Island Eastern Corridor

Infobox road
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highway_name=Island Eastern Corridor
name_notes=Part of Route 4
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established=1984 (Phase I) 1985 (Phase II) 1989 (Phase III)
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direction_a=West
terminus_a=Causeway Bay
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direction_b=East
terminus_b=Chai Wan
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system=Hong Kong Stragetic Route System
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Island Eastern Corridor (IEC; zh-tspcy|s=东区走廊|t=東區走廊|cy=dung1 keui1 jau2 long4|p=Dōngqū Zǒuláng) is an expressway along the north shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong, China. It starts from Causeway Bay in the west and ends in Chai Wan in the east. It is part of Route 4. The section between Causeway Bay and Quarry Bay consists mainly of viaducts built along Victoria Harbour.

History

After World War II, the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island developed rapidly. As a result, the major thoroughfare in the area, King's Road, became very congested. [http://www.hk-place.com/view.php?id=301 Roads and Railways - Hong Kong Trunk Routes 1] ( _zh. 中文)]

In order to relieve the congestion problem, the idea of constructing the corridor was brought out in 1968. However, commencement of construction did not begin until 1981. [ [http://www.maunsell.aecom.com/media/4095.pdf Maunsell Consultants Asia Ltd Project Information Sheet - Island Eastern Corridor, Hong Kong] ] The corridor was opened in three phases: Causeway Bay to Tai Koo Shing on June 8, 1984; Tai Koo Shing to Shau Kei Wan on July 26, 1985; and Shau Kei Wan to Chai Wan on October 12, 1989.

Work has been done to the expressway several times over its life, including the bridge diversions at Quarry Bay, completed in 2003, where Route 4 joins with Route 2. There is also a proposed extension of the Corridor into the hills of Chai Wan.

The Government has also proposed the Central-Wan Chai Bypass, which will connect to the Island Eastern Corridor at its eastern end. [cite web|url=http://www.devb-plb.gov.hk/reclamation/eng/basic/fs7.htm|title=Fact Sheet: Engineering aspects (Central and Wan Chai Reclamation)|author=Housing, Planning and Land's Bureau]

In 2008 the Island Eastern Corridor became the new venue of the Hong Kong Marathon 10km race, held on 2008-02-17. The race track started from City Garden in North Point, and ran eastwards until Shau Kei Wan, where it made a U-turn, back along westbound IEC and ended at Victoria Park, near the western terminus of the IEC. The noise problem caused by the IEC's design became evident as residents complained about noises as high as 60dB emitting at about five to six o'clock in the morning. [cite web|url=http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news07/3010-HongKongMarathon.shtml|title=New Route for 2008 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon|publisher=ASIATravelTips.com] [cite news|title=馬拉松噪音超標居民投訴|publisher=Ming Pao|date=2008-02-18]

In February 2008 the Government announced that it will construct a waterfront promenade between Causeway Bay and Sai Wan Ho, with significant sections at North Point running under Island Eastern Corridor, using floating boards. However, the Government is concerned about the plan violating the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance, since the boards may need to extend seabound due to the lack of space. Further study will take place regarding the feasibility of the project. When it is finished, a continuous promenade will be formed between Central and Sai Wan Ho, together with recreational land use projects related to the Central-Wan Chai Bypass. [cite news|title=海濱長廊擬中環直達北角|publisher=Ming Pao|date=2008-02-21]

Alignment

The corridor starts at Causeway Bay as a viaduct, where it joins Victoria Park Road and Gloucester Road with a ramp. It then heads east along the coast of North Point, still a viaduct until it comes to somewhere near Quarry Bay where it descends onto ground level, and intersects with the approach road of Eastern Harbour Crossing. After it has passed Tai Koo Shing, it becomes a viaduct again, now crossing between Sai Wan Ho and Aldrich Bay. It returns to ground level again near the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, and runs all the way towards Chai Wan. It ends at a roundabout with Chai Wan Road and Wan Tsui Road.

Criticism

It is often criticised for using up the seafront which could have been enjoyed by residents of Hong Kong had alternative alignments been chosen. Residents have also complained about traffic noises owing to some sections' proximity to residential buildings. It has been suggested that the Watson Road - Tin Chiu Street section of the corridor be replaced with a tunnel, but was never considered due to the complex nature of the necessary works. [ [http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200611/29/P200611290112.htm LCQ17: Suggestion of replacing parts of Island Eastern Corridor with a tunnel] ]

Bus routes using the Corridor

The bus companies in Hong Kong operate a number of "express" bus routes that travel on the Island Eastern Corridor. Examples are:
* KMB
** 681 Ma On Shan Town Centre <-> Central (Hong Kong Station)
** 307 Tai Po Central <-> Central Ferry Piers
* New World First Bus
** 2X Wan Chai Ferry Pier <-> Aldrich Bay
** 8 Wan Chai Ferry Pier <-> Heng Fa Chuen
** 8P Wan Chai Ferry Pier <-> Siu Sai Wan (Island Resort)
** 720 Central (Macau Ferry) <-> Aldrich Bay
** 720A Aldrich Bay <-> Admiralty (circular)
** 720P Central (Macau Ferry) <-> Taikoo Shing (circular)
** M722 Yiu Tung Estate <-> Central (Hong Kong Station) (circular)
* Citybus
** 8X Happy Valley (Lower) <-> Siu Sai Wan (Island Resort)
** 780 Chai Wan (East) <-> Central (Ferry Piers)
** 788 Central (Macau Ferry) <-> Siu Sai Wan (Island Resort)
** 789 Siu Sai Wan (Island Resort) <-> Admiralty (Rodney Street)

Junctions along the Corridor

The junctions along the corridor are as follows:

References

ee also

*List of expressways in Hong Kong

External links

* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=22.26369,114.237331&daddr=%E4%B8%9C%E5%8D%80%E8%B5%B0%E5%BB%8A%2F%E6%9D%B1%E5%8D%80%E8%B5%B0%E5%BB%8A+%4022.284020,+114.186820&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=18&mra=dme&sll=22.263899,114.237326&sspn=0.002035,0.003648&ie=UTF8&ll=22.278935,114.2131&spn=0.065127,0.11673&z=13&om=1 Google Maps of Island Eastern Corridor]