Harbor tunnel crossing set to enter new era

New toll charges will come into effect at midnight tomorrow at the three cross-harbor tunnels after the government recovers the Western Harbour Crossing following the expiry of the tunnel's 30-year franchise.

The HKeToll auto toll system will also launch at the Western Harbour Crossing from 5 am this Sunday.

Temporary transport arrangements will be in place from 10pm on Saturday to facilitate the transition. The whole Western tunnel will be blocked for an hour at 4am - before the system starts at 5am.

Starting midnight tomorrow, vehicle tolls will rise to HK$30 from HK$20 at the Hung Hom tunnel and from HK$25 at Eastern. A HK$25 standard toll for taxis will be introduced at all three tunnels whereas tolls for other vehicle types will remain unchanged.

The Western and Eastern crossings will be closed at the stroke of midnight tomorrow for five minutes to facilitate the renewal of toll collection facilities.

Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics Edward Mak Chun-yu yesterday said the Highways Department has inspected the tunnel's condition and the Transport Department has commenced tenders for new operators.

Mak said 90 percent of current workers at WHC will be rehired.

Commissioner for Transport Law Shuk-pui said the new "6-3-3" toll plan is a transitional arrangement to attract drivers to the less congested WHC during peak hours, adding that only differential fares planned for year end will help divert traffic flows across the three tunnels.

She reminded drivers to prepare cash when using the WHC this week.

Under the temporary arrangements from 10 pm Saturday, the speed limit on West Kowloon Highway towards Hong Kong Island will be reduced to 70 kilometers per hour starting from Hoi Ying Estate in Cheung Sha Wan and to 50 km/h near Olympian City 1 in Tai Kok Tsui and beyond.

The temporary speed limits were meant to make it safe for workers to conduct related works at the tunnel.

"The maximum speed limit on the West Kowloon Highway connecting the WHC is 100 km/h," she said.

"I call on drivers to pay extra attention to the speed limit signs on the night of August 6, and should not drive above the speed limits. We may monitor car speed if needed."

During the one-hour closure of WHC, two overnight franchised bus routes - N962 and N969 - will be diverted to use the Hung Hom tunnel.

Bus stops of the two routes at WHC toll plaza will be temporarily suspended and temporary bus stops will be added at the Cross Harbor Tunnel Toll Plaza and Jordan Road near Austin MTR Station.

The number of lanes on the Kowloon side will also be reduced from 10 to five; also, there will be only four lanes on the Hong Kong Island side, from 11 currently.

E-Toll sensors will be set up at portal frames near the tunnel to detect vehicle tags and text messages will be sent to drivers to inform that they have been charged.

The Eastern crossing will have HKeToll implemented at 5am on August 27.

Details of the temporary traffic and transport arrangements at EHC and one-off special refund arrangement for prepaid toll tickets will be announced separately, the Transport Department said.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com