Route 9 (Hong Kong)

Infobox road
marker_

state=
highway_name=Route 9
name_notes=
route=9
alternate_name=New Territories Circular Highway
section=


map_custom=yes
length_km=70.6
length_round=
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established=1978 (Tuen Mun Road)
decommissioned=
direction_a=
starting_terminus=Tsuen Wan
beltway_city=
junction=39
direction_b=
ending_terminus=Tsuen Wan
counties=
cities=
system=Hong Kong Strategic Route and Exit Number System
previous_type=
previous_route=
next_type=
next_route=
browse=

Route 9 (Chinese: 九號幹綫), Hong Kong is a strategic trunk road, mostly in the form of expressway, circumscribing the New Territories. Starting from the Shing Mun Tunnels, Route 9 goes in the counter-clockwise direction, linking Sha Tin, Tai Po, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan. This Route 9 came into being after the rationalization of route number system in January, 2004, replacing the old system which has been used since 1974.

Like other strategic routes in Hong Kong, Route 9 consists of several sections.

The section from Tsuen Wan to Sha Tin is derived from the former Route 5, which includes the Shing Mun Tunnels and most part of the Tai Po Road - Sha Tin. This section, opened in 1990, is not recognized as an expressway, however.

Route 9 then runs in a northerly direction by the remaining portion of Tai Po Road - Shatin until at the Ma Liu Shui Interchange (interchange with Route 2), where it is continued by the 12.3 km-long Tolo Highway (opened in 1985) to Lam Kam Road Interchange, at the north of Tai Po. The widening of Tolo Highway between Ma Liu Shui and Tai Po to dual-4 has been finished in 2003. It is built to full British motorway standards (3 lanes + hard shoulder).

The next section is another dual-3 expressway, Fanling Highway, which was completed in three stages between 1985 and 1987, running due north and north-west, connecting Tai Po North and Pak Shek Au, near San Tin.

At San Tin Interchange near Lok Ma Chau, Route 9 turns south towards Au Tau, near Yuen Long on an expressway known as San Tin Highway. After interchanging with Route 3, Route 9 is carried along the Yuen Long Highway to Lam Tei Interchange, followed by Tuen Mun Highway, all the way to Tsuen Wan.

At Tsuen Wan, the section of Route 9 linking Chai Wan Kok and Shek Wai Kok has been opened on 8th February 2007. Traffic can continue its way back to the Shing Mun Tunnels via the new road and the existing Cheung Pei Shan Road.

Observed roads and exits

ee also

* Transport in Hong Kong
* Fanling Highway
* San Tin Highway
* Tuen Mun Road
* Yuen Long Highway

External links

* [http://www.info.gov.hk/td/eng/transport/route Hong Kong Strategic Route Numbering System]
* [http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/projects/major/ntn1ae7052th.htm Details of Route 9 - Section between Shek Wai Kok and Chai Wan Kok]