Latest news with #HighwaysDepartment
RTHK
14 hours ago
- Business
- RTHK
$10 toll for Central Kowloon Route 'the best option'
$10 toll for Central Kowloon Route 'the best option' A number of lawmakers said they feel the proposed HK$10 fee for the Central Kowloon Route is too high. Photo courtesy of the Highways Department The transport chief has defended a plan to charge motorists HK$10 for using a brand-new arterial road connecting East and West Kowloon, after several lawmakers called on the government to consider adjusting the across-the-board fee. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on Friday said the authorities are trying to strike a balance between striving to recover costs and ensuring public usage in coming up with a suitable toll level. The administration had considered various options for the Central Kowloon Route, including toll-free access as well as fees of HK$10 or HK$17. A 4.7-kilometre-long stretch of the route, named the Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass, is expected to open this year. A number of lawmakers complained that the proposed fee level was too high, with one of them, Chau Siu-chung, raising the possibility of halving the charge to HK$5. Fellow legislator Bill Tang urged the government not to rush into charging motorists but to instead let them use the route for free initially. "How about we wait until it has been opened at the end of this year and monitor actual traffic flows before deciding on the toll?" he said. "And if the government is setting a fee level, depending on whether the community accepts it, how does HK$8 sound?" Mable Chan, in reply, said a cheaper toll fee might not be the best option. "We need to spare some capacity for when the traffic load increases," she said. "We need to be prepared. "In terms of diverting traffic and sparing capacity, charging HK$8 is definitely not as ideal as a HK$10 fee... But of course, it's most important that residents will use the route. "Otherwise, it's not worth it to simply charge tolls to the point where residents will not use the route." If lawmakers approve the proposal, the government plans to charge road users in the middle of next year, when the entire route is scheduled to be completed. Officials also plan to raise tolls at Aberdeen and Shing Mun tunnels from HK$5 to HK$8, citing the fact that the fees have not been increased in 34 years. The new charges for the two existing tunnels could take effect within a month upon approval by the legislature. Separately, the government said time-varying tolls implemented in late 2023 at the city's three harbour crossings would remain unchanged for now amid further monitoring of the situation. Since the tolls shake-up at the tunnels, traffic flows at Western Harbour Crossing have increased by 19 percent to around 104,000 vehicles per day, according to official figures. To handle the increased traffic load, transport authorities plan to construct an additional lane at the tunnel's exit on the Hong Kong Island side. The work is to be completed by the first quarter of 2026.
Time of India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
There's no end in sight to wrong-side driving in Coimbatore
Coimbatore: Wrong-side driving is a common sight on the city roads, despite the traffic police's drive against the same. According to a traffic police officer, many motorists drive on the wrong side to avoid taking a U-turn and save time. He said the wrong-side driving was common on Nanjappa Road, Mettupalayam Road (at Kavundampalayam), Thadagam Road (at Idayarpalayam Junction) and Avinashi Road (near Uppilipalayam flyover). S Ashok Kumar, deputy police commissioner (traffic), said the motorists driving on the wrong side were endangering the lives of all road users, be it pedestrians or other motorists. "Two months ago, a two-wheeler on the wrong side of a road below a bridge at Eachanari caused a fatal accident. Wrong-side driving has caused four fatal accidents in the city in the past eight months." He urged the public not to drive on the wrong side of roads just to avoid travelling a few extra metres. "Mostly, people drive on the wrong side during the late night and early morning hours, when the traffic flow is less. Vehicles coming in the right direction often move at high speeds, and a sudden wrong-side entry could lead to accidents. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experts Urge Seniors With Muscle Loss To Take This Key Nutrient Daily Native Creatine Learn More Undo Motorists should not hesitate to travel a few extra metres, while avoiding shortcuts. Traffic police personnel could not be deployed on all roads." He said a warning would be issued to the first-time offenders and a fine of Rs1,000 would be imposed on the motorists caught repeating the offence. G Manuneethi, divisional engineer (road safety), Highways Department, Coimbatore, said advanced cameras were now available in the market to detect traffic violations. "Such cameras should be installed on major roads to help prevent accidents caused by wrong-side driving. Mere awareness campaigns are not enough. Only strict enforcement could yield effective results."
The Hindu
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Highways Department to repair Palakkarai Main Road within a few days
Restoration work will be taken up in the next few days on the Palakkarai Main Road, which had been dug up for laying underground sewer lines, sources in the Highways Department said on Thursday. The poor condition of the road, following the execution of the UGD work, had triggered a road blockade by irate residents near Warehouse in the city on Wednesday. According to Highways Department sources, the UGD work was completed five days ago and the road, which is under the maintenance of the department, will be restored within the next few days. Sources said a proposal to relay the Thanjavur Main Road for a stretch of about 1.2 km from the Palpannai Junction towards Gandhi Market is expected to be sanctioned soon. The work would be taken up under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme. The road has developed several potholes after the execution of the underground sewer line work, much to the inconvenience of motorists.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Footpath along Taluk Office Road revamped with lights, fountains
The left side of Taluk Office Road in Saidapet now has a long, lit up footpath interspersed with greenery and quietly tinkling fountains. The Highways Department beautified the 300-metre-long stretch adjacent to its campus, where the Chief Engineers' offices and the Highways Research Station are located. Below the 15 trees lining the path are round seating arrangements and mellow lights. Apart from shrubs along the paved walkway, Korean grass, shade grass, and Mexican grass have also been planted between the trees and the seats. The branches of the trees have been aesthetically trimmed, to ensure their safety, an official says. The work, which includes automating the switching on and off of the lights and fountain, was taken up at a cost of ₹75 lakh. The lights will remain on from 6.30 p.m. till 5.30 a.m., and the fountain will turn off at 11 p.m. 'We have planned to beautify spaces on the other side of the road too, over a similar length. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue too will get a facelift,' another official said. Mothi Chandrika, a resident of Perungudi who work at the Saidapet court, welcomed the beautification efforts, and said a similar walkway could be established near the court complex, so that visitors could relax there during the day. Small dustbins could be placed near it, she added. Meanwhile, the construction of a storm-water drain and a 550-m-long footpath on the right side of Taluk Office Road, from the start of Maraimalai Adigal Bridge in Saidapet, is nearing completion. The work is being carried out at a cost of ₹2.5 crore.
New Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Collector reviews development works across Cuddalore taluks
CUDDALORE: District Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar conducted a detailed inspection of ongoing development projects across Veppur, Tittakudi and Vriddhachalam taluks on Sunday. He reviewed road infrastructure works being undertaken by the Highways Department, including widening of roads, conversion of single-lane to dual carriageways, curve improvement, installation of speed warning signs, and painting of speed control markings. 'Road safety is being prioritised to reduce accidents and ensure smooth traffic,' he said. In Vriddhachalam taluk, he inspected the four-laning of the bypass road, including flyover construction, medians and side retaining walls. At Uchimedu on the Vriddhachalam–Pennadam stretch, retaining walls are being built at Rs 1.42 crore. Widening and minor bridge works on the 2.6-km V Agaram–Nandimangalam–Arungeri road are under way at Rs 3.3 crore. He urged officials to ensure quality and avoid public inconvenience.
