The Lion Rock Tunnel is the main road connecting Sha Tin and Kowloon, but traffic jams have become commonplace more than half a century after its opening.
The government plans to rebuild the Lion Rock Tunnel.
The Highways Department submitted an environmental impact assessment report on the Lion Tunnel expansion project, proposing to build a three-lane traffic tunnel with a length of about 1.4 kilometers between the two existing pipelines in the tunnel to replace the existing northbound pipeline; at the same time, expand the existing pipeline to Kowloon To the three-lane carriageway tunnel.
As for the existing tunnels in the direction of Shatin, refurbishment works will be carried out, and the authorities plan to use them as emergency tunnels in the future.
The Highways Department expects that the construction works will start in the first quarter of 2025, while the completion date is tentatively set for 2034.
The authorities pointed out that the project is expected to permanently affect about 0.16 hectares of forest land and 0.17 hectares of plantation area in Lion Rock Country Park. It is recommended to provide compensatory forest land near the construction site according to the final forest land compensation plan as mitigation.
In addition, since the existing tunnel entrances will be dismantled, the authorities suggested to keep the fonts on the two tunnel entrances and exits, or copy them according to the existing settings and place them in similar positions.
The Lion Rock Tunnel is planned to be rebuilt and the new northbound tunnel will be expanded, and the existing southbound tunnel will be converted into three-lane two-way traffic
Tunnel boring machine digs a new pipeline between existing pipelines to expand a traffic lane by drilling and blasting next to the southbound tunnel
The existing Lion Rock Tunnel is the main road connecting Shatin and Kowloon.
The Highways Department said in its environmental impact assessment report that the design of the tunnel did not meet the current standards as the tunnel structure had aged significantly.
However, the authorities pointed out that the traffic flow of the tunnel is very heavy, and the closure of the tunnel for several hours at night is not enough to carry out comprehensive improvement works. Therefore, reconstruction works are proposed to extend its service life.
The authorities proposed to use a tunnel boring machine to excavate a three-lane traffic tunnel with a length of about 1.4 kilometers between the existing tunnel pipes.
According to the documents of the District Council, the authorities suggested that after the completion of the new pipeline, the southbound tunnel pipeline will be closed for renovation and expanded to three-lane traffic by means of drill-and-blast works. Vehicles in the direction of Kowloon will use the completed new pipeline instead.
When the original southbound tunnel pipeline works are completed, it will be restarted for use in the southbound direction; the new pipeline will be converted into a northbound tunnel for vehicles heading for Shatin.
The Government intends to add a new pipeline between the existing northbound and southbound pipelines of the Lion Rock Tunnel to replace the original northbound pipeline.
(Documents from Kowloon City District Council)
Some groups advocate existing northbound tunnels for pedestrians and bicycles. Highways Department: Renovation for emergency tunnel use
As for the existing tunnel pipeline in the direction of Shatin, a Facebook page earlier proposed to open it to pedestrians and bicycles. However, the authorities said that the pipeline will be refurbished and the existing fire fighting equipment will be replaced or repaired so that it can be used as an emergency tunnel in the future.
The authorities explained that the project has studied a total of three options for the alignment of the new tunnel, namely building new tunnels on the west side, east side and middle of the existing Lion Rock Tunnel.
The middle tunnel alignment scheme was selected as the most preferred option. Because the tunnel length of the alignment scheme is the shortest, it generates the least construction and demolition materials, and does not require ground excavation in the Lion Rock Country Park, so the vegetation on the hillside will not be damaged. .
Some sections of the Lion Rock Tunnel Highway will be equipped with noise barriers.
(Simulation map of the EIA website for the Lion Tunnel Expansion Project)
In addition to the expansion of the Lion Tunnel, the roads connecting the entrances and exits on both sides of the Lion Tunnel, including the location connecting Lung Cheung Road and the location where the Lion Rock Tunnel Highway connects to Hong Mei Gu Road, Shatin, will also have road widening works.
In addition, some sections of the Lion Rock Tunnel Highway are also proposed to be covered by noise barriers.
The existing tunnel toll booths in Sha Tin will also be completely demolished.
The existing tunnel toll booths in Sha Tin will also be completely demolished.
(Simulation map of the EIA website for the Lion Tunnel Expansion Project)
Project location map.
(Screenshot of Environmental Impact Assessment Report)
During the project consultation, the authorities received comments including concerns about the impact of road traffic noise caused by the additional traffic generated by the project, and the loss of surrounding natural habitat caused by the encroachment of Lion Rock Country Park.
The authorities admit that the project will lead to permanent loss of about 14.8 hectares of habitat, and will also permanently affect about 0.16 hectares of forest land and 0.17 hectares of plantation areas in Lion Rock Country Park, and may directly lead to injury or death of wild animals.
The authorities emphasize that near the project boundary, forest land will be planted to compensate for the unavoidable loss of forest land in Lion Rock Country Park, and the directly affected plants of conservation value will be kept in situ as far as possible. Transplant plants of conservation value elsewhere.
In addition, the authorities indicated that mixed forest land will be used to restore temporarily affected areas within the project scope, including areas in Lion Rock Country Park.
The font of the name of the Lion Tunnel may be retained, and the entrance of the newly built tunnel will also adopt the original design
In addition, because the first Lion Rock Tunnel will be expanded, the entrances on both sides will need to be dismantled; while the Second Lion Rock Tunnel will be refurbished.
Therefore, the authorities suggested to keep the fonts on the entrances and exits of the two tunnels, or copy them according to the existing settings and place them in similar positions; and suggested that the new tunnel-related buildings could use the color design of the original buildings to preserve their original appearance.
In addition, two commemorative plaques marking the opening of the tunnel will be prominently displayed to visitors in the new administration building.
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