Cross-Harbour Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Cross-Harbour Tunnel (abbreviated CHT or XHT) is the first tunnel
in Hong Kong
built underwater. It has become one of the most congested roads (mainly towards the Hong Kong Island
direction) in Hong Kong and the world. The tunnel was constructed using the Immersed tube
method.
.
The tunnel links the main financial and commercial districts on both sides of Victoria Harbour
, connecting Kellett Island
(a former island now connected to Hong Kong Island
by reclamation
), with a reclaimed site at Hung Hom Bay, Kowloon
. The toll plaza is located at the Hung Hom
end of the tunnel, and has 14 toll booths.
It was administered by The Cross-Harbour Tunnel Company Ltd until August 1999, when the operation franchise agreement expired and the government assumed control.
Although other road tunnels, the Eastern Harbour Crossing
and Western Harbour Crossing
, have been built across the Victoria Harbour to divert traffic from the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, traffic congestion has not improved. Two reasons include the less convenient locations of the other two tunnels compared with the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, and more importantly the control of new tunnels by the powerful state-owned investment group
CITIC Pacific
. The tolls for crossing each of the other two tunnels are significantly higher, and were further increased in 2005 by up to 67% to boost investment returns.
Another possible reason for added traffic is induced demand
, a theory in transportation planning which posits that the more roads that are created, the more people will choose to commute by car. In this case, by adding additional tunnels, it may have encouraged more people to drive overall, because of a perception that there is increased road capacity.
The Government of Hong Kong
claimed it was powerless to prevent the sharp increase in tolls, and is currently looking at other options to relieve the traffic, including a plan to build a fourth harbour crossing tunnel
. This may increase road capacity for the short run, but may actually increase road traffic in the future.
The Government states public buses (which are usually 90% full) cause congestion, it does not give buses priority access to the tunnel south bound and strongly encourages taking the MTR
West Rail Line and then switching to Tsuen Wan Line at East Tsim Sha Tsui Station.
In late October 2010, a consultant hired by the Government
finished a study to find out possible ways to ease the congestion on the Tunnel. In the study, they suggested that the Cross Harbor tunnel toll be raised by HKD 5 and the Eastern Harbour Crossing
toll be reduced by HKD 5. This could halve the amount of traffic on the Cross Harbor tunnel. However, the Eastern Harbour Crossing
is owned by a private company, therefore, the Government of Hong Kong
cannot control the tolls there. The only way they can do this is by buying back the tunnel from the company, but that is unlikely until the franchise ends in 2016. So the Government plans to pay the tunnel operator the difference if the toll is reduced. Many people have suggested that the traffic be diverted equally among the three tunnels. But if all the tunnels were HKD 25, a massive traffic jam would be created at the Western Harbour Crossing
because the exit on the Hong Kong Island
side to Route 4 (Hong Kong)
towards Central is already under heavy congestion during rush hour. This problem will persist until the Central-Wan Chai Bypass
is completed. However one local who lives in the western part of Hong Kong Island wrote to the South China Morning Post
saying that the whole reason why the Route 4 (Hong Kong)
towards Central has traffic problems is because drivers from the residential areas from western Hong Kong are driving round the Western Harbour Crossing
and onto Route 4, causing the traffic problem. If the toll was reduced he says, it will not only ease congestion on the Cross Harbour Tunnel but also on the Route 4.
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
built underwater. It has become one of the most congested roads (mainly towards the Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
direction) in Hong Kong and the world. The tunnel was constructed using the Immersed tube
Immersed tube
An immersed tube is a kind of underwater tunnel composed of segments, constructed elsewhere and floated to the tunnel site to be sunk into place and then linked together. They are commonly used for road and rail crossings of rivers, estuaries and sea channels/harbours...
method.
History
Constructed by a private company and operated under a 30-year franchise, the 1.8 km-long tunnel crossing opened in 1972, providing the first road link between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Prior to the opening of the tunnel, cross-harbour vehicular traffic depended on ferries and for passengers, the Star FerryStar Ferry
The Star Ferry, or The "Star" Ferry Company, is a passenger ferry service operator in Hong Kong. Its principal routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon...
.
The tunnel links the main financial and commercial districts on both sides of Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent...
, connecting Kellett Island
Kellett Island
Kellett Island is a former island off East Point in Hong Kong. It is now connected to Hong Kong Island at Causeway Bay following land reclamation in 1969....
(a former island now connected to Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
by reclamation
Land reclamation in Hong Kong
Land is in short supply in Hong Kong, and land reclamation has been conducted there since the mid-19th century.-Projects:One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50 to of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction...
), with a reclaimed site at Hung Hom Bay, Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
. The toll plaza is located at the Hung Hom
Hung Hom
Hung Hom is an area of Kowloon, in Hong Kong, administratively part of the Kowloon City District, with a portion west of the railway in the Yau Tsim Mong District. Hung Hom serves mainly residential purposes though is mixed with some industrial buildings in the north.-Geography:Hung Hom is located...
end of the tunnel, and has 14 toll booths.
It was administered by The Cross-Harbour Tunnel Company Ltd until August 1999, when the operation franchise agreement expired and the government assumed control.
Congestion Problems
Eastern Harbour Crossing
The Eastern Harbour Crossing, abbreviated as "EHC" , is a tunnel in Hong Kong. It is a combined road and MTR rail link under Victoria Harbour between Quarry Bay in Hong Kong Island and Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon.- History :...
and Western Harbour Crossing
Western Harbour Crossing
The Western Harbour Crossing is a dual 3-lane immersed tube tunnel in Hong Kong. It is the third tunnel to cross Victoria Harbour, linking the newly reclaimed land in West Kowloon with Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island...
, have been built across the Victoria Harbour to divert traffic from the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, traffic congestion has not improved. Two reasons include the less convenient locations of the other two tunnels compared with the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, and more importantly the control of new tunnels by the powerful state-owned investment group
Government-owned corporation
A government-owned corporation, state-owned company, state-owned entity, state enterprise, publicly owned corporation, government business enterprise, or parastatal is a legal entity created by a government to undertake commercial activities on behalf of an owner government...
CITIC Pacific
CITIC Pacific
CITIC Pacific is a Hong Kong-based conglomerate holding company headquartered in the CITIC Tower, Admiralty, Hong Kong. It is 58% owned by the state-owned Citic Group in Beijing and has shareholders around the world.-Business areas:...
. The tolls for crossing each of the other two tunnels are significantly higher, and were further increased in 2005 by up to 67% to boost investment returns.
Another possible reason for added traffic is induced demand
Induced demand
Induced demand, or latent demand, is the phenomenon that after supply increases, more of a good is consumed. This is entirely consistent with the economic theory of supply and demand; however, this idea has become important in the debate over the expansion of transportation systems, and is often...
, a theory in transportation planning which posits that the more roads that are created, the more people will choose to commute by car. In this case, by adding additional tunnels, it may have encouraged more people to drive overall, because of a perception that there is increased road capacity.
The Government of Hong Kong
Government of Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
claimed it was powerless to prevent the sharp increase in tolls, and is currently looking at other options to relieve the traffic, including a plan to build a fourth harbour crossing tunnel
Fourth harbour crossing of Hong Kong
The fourth harbour crossing is being proposed in Hong Kong as the fourth underwater tunnel to cross the Victoria Harbour to ease the traffic through the Cross-Harbour Tunnel...
. This may increase road capacity for the short run, but may actually increase road traffic in the future.
The Government states public buses (which are usually 90% full) cause congestion, it does not give buses priority access to the tunnel south bound and strongly encourages taking the MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
West Rail Line and then switching to Tsuen Wan Line at East Tsim Sha Tsui Station.
In late October 2010, a consultant hired by the Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
finished a study to find out possible ways to ease the congestion on the Tunnel. In the study, they suggested that the Cross Harbor tunnel toll be raised by HKD 5 and the Eastern Harbour Crossing
Eastern Harbour Crossing
The Eastern Harbour Crossing, abbreviated as "EHC" , is a tunnel in Hong Kong. It is a combined road and MTR rail link under Victoria Harbour between Quarry Bay in Hong Kong Island and Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon.- History :...
toll be reduced by HKD 5. This could halve the amount of traffic on the Cross Harbor tunnel. However, the Eastern Harbour Crossing
Eastern Harbour Crossing
The Eastern Harbour Crossing, abbreviated as "EHC" , is a tunnel in Hong Kong. It is a combined road and MTR rail link under Victoria Harbour between Quarry Bay in Hong Kong Island and Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon.- History :...
is owned by a private company, therefore, the Government of Hong Kong
Government of Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
cannot control the tolls there. The only way they can do this is by buying back the tunnel from the company, but that is unlikely until the franchise ends in 2016. So the Government plans to pay the tunnel operator the difference if the toll is reduced. Many people have suggested that the traffic be diverted equally among the three tunnels. But if all the tunnels were HKD 25, a massive traffic jam would be created at the Western Harbour Crossing
Western Harbour Crossing
The Western Harbour Crossing is a dual 3-lane immersed tube tunnel in Hong Kong. It is the third tunnel to cross Victoria Harbour, linking the newly reclaimed land in West Kowloon with Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island...
because the exit on the Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
side to Route 4 (Hong Kong)
Route 4 (Hong Kong)
Route 4 is an east-west road artery along the north shore of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Formerly divided into routes 7 and 8, Route 4 consists of two sections:...
towards Central is already under heavy congestion during rush hour. This problem will persist until the Central-Wan Chai Bypass
Central-Wan Chai Bypass
The Central-Wan Chai Bypass is a proposed 4 km trunk road running between Central and Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. The original design consists of a 2.3 km dual 3-lane tunnel running under new reclamation areas which will be provided by Central and Wan Chai Reclamation project, and also...
is completed. However one local who lives in the western part of Hong Kong Island wrote to the South China Morning Post
South China Morning Post
The South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
saying that the whole reason why the Route 4 (Hong Kong)
Route 4 (Hong Kong)
Route 4 is an east-west road artery along the north shore of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Formerly divided into routes 7 and 8, Route 4 consists of two sections:...
towards Central has traffic problems is because drivers from the residential areas from western Hong Kong are driving round the Western Harbour Crossing
Western Harbour Crossing
The Western Harbour Crossing is a dual 3-lane immersed tube tunnel in Hong Kong. It is the third tunnel to cross Victoria Harbour, linking the newly reclaimed land in West Kowloon with Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island...
and onto Route 4, causing the traffic problem. If the toll was reduced he says, it will not only ease congestion on the Cross Harbour Tunnel but also on the Route 4.
Transport
Bus routes that pass through the tunnel:- Kowloon Motor BusKowloon Motor BusThe Kowloon Motor Bus Company Limited , a company of the Transport International Holdings Limited, is the largest franchised bus operators in Hong Kong, and one of the largest privately owned public bus operators in the world...
/New World First BusNew World First BusNew World First Bus Services Limited , abbreviated as First Bus and "NWFB", is the third largest public bus operator in Hong Kong.NWFB was established in 1998, taking over China Motor Bus's franchise on 1 September 1998 to provide bus services on Hong Kong Island together with Citybus...
: 101, 101R, 102R, 104, 106, 106P, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 115P, 116, 301, 305 - Kowloon Motor Bus/CitybusCitybus (Hong Kong)Citybus Limited is one of the three major bus operators in Hong Kong. It provides both franchised and non-franchised bus service. The franchised route network serves mainly Hong Kong Island, cross-harbour routes , Ocean Park, North Lantau and Hong Kong International Airport...
: 102, 102P, 103, 107, 107P, 117, 118, 118P, 170, 171, 171P, 182, 182P, 807 - Kowloon Motor Bus: 108, 336
- Overnights: N11, N118, N121, N122, N170, N171, N182, N368