Toll-free tunnel between Tseung Kwan O to Lam Tin starts operating

A new tunnel linking Tseung Kwan O and Lam Tin, as well as a connecting bridge, opened to traffic on Sunday 8 am with no toll charged.

Commuters gathered at the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel and the Cross Bay Link early this morning to welcome its opening. 

Toll booths in the tunnel were closed with signs saying "no toll, keep going."

Lee, a taxi driver, was one of the first crowd travelling through the new tunnel. He said more passengers would be brought about after the opening.

"It is always inconvenient for me before to commute since the Tseung Kwan O Tunnel is often congested during rush hours," said a resident surnamed Leung who lives in Tseung Kwan O, "I hope the new tunnel could divert traffic."

"About 30 percent of the existing Tseung Kwan O Tunnel's traffic volume can now be diverted to the new tunnel," said Sai Kung district councilor Christine Fong Kwok-shan.

Joining the opening of the tunnel today morning, Fong said she had been engaged in the design of the cross-bay project as early as 2008, noting that residents had been "waiting for a long time."

"It's expected that commuters can save up to 20 minutes during peak hours when they travel between Lohas Park and Kwun Tong," said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu yesterday at the officiating ceremony of the tunnel project.

The Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin tunnel is a new trunk road linking Tseung Kwan O and the urban area, with a total length of about 3.8 kilometres, connecting the Cross Bay Link and Po Shun Road in the east, the Eastern Harbour Crossing, Cha Kwo Ling Road in Kwun Tong, and the Trunk Road T2 under construction in the west.

The Cross Bay Link is approximately 1.8km, linking the Tunnel and Wan Po Road adjacent to LOHAS Park.

Five new franchised bus routes will provide services from Monday (December 12) via the Tunnel in the morning and evening peak times from Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays), including KMB Route No. 96, No. 290E, No. 298X, and NWFB Route No. 790, No. 795.

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