How New Territories network of highways changed the face of Hong Kong, and paved the way for new towns’ success
- A ring of modern, often multi-lane roads formed the essential infrastructure for the territory’s new towns
- When the Fanling to Sha Tin highway opened in September 1985, it halved the travel time between the two places
“A massive new road complex is now being planned which will result in the whole of the New Territories eventually being encircled with a ring of modern highways,” reported the South China Morning Post on April 16, 1974. “This will replace what are at the moment, small and often inefficient roads with two-lane dual-carriageways and – in places – multi-lane highways.”
The network, which would link Tsuen Wan, Castle Peak, Yuen Long, Sheung Shui, Tai Po and Sha Tin, was proposed to accommodate an expected population shift to the New Territories. “The whole circular road scheme takes into account the present planned populations of the three new towns which are currently being designed as 900,000 for Tsuen Wan, and 500,000 each for Castle Peak and Shatin.”
A consultancy firm recommended a six-lane highway from Sha Tin to Tai Po be completed first. However, it was not without complication. “About 8,000 people will have to move to make room for the construction [...] at an estimated cost of $223 million,” reported the Post on March 4, 1977.
On September 27, 1978, the paper reported work on the HK$500 million highway between Sha Tin and Tai Po was expected to start the following spring and would be completed by the end of 1981.
Construction did not begin as forecast. “It will be 1986 before road works on the Circular Route in the New Territories are complete,” ran a story on January 31, 1980. The road had been “downgraded in priority”.
An article from September 5, 1983, noted work on the Sha Tin to Tai Po highway was progressing “steadily”.
On June 21, 1985, the Fanling bypass was officially opened, boasting the highest speed limit in the territory. “The 80 kph signs will be posted, for the first time in Hongkong, on the 3.9-km dual three-lane carriageway,” stated a Post article.
The Sha Tin to Fanling section opened on September 24, halving travel time between the two towns to less than 20 minutes.
