Hong Kong motorists and commuters will enjoy shorter travel times when the Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass opens on Sunday.
The dual three-lane bypass, which connects Yau Ma Tei and Kowloon Bay, is designed to alleviate traffic congestion on major trunk roads in Kowloon by providing a shorter route that allows motorists to save fuel and time.
The Post looks at how users can best use the new carriageway to get to different parts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
1. What is the Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass?
The Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass is a 4.7km-long (2.9-mile) dual three-lane carriageway. As the road connects Yau Ma Tei to the Kai Tak Development Area and Kowloon Bay, authorities hope it will form an important trunk road across Central Kowloon.
It is part of a larger route that connects Kowloon East in Tseung Kwan O with Kowloon West in Yau Ma Tei, which will significantly reduce travelling time from 65 minutes to 12 minutes during peak hours.
The government has said it will charge HK$8 (US$1) for the route, but the toll will be waived until the completion of the road’s Kowloon Bay section next year.
2. What public transport via the bypass can commuters take?
Beyond motorists, commuters will be able to benefit from the new bypass, a day after it opens to the public, with three new bus services using the road and five existing ones rerouted. More routes will be added in coming months.
