Western Harbour Crossing

The Western Harbour Crossing (WHC) is a dual three-lane immersed tube tunnel in Hong Kong. It is the third road tunnel to cross Victoria Harbour, linking reclaimed land in Yau Ma Tei in West Kowloon with Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island. It was constructed by the Western Harbour Tunnel Company Limited (WHTCL), which also operated the tunnel from 1993 to 2023 under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model on a 30-year franchise contract with the Hong Kong government.

The tunnel was the first three-lane road tunnel in Asia to be constructed using submerged pipe. It was built as part of the Airport Core Programme, which included other infrastructure projects to support the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok. The tunnel carries on the Route 3 designation from the West Kowloon Highway and connects to Route 4 on Hong Kong Island.

History

Background

By the early 1980s, commuters made 120,000 trips at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (CHT) every day, beyond its designed capacity of 80,000 daily trips. Population growth was also projected to reach 6.34 million in 2001 from 5.125 million in 1981. The Hong Kong government launched the Second Comprehensive Transport Study in the late 1980s, which said cross-harbour trips would increase greatly – person-trips would increase by 86% from 1.4m to 2.6m, and goods-vehicle-trips by 129% from 34,000 to 78,000 by 2001. Lanyon cited this was in the best interest of CHHL shareholders. CHHL rejected this offer on 11 June 2019.

Construction

The project team consisted of John Mundy (project manager), John Porter of Nishimatsu (project director), Kazutoshi Torakai of Kumagai Gumi (technical director), K.C. Tsui (JV construction manager for the mechanical and electrical works), Sandy Hone (JV deputy project manager and construction manager for the civil works), Knud Poulsen (engineering manager), Alex Peling (commercial manager), Robert Lloyd, Eric Granville and Don Ramanaynke (the Government's Highways Department Western Harbour Link Office engineers). <br>Western Harbour Tunnel Co. Ltd.

Due to severe congestion experienced at the Cross Harbour Tunnel and the feeder roads to the WHC, there were calls for reduced tolls at the Western Harbour Crossing by letting the Government of Hong Kong buy back the tunnel from the current owners of the tunnel, WHTCL, so that it can control tolls and ease traffic congestion in the Cross Harbour Tunnel area. To that end, lawmakers passed a non-binding motion in 2008 for the HK Government to address the situation. However the consultant hired by the Government to find a solution to the traffic problem did not suggest the Western Harbour Crossing have lower tolls. The consultants said that lowering tolls would result in a very high increase in traffic volume, with severe congestion on the exit to Route 4 during rush hour. This solution would only be possible when the construction of the Central–Wan Chai Bypass is completed.

After the 30 year franchise expired in August 2023, the Government, as the new owners of the tunnel, reduced the prices for private cars and taxi.

Sport events

Western Harbour Tunnel has been a place for many events. Before the Western Harbour Tunnel is officially open to public, in 1997, Walk for Millions was held in Western Harbour Tunnel. Participants can participate in the walk by soliciting donation from friends and relatives.

Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon

Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon is a sport event which held in Western Harbour Tunnel since 1999. Western Harbour Tunnel Company is one of the sponsors of this event. Started from 2001, the tunnel southbound route was closed and used as one of the routes in the game.

Hong Kong Cyclothon

Hong Kong Cyclothon is another sport event sponsored by Sun Hung Kai Properties and supported by Hong Kong Tourism Board. This event launched on 2015. Western Harbour Tunnel southbound tube was one of the routes in the game. After the game in 2015, the event arranged the route. In the past few years, Lin Cheung Road and slip of West Kowloon Highway were closed to facilitate the races. Based on the road closure on nearby roads, Western Harbour Tunnel had relevant road arrangement.

Transport

, there are 75 bus routes passing through the tunnel.