Cost of daily commute in Hong Kong could double as government bids to ease congestion at notorious harbour crossings
Tolls for private car owners, taxi drivers and motorcyclists to go up at Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Tunnel, while cost of using Western Harbour Tunnel set to drop
The cost of a daily commute for some Hong Kong motorists will double after the government announced plans to dramatically increase the cost of using the Cross-Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Harbour Tunnel.
In a bid to ease the long-standing congestion problem at the two tunnels, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said in her policy address on Wednesday that she wanted to “alleviate cross-harbour traffic congestion”.
In a bill expected to be presented to the Legislative Council, tolls will be raised to HK$40 for those using private cars, while motorcyclists will now pay HK$16.
However, the cost of travelling via the Western Harbour Tunnel between Yau Ma Tei and Sai Ying Pun will drop, with car owners paying HK$50 in the future, down from the HK$70 they presently pay. Motorcyclists will see the cost of a trip slip from HK$25 to HK$20.
The bill will outline the government’s hope that by driving motorists towards the western crossing, traffic during peak hours will be reduced by between 34 and 42 per cent at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, and between 10 and 29 per cent at the eastern crossing.