Route 9 (Hong Kong)

Route 9, Hong Kong is one of the strategic trunk roads, mostly in the form of an expressway, circumnavigating the New Territories. The route is also known as the New Territories Circular Road (新界環迴公路). Starting from the Shing Mun Tunnels, Route 9 goes in a counter-clockwise direction, linking Sha Tin, Tai Po, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan.

History
Route 9 was established after a shake-up of the route number system in January 2004, replacing the old system which had been used since 1974.

Route description
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 of the Tai Po Road - Sha Tin Section. This section was opened in 1990.

Route 9 then runs in a northerly direction via the remaining portion of Tai Po Road - Sha Tin until the Racecourse Interchange, where it continues via the 12.3 km-long Tolo Highway (opened in 1985) to Lam Kam Road Interchange, to the north of Tai Po. The widening of Tolo Highway between Ma Liu Shui and Tai Po to a dual 3-lane motorway was completed in 2003. It is built to full British motorway standards (3/4 lanes and a hard shoulder). The Tolo Highway continues as another dual 3-lane 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 onto an expressway known as the San Tin Highway. After interchanging with Route 3, Route 9 runs along the Yuen Long Highway to Lam Tei Interchange, followed by Tuen Mun Road, all the way to Tsuen Wan.

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