Hong Kong’s US$2.82bn Route 10 highway, which includes two dual-three lane tunnels, is facing an uncertain future amid unprecedented 11th hour opposition from local lawmakers and construction lobbyists.
Two attempts in January by transport bureau and highways department officials to obtain initial funding for the project have been thwarted after viability of the project was questioned.
This follows fears that the Route 10 highway which will run through the north-west New Territories and connect to the Deep Bay link and a new bridge to mainland China could be an expensive waste of money. The 8km highway includes the Tai Lam Chung and Lam Tei tunnels.
Opponents, who include lawmakers and Sir Gordon Wu, retired chairman of construction firm, Hopewell Holdings, believe Route 10 would be boycotted by potential traffic users either in favour of trains or free highways.
They also believe that if successful Route 10 would draw traffic away from Route 3, including the Tai Lam tunnel, which is suffering substantial deficits because traffic volumes have failed to meet forecasts.
Supporters, who include the Democratic Party, together with the transport bureau maintain that Route 10 is needed to alleviate growing traffic congestion on new and planned routes that would begin to reach saturation at peak periods by 2006.
But in a twist, transport secretary Nicholas Ng ruled out any move to privatise the Route 10 highway. Responding to a suggestion by legislator Lau Ping-cheung that Route 10 should be built under a BOT concession, Mr Ng told legislators in mid-January that developers were unlikely to tender due to the high risk of the project.
The transport bureau plans to toll the Route 10 in an effort to stop drivers switching from the tolled Route 3 highway. But this in turn has prompted fears of a further revolt by drivers who would cause further jams on already congested free routes.
Sir Gordon, whose company built more than 300km of highway in southern China, disputes these figures. Apart from criticising Route 10, he has also put forward plans for an alternative north-south tunnel and bridge project on the western side of Hong Kong.
The scheme, estimated by Sir Gordon at US$1.15bn, would run between Tuen Mun to Chek Lap Kok airport to connect with the existing road system.
Highways department officials dispute the Hopewell estimates, believing the cost would be nearer US$2.56bn. Highways officials had hoped to start construction of Route 10 this year with completion 2007, but this is being thrown into jeopardy the longer the row continues.
