Strategic Route 2, also known as the Cross Island Highway, is a limited access expressway, forming part of Zone 1. It is a dual-carriageway expressway with 3 lanes on each side, expect on Desire Bridge and Container's Island Highway where there are 4-5 lanes in some areas. Most of its length is a expressway travelling through Zone 1 from Long Island to Containers Island.
The expressway's western terminus is the interchange with the Central-Western Bridge while the eastern terminus is slightly west of Sunshine Stadium in Shelley Valley, where traffic can merge onto Cross Island Road. It also provides traffic needing to travel across Zone 1 a faster link across the area while bypassing the most congested areas of the zone.
Route description[]
Strategic Route 2 begins its journey at the western terminus, located near Sunshine Stadium, where it commences as a 3-lane expressway at an unfinished interchange, also known as Shadow Valley. A half-diamond interchange that connects to the road leading to Long Island Ferry Pier follows after, facilitating easy access for travelers. From this point, Route 2 traces the northern perimeter of Dove Island, maintaining an elevated highway structure as it approaches the interchange with Strategic Route 1, known as the Western Harbour Tunnel.
At this juncture, an elevated trumpet-modified into a T interchange is constructed, providing connections to Zone 4. During this segment, Route 2 shifts to a 2-lane expressway for the section. Continuing along the island’s northern edge, the highway reaches a modified T-interchange serving Addi City and Hospital Island.
As it crosses into Hospital Island, Route 2 navigates through a brief section of the island before transitioning onto the Desire Bridge. This bridge extends southeastward toward Container's Island, providing stunning views and a direct route for motorists. The journey concludes at the eastern terminus, where Route 2 merges into a free-flowing stack interchange with Strategic Route 3. This interchange is designed for optimal connectivity, allowing drivers to easily transition toward Senpai and Moon Island.
In terms of regulatory measures, the expressway boasts a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h throughout its length. However, the segment connecting to the Western Harbour Tunnel has a reduced speed limit of 70 km/h. On the Desire Bridge, when wind speeds are higher than normal, the bridge closes to all traffic when its higher than 65 km/h. When wind speeds are higher than 40 km/h, all buses, trucks and motorbikes are prohibited from crossing the bridge in both ways.
Network[]
Strategic Route 2 runs east to west between Long Island East and Container's Island. It is comprised of several bridges and expressway segments, they are:
- Long Island East Highway (elevated)
- Dove Island Bypass (surface and elevated)
- Desire Bridge (cable-stayed suspension bridge)
- Container's Island Highway (surface)
As this road is an expressway, there are no bus stops along the route. Therefore, the vast majority of buses will not travel the entire length of the highway in one trip (so they can exit and serve local roads) except when deadheading.
Exit list[]
Exit numbers are usually in 5 for the Cross-Island Highway due unknown reasons.
|
Location |
Exit |
Destinations |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 / Long Island | --- | Cross Island Road / Long Island East Road north/ south | Westbound exit, southbound entrance / Expressway begins south |
| 5 | Long Island Pier Road | Southbound entrance, northern exit | |
| Island boundary / Zone 1 | Crosses into Dove Island | ||
| Zone 1 / Dove Island | 5 | Timelapse Lane west | Northbound exit, southbound entrance |
| 5 |  Strategic Route 1, Western Harbour Tunnel east to Zone 4
|
Signed as exit 5 | |
| 5 | Dove Praya Road/Addi Road | Southbound exit north from main interchange | |
| Island boundary / Zone 1 | Crosses into Hospital Island | ||
| Zone 1 / Hospital Island | 5 | Cross Island Road - Hospital Island | Northbound exit, southbound entrance/Transition onto Desire Bridge |
| Zone 1 | Desire Bridge to Dove and Containers Islands | ||
| Zone 1 / Containers Island | 5 | Containers Island Road | South exit, north entrance |
| 5 |  Strategic Route 3 eastbound to Central - Western Bridge / Zone 4
|
End of highway |
Bus routes using this road[]
|
Routes |
From - To |
Service |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Long Island Ferry Pier ↔ Container's Island | Every day | |
| 140 | Long Island Ferry Pier ↔ Sunshine Pier | Everyday daytime service | |
| 141P | Norton Town Center ↔ Container's Island | Mon - Sat Rush hours only | |
| 142 | Dove Estate ↔ Sunshine Pier | Every day | Only for very short area between Dove Island JCT and Western Harbour Tunnel IC |
| 148 | Norton Town Center ↔ Container's Island | Every day | |
| 160R | Sunshine Stadium → Zone 7 Interchange | Days when there is a show at Sunshine Stadium only | |
| 170R | Sunshine Stadium → Rainbow Estate Complex | Days when there is a show at Sunshine Stadium only | |
| 171 | Rainbow Estate Complex ↔ Long Island Ferry Pier | Every day | Only for very short area between Dove Island JCT and Western Harbour Tunnel IC |
| 171R | Sunshine Stadium → Praya YiYan Road | Days when there is a show at Sunshine Stadium only | |
| 246X | Eastmallow Praya Road ↺ Timelapse Mall | Mon - Fri Rush hours only | |
| 246X(sp) | Addi City → Maple Lane | Mon - Sat AM Rush hours only | |
| 360 | Horizon Depot ↔ Long Island Ferry Pier | Mon - Fri Rush hours only | |
| 370 | Senpai Shopping Center ↔ Long Island Ferry Pier | Every day | |
| 370A | Senpai Shopping Center ↔ Long Island Ferry Pier | Every day, Rush hours only | |
| 370B | Senpai Shopping Center ↔ Long Island Ferry Pier | Mon - Fri Rush hours only | |
| N146 | Eastmallow Praya Road ↔ Container's Island | Overnight service | |
| N171 | Rainbow Estate Complex ↔ Long Island Ferry Pier | Overnight service | |
| R148 | Eastmallow Praya Road → Dove Park | Marathon special service | |
| R370 | Praya YiYan Road → Dove Park | Marathon special service |
Trivia[]
- Strategic Route 2 is loosely based on Hong Kong's Route 4, which is a major highway that traces the coastline of Hong Kong Island from east to west.
Gallery[]
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