Hong Kong’s long-awaited Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass opened on Sunday, with eight bus routes – including three new ones – to begin operating on Monday, cutting peak-hour travel time between West and East Kowloon from 30 minutes to just five.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan hailed the project as a triumph of engineering and a testament to the “Hong Kong Spirit”, despite the immense complexity of the construction process.
She emphasised that the city must continue to push forward with its recovery and economic development, particularly in the wake of the tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po that killed at least 161 people.
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“Our society has recently been deeply pained by the tragic fire, and our hearts are heavy, but as we move through the process of recovery and return to normalcy, the development of our society and economy must not come to a standstill, especially regarding infrastructure,” Chan said.
“We must ensure it leads the way to drive our community’s lifeblood and keep it flowing smoothly.”
The new 4.7 km (3 miles) transport corridor, which includes a 3.9 km, three-lane, two-way tunnel linking the Kai Tak Development Area and Kowloon Bay with Yau Ma Tei, represents one of the most technically demanding infrastructure projects in the city’s history, Chan said.
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