Route 3 is a new expressway linking central Hong Kong to the Chinese border; it includes a complex system of bridges, elevated viaducts, tunnels, and major interchanges. Its offshoot, the Route 9 expressway, leads to the new Chek Lap Kok Airport. The contract for a Traffic Control and Surveillance System (TCSS) for this area, now known as the Tsing Ma Control Area, was let in December 1993. This paper discusses various aspects of this project. It was agreed that the TCSS should be designed to implement a range of operational strategies, including: (1) road closure to minimise traffic build-up behind an incident site; (2) advance lane closure to improve traffic merging and weaving; (3) hazard warnings; (4) advising drivers of congestion causes and possible alternative routes; (5) implementing variable speed limits; (6) ensuring a rapid response to dangerous road conditions; and (7) assisting rescue. The traffic surveillance systems in the TCSS include emergency telephones, automatic incident detection, closed circuit television, radio communications, public address facilities, and overweight vehicle detectors. The paper also describes the traffic control facilities, the traffic plans and their quality assurance, tunnel operations, and operations on the Lantau Link.
Abstract