Hong Kong Races to Build Roads Before New Town Residents Arrive

Hong Kong has decided to build key roads for the Northern Metropolis faster than planned. The Tsing Lung Bridge will now open in 2033 — two years ahead of schedule — and the San Tin section of a new main highway is being pushed forward to 2034. The Northern Metropolis is a huge new development zone near the border with mainland China, meant to hold homes, offices and universities for hundreds of thousands of people.

The speed-up is mainly about timing. Authorities fear that people will start living and working in these new areas before the transport links exist. One example is the Hung Shui Kiu University Town, which could open its doors well before residents have a quick, easy route to the rest of the city. To save time, engineers are using practical tricks like slope stabilisation — strengthening hillsides so roads can be built more safely and quickly.

But not everyone is convinced it will be enough. A transport expert and a lawmaker both warned that early arrivals could end up 'stranded,' with long, awkward journeys to work, school or shops. They are urging the government to launch express bus routes right away and to build the Central Rail Link — a planned train line — as soon as possible, rather than waiting for the big roads to be finished.

So what does this mean for ordinary people? If you are thinking of moving to, working in, or investing in the Northern Metropolis, your daily commute could be slow and frustrating for several years. It is a reminder that new neighbourhoods only work when the buses and trains arrive at the same time as the people do. The government says it is moving fast; critics say the timing still does not add up.