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The Transport Department will introduce a number of improvement measures later this month (October) to relieve traffic congestion at the Central and Eastern District.

Speaking on the new measures today (Thursday), a spokesman for the department said: "Traffic along major routes to the north of Hong Kong Island is always heavy. There are too many vehicles but limited road spaces.

"The expansion of public transport services to meet passengers' demand added extra burden to existing road network.

"The department, after discussions with various parties including the bus companies, seeks to improve the flow of traffic through bus route diversions and re-arranging of bus stops.

"It is expected that the new measures will reduce the number of vehicles on particular road junctions and result in a more effective use of road spaces."

New operational measures will be implemented along major roads in the Central and Eastern District which are notorious for serious traffic congestion.

The traffic schemes in Central and Western District will be launched in two stages. Phase (I) comprises:

(1) Bus routes 690 and 691 will be diverted to operate via

Queen's Road Central westbound and Bonham Strand,

instead of Des Voeux Road Central, for Hillier Street;

(2) Bus routes 905, 914, 934, 935, 948, 960 and 969

will be diverted to operate via Connaught Road

Central eastbound and Harcourt Road instead of Des

Voeux Road Central eastbound and Chater Road; and

(3) Re-adjust to a more orderly arrangement of all bus

stops along Queensway eastbound to reduce bus weaving

movements after setting down/picking up of passengers.

The spokesman hoped the new measures will help reduce bus flow and relieve related traffic pressure on junctions along Des Voeux Road westbound and the Des Voeux Road Central eastbound/Pedder Street junction.

"The Transport Department will review the traffic condition after implementing the first phase of the traffic scheme before extending similar measures to other bus routes," he said.

New operational measures to improve traffic condition in the Eastern District will be implemented in two stages along the section of King's Road eastbound between Wing Hing Street and Kam Hong Street. Phase (I) comprises:

(1) The following two sections of tram lane will be

opened to permit overtaking activities of buses

after setting down/picking up of passengers at

existing bus stops nearby:

* King's Road eastbound between North Point Road and

Tong Shui Road; and

* King's Road eastbound between Tong Shui Road and

Shu Kuk Street.

(2) The existing bus stops for five Eastern Harbour Tunnel

bus routes will be relocated from the west to the east

of Shu Kuk Street junction to improve and increase

traffic flow;

(3) The existing bus stops on Fortress Hill Road and

Tin Chong Street will be shifting eastward to

avoid obstruction to Fortress Hill Road/ King's

Road eastbound junction; and

(4) Extension and widening of bus lay-by near Shell

Street to accommodate more buses and facilitate

overtaking activities.

"A total of 29 bus routes will benefit from the opening of tram lane," the spokesman said.

Whether the second stage of the proposed traffic scheme is to be implemented in the Eastern District will depend on the outcome of the first phase.

The second phase will include diversion of New World First Bus routes 23, 38, 42, 63, 65 and Citybus route 10 to operate via North Point Road and Java Road instead of King's Road.

"Notices will be put up at various bus stops to inform passengers of the new arrangements.

"The Transport Department will monitor closely the traffic condition after the implementation of the new schemes and follow up with different bus companies for necessary further improvement works," the spokesman said.

End/Thursday, October 15, 1998

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