily traffic volume at the Western Harbour Tunnel jumped 15 per cent to 102,100 vehicles
- Cross-Harbour Tunnel is no longer congested even during peak hours but further analysis is needed to determine if traffic diversion is success, lawmaker says
Traffic jams at Hong Kong’s busiest harbour crossing were cut by 1km (0.62 miles) and more vehicles used a pricier tunnel during the first four days of new toll arrangements, the Post has learned.
The Transport Department said traffic teething troubles after time-varying toll arrangements were implemented at the city’s three cross-harbour tunnels on December 17 had shown signs of easing.
“With traffic redistribution and suppression, the traffic queues during peak periods at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Tunnel were reduced by more than 1km and 0.5km respectively, while that at the Western Harbour Tunnel largely remained the same,” a spokesman said.
The department said that based on data on the first four days of the new tolls, more vehicles opted for the more expensive Western crossing, while fewer cars used the busiest Cross-Harbour Tunnel and the Eastern one.
Between December 18 and 21, the average daily traffic volume at the Western crossing jumped 15 per cent to 102,100 vehicles from 88,900 earlier in the month.