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South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Tai Lam Tunnel to close for 2 hours on Saturday for HKeToll launch
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. 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. 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.
RTHK
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- RTHK
All change at Tai Lam Tunnel from Saturday
All change at Tai Lam Tunnel from Saturday The manual toll booths at Tai Lam Tunnel will be closed following the implementation of HKeToll. File photo: RTHK Fees will come down at the Tai Lam Tunnel from Saturday, but drivers are being warned of some temporary overnight disruption as the government takes control of the infrastructure. The tunnel, between Ting Kau and Yuen Long, will be closed for about 5 minutes from 0.00am on May 31, after which new time-varying tolls will be in place. It will then shut again for two hours from 3am, with HKeToll then coming into operation and the manual toll booths closing down. Instead of the present fixed toll of HK$58, private cars will be charged HK$45 during peak hours, HK$30 during regular periods and HK$18 at quiet times from Monday to Saturday. A flat toll of HK$18 will apply to private cars throughout the entire day on Sundays and public holidays. The fees for motorbikes will range from HK$7.2 to HK$18. Taxis will be charged HK$28 on any day, while there will be a flat-rate fee of HK$43 for trucks and buses. "New tolls for all vehicle types will be lower than current tolls by 22 to 80 percent," the government said. Deputy Commissioner for Transport Patrick Ho said he doesn't think they are rushing the introduction of the electronic toll collection system at the tunnel. 'We hope to implement HKeToll as soon as possible to provide convenience to drivers and passengers travelling from New Territories West to the urban area,' he said. 'Therefore, we have decided to implement e-tolling on the same day we take over the Tai Lam Tunnel. This arrangement is slightly different from previous practices.' Officials say the new tolls should make use of the tunnel's spare capacity and alleviate congestion on alternative routes such as Tuen Mun Road.
