It connects Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island and Cha Kwo Ling in Kowloon East.

Initially, the Government of Hong Kong had plans to build a bridge across the eastern portion of the harbour but due to fears of the bridge blocking planes landing at Kai Tak airport, this was shelved in favour of a tunnel.

The first person to cross the tunnel was the then-Governor of Hong Kong Sir David Wilson.

[6] On 7 August 2016, the 30-year franchisee for the road tunnel expired and the ownership was transferred to the government.

In June 2005, CITIC decided to raise the toll for using Eastern Harbour Crossing from HK$15 to HK$25 for private vehicles and up to 67% for other classes of vehicles, under the fare adjustment mechanism derived from the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.