Hong Kong Highways Department has postponed plans to build a 4.2km road tunnel, as part of the Route 10 highway between Lantau Island and the north-west New Territories, after massive public opposition.
Officially, transport secretary Nicholas Ng Wing-fui said the tunnel and other parts of the northern section of Route 10 would be deferred as traffic forecasts have not met expectations and as a result the tunnel scheme would be put on hold for at least three years.
But privately officials acknowledged that the barrage of opposition to the scheme, including nearly 600 letters of objection, meant it would be difficult to continue with the project.
The objections included one from the Route 3 (CPS) Company, majority owned by development company Sun Hung Kai Properties, which has a concession to build and operate a 10.1km section of Route 3. The franchise includes the Tai Lam road tunnel which opened in January 1998.
The Route 3 (CPS) Company said northern section of Route 10 would have created a free parallel route which would have seriously damaged the financial health of the Route 3 company.
A senior executive warned that if Route 10 went ahead, the company could face bankruptcy because actual traffic numbers were already way below forecasts.
British consultant Mott Connell is on course to complete preliminary designs in July for a section of Route 10 which includes the 1.75km Tai Lam Chueng tunnel.
A senior highways department source said plans to invite a follow-on detailed design and construction supervision consultancy had now been scrapped.
