Hong Kong’s Tai Lam Tunnel will be closed for two hours on Saturday when authorities install an electronic toll payment system, as the government resumes control of the major thoroughfare and introduces time-varying fees aimed at easing congestion.
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Patrick Ho Kwong-hang, a deputy commissioner for transport, on Wednesday praised the development.
“What does the end of the franchise of the Tai Lam Tunnel and the implementation of the HKeToll system represent? It represents that the traffic arrangements for the northwestern New Territories have entered a new era,” he said.
“It allows us to make good use of the remaining capacity of the Tai Lam Tunnel and ease the congestion of busy roads in the northwestern New Territories, which will allow the people flow, logistics flow, residents and all sectors of society travelling from the northwestern New Territories to the city to benefit.”
The 3.8km-long (2.4 miles) tunnel has been run by a consortium since 1995 under a build-operate-transfer model, with the franchise for its operation expiring at the end of May.
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The government will take control of the tunnel on Saturday.
Authorities will begin implementing road closures from 1am, with the whole tunnel closing between 3am and 5am.