Average daily Eastern Harbour Crossing vehicular volume after its recent toll hike has been 53,000 vehicles, down 26%, Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Sarah Liao says.

She told legislators today that since May 1, when the eastern tunnel's new tolls were implemented, 121,000 vehicles have used the Cross-Harbour Tunnel daily, down 2.2%, while 39,000 vehicles used the Western Harbour Crossing, down 1%.

She said contingency and publicity measures have been effective, with motorists starting their trips earlier, MTR passengers rising by 50,000 daily and about 600 more passengers interchanging at KCR East Tsim Sha Tsui Station for cross-harbour trips. There have been extra buses deployed, and commuters have been checking traffic conditions and been planning their routes. The Transport Department's hotline has handled 120 enquires per day, with its website getting 6,000 daily hits.

Tunnel traffic cut

Dr Liao estimates the toll hike will eventually cut the eastern tunnel's traffic flow by 17% (12,500 vehicles), and raise throughput in the western tunnel by 21% (8,400 vehicles) and in the Cross-Harbour Tunnel by 3% (3,800 vehicles).

"Since the new tolls have just come into effect, some of the factors which might affect the vehicular flow in real terms are not yet fully reflected. Driving behaviour of motorists would also take more time to adjust," she said.

"We therefore cannot make any meaningful comparison between the above projection and the actual figures gathered in just a few days after the toll increase."

To address the uneven distribution of traffic among the three harbour crossings, Dr Liao said the Government has launched preliminary discussions with tunnel franchisees.