Construction of Hong Kong’s US$2.8bn Route 10 highway, which includes three dual three-lane road tunnels, faces fresh uncertainty after revised plans for the southern section attracted a staggering 1,500 objections from residents.
The 12km highway runs from Lantau Island to Hong Kong’s north-west New Territories near Yuen Long. But the Highways Department scheme attracted considerable controversy due to fears it will lure traffic away from nearby tolled Route 3 highway.
Consequently, legislators blocked funding earlier this year for the detailed design of the northern section, which includes the Lam Tei tunnel, forcing officials to rethink the alignment for the southern section.
A transport insider believed the strength of opposition could scare officials in the Transport Bureau into dropping or massively revising the project.
Work on the southern section was planned for next year.
