New toll system, cheaper fees in place as Hong Kong’s Tai Lam Tunnel handed over
Government takes control of 3.8km tunnel after consortium’s 30-year franchise ends
Hong Kong authorities have taken control of the Tai Lam Tunnel after a 30-year franchise ended, with an electronic toll payment system and cheaper fees implemented in the early hours of Saturday.
The Transport Department announced that the government had taken over the tunnel at midnight and conducted works to implement the HKeToll system.
Authorities temporarily closed some traffic lanes in the toll plaza and roads to the 3.8km (2.4 miles) tunnel, which links Pat Heung and Ting Kau in the New Territories, in phases between 1am and 3am.
The tunnel was then closed for two hours as the Highways Department changed road markings, adjusted traffic lanes, replaced signs and covered the toll booths.
It reopened at 5am with the HKeToll system in operation.
It was the last franchised tunnel in the city to be taken over by the government.
Commissioner for Transport Angela Lee Chung-yan visited the tunnel’s administrative building early on Saturday to hear reports about the transition and preparation works.