Aberdeen Tunnel

History

A tunnel was planned in the long-term development plan for Aberdeen approved by the Governor-in-Council in 1964. Support for the tunnel grew following the closure of the Wong Nai Chung Gap by landslides. A pilot tunnel was dug in the mid-1970s to examine underground rock conditions. Official approval for the full project, comprising the tunnel and the Canal Road flyover extension, was granted in late 1975. The opening of the tunnel was much delayed by both difficult tunnelling conditions, and the late arrival of communications equipment from overseas. The contractor was Dragages Hong Kong.

Around 1,000 graves in the Hong Kong Cemetery were relocated for the construction of the tunnel.

The tunnel opened on 12 March 1982. From the very beginning, the tunnel suffered from congestion at the approach roads. In 1991, the toll was raised from $3 to $5.

The Aberdeen Tunnel's operations and management were privatised in 1991. It was contracted out to the Cross Harbour Tunnel Company initially. Tunnel management was contracted out to Serco Group (HK) Ltd. on 29 September 1998, and then to Transport Infrastructure Management Ltd. on 29 September 2014.

Electronic tolling via HKeToll was introduced on 24 December 2023 following which the toll booths were demolished.

Bus routes

, there are 46 bus routes passing through the tunnel.

Most of them pass by the Aberdeen Tunnel Toll Plaza () bus stop, where since 29 December 2019 you can get a transfer discount by transferring between two applicable bus routes. There is a similar discount at the Queen Mary Hospital bus stop. The discount scheme was branded as "New Bus-Bus Interchange Scheme - smart connection for Southern District" () transfer buses - time saving and convenient for you to choose).

Underground laboratory

The Aberdeen Tunnel Underground Laboratory between the two tunnel tubes was appended by the University of Hong Kong during construction. The laboratory facilitates particle physics research.

Current developments

The South Island line, a new Mass Transit Railway (MTR) link that opened in December 2016, roughly parallels the Aberdeen Tunnel. Upon commissioning, it was expected that 7% of peak hour Aberdeen Tunnel traffic would divert to the new railway.

References

Aberdeen Tunnel

References

1. "Transport in Hong Kong - Tunnels and Bridges". Transport Department of the [[Government of Hong Kong]].
2. (May 2015). "Table 3.2(b) : Aberdeen Tunnel". Transport Department.
3. "Toll Rates of Road Tunnels".
4. "2023 Accounts".
5. (30 March 1963). "Aberdeen tunnel planned". South China Morning Post.
6. (12 April 1963). "New Town Centre on Reclaimed Isthmus in Aberdeen". South China Morning Post.
7. (23 July 1971). "Tunnel link 'vital' to Aberdeen". South China Morning Post.
8. (23 April 1970). "Aberdeen wants tunnel to Wanchai". South China Morning Post.
9. (15 January 1975). "Aberdeen tunnel plan gets $2m more". South China Morning Post.
10. (29 October 1975). "Go-ahead for tunnel at Aberdeen, flyover". South China Morning Post.
11. (1 February 1982). "Watchdogs monitor Aberdeen Tunnel progress". South China Morning Post.
12. "Aberdeen Tunnel". Dragages Hong Kong Limited.
13. https://www.hk01.com/snss/51317 https://www.facebook.com/emptycityhk/posts/2844037615889018/
14. (19 March 1982). "Roadblocked by old problems in new tunnel". South China Morning Post.
15. (16 March 1982). "Drivers delayed at new tunnel". South China Morning Post.
16. (30 March 1991). "Tunnels put tolls up to $5". South China Morning Post.
17. (19 February 1992). "Jobs at risk as tunnels go private". South China Morning Post.
18. https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202312/19/P2023121900178.htm
19. "NWFB & Citybus Introduce Octopus Bus-Bus Interchange Concessions for Most Routes at Aberdeen Tunnel Toll Plaza and Queen Mary Hospital for Passengers Travelling to and from Southern District". Citybus NWFB.
20. "LCQ4: Traffic congestion along the link roads to the Aberdeen Tunnel". Legislative Council.