030321en06002

	news.gov.hk
	From Hong Kong's Information Services Department

March 23, 2003

Development

Tolo Highway: Past and present

Tolo Highway, which skirts Tolo Harbour to link Sha Tin and Fanling, forms part of the high capacity trunk route known as the New Territories Circular Road.

Construction of the dual-three lane highway started in 1980, back when Tai Po, Fanling and Yuen Long were still being developed and traffic in these new towns was starting to grow.

Since its commissioning in 1985, the highway has become a strategic road link and has been serving Hong Kong for almost two decades.

Past and future: Tolo Highway was the Walk for Millions route in 1985 (left) before its commissioning. The highway has now served motorists for almost two decades (centre), and is now being upgraded with enhanced recreational facilities (right).

With Hong Kong's closer ties with the Mainland, cross-boundary traffic has increased at a rate of about 18% annually.

To cope with demand, the Highways Department started upgrading a section of road between Sha Tin and Tai Po to a dual four-lane carriageway in 1999.

Its capacity will be expanded from the existing 4,200 vehicles per hour in each direction to 5,600 vehicles.

The improvements also cater for environmental and recreational needs.

The bicycle track will be widened from four metres to six, allowing cyclists to breeze along the path and enjoy the best route for pedal-powered traffic in the city.

A footpath will also be built so pedestrians can stroll along the waterfront and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Barriers with aesthetic appeal

On noise mitigation measures, noise-reflective transparent and noise-absorbent solid barriers will be erected to reduce traffic noise for existing dwellings and future developments.

Solid barriers in green and blue have been adopted to harmonise the local environment.

Temporary site hoarding has also been enhanced. With the assistance of the Highways Department, the Tai Po Environmental Association hand-painted over 300 metres of hoarding.

This was in celebration of the Millennium Earth Day as well as to further improve the streetscape in the district.

Next time you are cruising along Tolo Highway, check out the environmental mural and sample some local artistic talent!