Western Harbour tunnel ahead of schedule

THE Western Harbour Tunnel is set to open three to four months earlier than planned, says Gerald Higginson, chairman of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel Company.

Speaking at the group's annual general meeting yesterday, Mr Higginson said an investigation was under way into advancing the opening date of the tunnel, in which the group has a 37 per cent stake.

'The Western Harbour tunnel is very much on progress. It is within time, on budget and up to quality,' he said.

'It is about 46 per cent complete. We are examining whether it is feasible to advance the opening date by three of four months.

'We would be looking to open it about April 1997.' Mr Higginson said it was not just the feasibility of the tunnel that had to be examined, but whether everything else would be ready, including the road systems in West Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

The Western Harbour Tunnel will link Kowloon and Hong Kong Island to the new airport at Chek Lap Kok. It was originally scheduled to open on June 30, 1997, at a budget of $7,534 million.

Mr Higginson also talked of plans to expand the operations of the Hong Kong School of Motoring.