The Transport Department (TD) announced today (May 25) that temporary special traffic arrangements will be implemented during the initial period upon the commissioning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) to ensure smooth traffic at the HZMB Hong Kong Port, Hong Kong International Airport and Tung Chung to assist members of the public to go to those areas.
According to the road network design of the HZMB Hong Kong Port, vehicles can arrive at the Hong Kong Port via the Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL) or the newly built and existing roads (including the North Lantau Highway) on the Airport Island (see Annex). Since the Southern Connection of the TM-CLKL will not be commissioned during the initial period upon the commissioning of the HZMB, cross-boundary or local vehicles travelling between the Hong Kong Port and the urban area will be required to go through the roads on the Airport Island. At present, the Highways Department is striving for early completion of the mainline of the Southern Connection of the TM-CLKL, i.e. the section connecting the North Lantau Highway (urban bound). The mainline is expected to be completed this year. Travelling time for vehicles going to the HZMB Hong Kong Port can then be shortened as vehicles will be no longer required to go through the roads on the Airport Island.
To strengthen the preparedness for the increased traffic flow during the initial period upon the commissioning of the HZMB and to take precautionary measures to minimise the impact of traffic incidents on the relevant roads, after consulting parties such as the relevant government departments and the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the following temporary special traffic arrangements will be implemented to allow some of the cross-boundary and local vehicles to use individual connecting roads in an orderly manner:
(1) The Closed Road Permit will be issued in phases to quota applicants of Hong Kong dual-plate cross-boundary private cars using the HZMB. Specifically, the TD will issue no more than 5 000 permits before the commissioning of the HZMB, no more than a further 3 000 permits three months after the commissioning, and the remaining permits after the commissioning of the mainline of the Southern Connection of the TM-CLKL, progressively increasing the number of cross-boundary private cars using the connecting roads.
Starting from May 28, the TD will only accept quota applicants to submit permit applications by post or drop-in box. Quota holders of HZMB cross-boundary private cars who have not submitted applications should submit the application form together with the relevant supporting documents (except for the original copy of the electronic Mainland Approval Notice, applicants need only submit the photocopies of both sides of the electronic approval notice card) by post or drop-in box;
(2) Dual-plate cross-boundary private cars under respective quotas for using other crossings (i.e. Shenzhen Bay, Lok Ma Chau (Huanggang), Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok) will be allowed to use the HZMB without the need to go through additional procedures on a trial basis only after the commissioning of the mainline of the South Connection of the TM- CLKL;
(3) Some of the construction vehicles going to the Hong Kong Port and Hong Kong International Airport for major works projects are restricted to use the connecting roads in the vicinity of the airport and Lantau Island during the non-peak hours only;
(4) If necessary, franchised buses travelling to and from the Hong Kong Port will be re-routed to use the connecting roads with lower traffic projections; and
(5) Traffic management measures will be taken proactively with the Police for traffic diversion and control.
The implementation of the above temporary special traffic arrangements aims to ensure smooth traffic at the HZMB during the initial period upon its commissioning. The impact of such arrangements is expected to be minimal and temporary.
Upon the completion of the mainline of the Southern Connection of the TM-CLKL, the TD will adjust the aforesaid special traffic arrangements subject to the actual traffic situation and make announcements immediately. Commuters travelling to the Hong Kong Port are also advised to use public transport services as far as possible.
After the completion of the remaining works of the TM-CLKL, the TD will gradually increase the number of Hong Kong cross-boundary vehicles having regard to the capacity of the Hong Kong Port and the connecting road network to better utilise the HZMB and tie in with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, with a view to maximising the social, economic and traffic benefits of the HZMB.
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