The Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel and the Cross Bay Link, Tseung Kwan O will be commissioned on December 11 to improve the transport network and facilitate the commuting public, the Transport & Logistics Bureau announced today.

It said the tunnel and the Cross Bay Link will serve as a new route between Tseung Kwan O and Kwun Tong as well as the Eastern Harbour Crossing, shortening the journey time between LOHAS Park and Kwun Tong Town Centre by up to about 20 minutes during the morning peak hours.

As a new trunk road linking Tseung Kwan O and the urban area, the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel has a total length of about 3.8km, of which about 2.2km is in the form of a tunnel.

It connects the Cross Bay Link and Po Shun Road in the east and the Eastern Harbour Crossing, Cha Kwo Ling Road in Kwun Tong and the Trunk Road T2 under construction in the west, providing an alternative route for the existing Tseung Kwan O Tunnel to help divert traffic to and from Tseung Kwan O.

Aside from helping to meet the traffic demand arising from the continual development in the area, the commissioning of the new tunnel also creates an opportunity for waiving the Tseung Kwan O Tunnel toll.

The Government will effect a toll waiver for the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel and Tseung Kwan O Tunnel from December 11, the bureau said.

The Cross Bay Link will be the first marine viaduct in Hong Kong comprising carriageways, a cycle track and a footway, which links the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel and Wan Po Road adjacent to LOHAS Park. It is approximately 1.8km in length, about 1km of which is a marine viaduct.

In addition to diverting the traffic at Wan Po Road, the marine viaduct will connect to the cycle track along the Tseung Kwan O waterfront to form a 5km coastal cycling track loop.

There will also be viewing platforms on the viaduct for the public to appreciate the beautiful scenery of Junk Bay and the Eastern Channel.

The Civil Engineering & Development Department and its contractors are now working on the final stage of the works, such as conducting final tests on systems and relevant drills as well as the Tseung Kwan O Tunnel's toll-free arrangement.

It is also co-ordinating with various departments and the tunnel operator to prepare for the commissioning of the road sections concerned.