››› Session 7

Traffic Control and Management for the Aberdeen Tunnel Hong Kong

Graham Bodell   Technical Director , Scott Wilson (Hong Kong)

The Aberdeen Tunnel in Hong Kong is owned by the Government, with operation and maintenance tendered to private companies on a 3-year basis. The tunnel forms a critical part of the strategic highway network as the only expressway link to the south side of Hong Kong Island. On the north side it feeds directly into and from the landfall interchange of the Cross-harbour tunnel, location of the heaviest traffic congestion in Hong Kong. Sub-standard junction spacing has dictated mandatory lane selection at one of the tunnel portals, and traffic signals on elevated structure at one on-ramp. Traffic conditions are further complicated by race day traffic management schemes for the adjacent Happy Valley Racetrack. The Traffic Control and Surveillance System (TCSS) has been in place since 1982. With ageing equipment, outdated technology and increasing problems in maintenance, Government decided to replace the entire TCSS. This paper covers the policies on privatisation of tunnel management in Hong Kong, review of operations at Aberdeen Tunnel, special traffic and engineering constraints, and the evaluation and recommendations of system requirements.