Gridlock: Lok Ma Chau Crossing is the busiest land crossing in Hong Kong, handling more than 18,000 vehicles a day. A new vehicular bridge connecting Lok Ma Chau and Huanggang control points will be built alongside the existing one to increase traffic capacity.

Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities plan to construct a new boundary bridge alongside the existing one between Lok Ma Chau and Huanggang control points to ease traffic congestion.

The new bridge will provide two traffic lanes in each direction. When completed at the end of next year, it will be designated for goods vehicles while the existing one will be used for passenger vehicles.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Environment, Transport & Works Margaret Fong said at the Legislative Council today that the project, at a cost of $335.7 million, will create 334 jobs.

She also pointed out that traffic through the Lok Ma Chau Crossing has been growing at a rapid rate.

The average daily goods vehicle traffic went up from 14,180 in 1997 to 18,120 last year, a 28% increase. On busy days, the number can reach 24,500 a day.

For private cars, the average daily traffic grew from 1,001 in 1997 to 4,400 last year, a surge of 339%.

Ms Fong believed that with the growing economic integration with the Pearl River Delta Region, cross-boundary traffic will continue to grow substantially.

The new bridge will increase traffic throughput and facilitate temporary lane closures for maintenance, she added.

The Government will seek funds from the Public Works Sub-committee and Finance Committee in June and July respectively, with a view to commencing the construction in November.