The Transport Department said it expects traffic congestion at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel will be eased once it launches the free-flow tolling service, HKeToll, starting this Sunday.

HKeToll will be implemented at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel from 5am on July 23 to replace all manual toll booths and Autotoll lanes.

Motorists can drive through the toll plaza and pay tunnel tolls using toll tags without having to stop or queue at toll booths for payments.

At a press briefing this afternoon, Commissioner for Transport Rosanna Law said the HKeToll system has more than sufficient capacity to handle the additional transactions generated by introducing HKeToll at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel.

“The Cross-Harbour Tunnel is obviously the busiest tunnel for crossing the harbour in Hong Kong. Right now, every day, it has 110,000 times (the number) of vehicles going through it.

“In the past six weeks or so, after the introduction of HKeToll at the Lion Rock Tunnel, we have been upgrading our system continuously to enhance its capacity."

As regards the easing of traffic, Ms Law added that she fully expects the situation will be improved via the launch of the HKeToll system.

“With the introduction of HKeToll, obviously the cutting of lanes to jam into the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, especially in the entrance leading to the Hong Kong bound tunnel tube, that would will be eased - that will be relieved.

“And I think I am confident that, right now, the situation, that is a bit (chaotic when) entering the tunnel, will be improved.”

To tie in with the implementation of the HKeToll service on Sunday, temporary traffic arrangements will be imposed in phases in the vicinity from 1am on that day.

Both directions of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel will be closed from 4am to 5am on July 23, during which nine overnight franchised bus routes and one overnight green minibus route will be diverted via the Eastern Harbour Crossing or the Western Harbour Crossing.

As of yesterday, about 800,000 vehicle tags have been issued, accounting for about 97% of licensed vehicles in Hong Kong, of which about 85% of vehicle owners have opened HKeToll accounts.

To fully enjoy the convenience of HKeToll, the department once again appealed to vehicle owners to install a vehicle tag, open a HKeToll account and set up an automatic payment means as soon as possible.

The Government plans to implement HKeToll at the Western Harbour Crossing and the Eastern Harbour Crossing in August.