A significant traffic incident on the North Lantau Highway severely complicated travel to Hong Kong International Airport Tuesday afternoon, following a collision between two medium goods vehicles. The crash, which occurred near the Lantau Link toll plaza around 11:30 a.m., resulted in four injuries and necessitated a multi-agency emergency response, leading to substantial lane closures toward the airport and prompting authorities to urge travelers to seek alternate routes.
Details of the Collision and Emergency Response
The two commercial trucks collided near the Lantau Link Bus-bus Interchange, causing extensive damage to at least one of the vehicles. Dramatic images circulated online show one lorry with a heavily damaged cabin and a shattered windshield, indicating a substantial front-end impact.
Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene. Firefighters faced the challenging task of extracting one driver who was trapped inside the cab following the impact. All four individuals injured in the collision were stabilized at the scene before being transported to North Lantau Hospital for further medical evaluation and care. Authorities confirmed that the police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the serious traffic accident.
Navigating Airport Travel Disruptions
The immediate aftermath of the crash created severe bottlenecks on the busy highway, a critical artery connecting the urban areas to the airport and other facilities on Lantau Island. According to the Transport Department, several lanes heading toward the airport in the vicinity of the crash site remained closed for clean-up and investigation well into the afternoon.
Motorists reliant on the North Lantau Highway experienced significant delays and were restricted to the remaining open lanes. The congestion severely impacted travel times, particularly affecting those aiming to catch flights or work at the airport complex.
Key Travel Alternatives Recommended:
To alleviate the pressure on the affected highway stretch, the Transport Department strongly advised the public to consider alternatives to driving the usual route. Travelers are encouraged to utilize established public transport infrastructure:
- MTR Services: The Airport Express provides a reliable and direct link from urban centers (Kowloon, Hong Kong Island) directly to the airport terminals.
- Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Tunnel: Drivers traveling from the New Territories are specifically advised to divert via the Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Tunnel, which provides an alternate cross-harbor route to Lantau Island, bypassing the immediate vicinity of the congestion.
This incident serves as a crucial reminder for travelers to allow ample buffer time, particularly when heading to the airport, and to check real-time traffic conditions through official sources before starting their journeys. Continued updates on lane reopening and traffic flow will be crucial for the normalization of travel in the area. The full impact of the congestion is expected to subside only once the police investigation concludes and all lanes are cleared and fully operational.