Congestion in Kowloon has been a massive pain in the neck for time immemorial, but you can now breathe easy – a new bypass between Yau Ma Tei and Kowloon Bay opened on December 21, and it’s making motoring and commuting much faster than before.
As part of a greater infrastructure revamp that’s designed to relieve traffic jams on the major trunk roads connecting East and West Kowloon from Tseung Kwan O to Yau Ma Tei, the Central Kowloon Bypass comprises two three-lane carriageways that will span 4.7 km once completed. Construction of the project began in December 2017 and cost an estimated $42 billion. With the new section connecting Yau Ma Tei to Kai Tak and Kowloon Bay now open, it cuts down on travel time that would normally take 30 minutes under previous circumstances to just five minutes – that’s an 80-percent reduction!Â
Using the newly opened Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass, vehicles can enter the expressway from the Western Harbour Crossing, Tai Kok Tsui, West Kowloon Highway, and Yau Ma Tei from the West Kowloon side of town, and travel to Kowloon Bay, Kai Tak Sports Park, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, and Kwun Tong – and vice versa.
Once the greater route connecting Tseung Kwan O and Yau Ma Tei is fully operational, travel time will be significantly minimised from 65 minutes to just 12 minutes during peak traffic hours. Motorists will need to pay a $8 toll for using the Central Kowloon Bypass, but the fee will only be charged once the entire project is completed in mid-2026.
Commuters will benefit from the Central Kowloon Bypass as well. Already, there are three new bus services operational on the Yau Ma Tei section. Five existing bus routes have been rerouted to cut down travelling time for passengers, and more will follow in the coming months. Franchised bus routes 33X, 252S, 258X, 259S, 259X, 268P, 269S, and airport express bus A28X will now travel via the Central Kowloon Bypass.
However, the opening has not been without its perils. Just three days after launch, the Central Kowloon Bypass saw its first accident when a private car collided with a truck. No injuries were reported. Additionally, the Transport Department has in the days since the opening received feedback from motorists regarding the visibility of entrance and exit signage on the newly installed roads, and swiftly responded with improvements.
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