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Following is a question by the Hon James To and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (March 12):
Question:
Regarding the mitigation of traffic noise, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that at the meeting of the Panel on Environmental Affairs in July 2006, an official of the Highways Department (HyD) said that HyD had engaged the City University of Hong Kong to conduct studies on the current practice/specification on road joints, of the progress of such studies;
(b) given that an official of the Environmental Protection Department said at the above meeting that the Administration would continue to identify road sections suitable for application of traffic management schemes without affecting the transport trades and transferring the noise problem to other areas, of the progress of such efforts and the implementation dates of the traffic management schemes concerned; and
(c) given that the works to re-surface 72 road sections with low-noise road surfacing materials had commenced in 2002 and the Administration is implementing a trial scheme to study the use of new and more effective low-noise road surfacing materials for re-surfacing another 26 road sections, of the progress of such works and the trial scheme?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Highways Department (HyD) had engaged the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) to conduct a study on the noise problem arising from vehicles passing road joints. The study was completed in late 2006 and its findings reveal that the noise generated at road joints is affected by five factors, namely rugged road surface, joint width, joint position, joint materials and vehicle types.
To mitigate the noise problem arising from road joints, the Government has engaged the CityU to conduct further study on noise abatement in collaboration with joint suppliers. During the study, low-noise joints will be installed and tested on existing bridges. Tests on these low-noise joints will commence in mid-2008 and are expected to complete in mid-2009.
(b) Traffic management schemes aim at reducing road traffic noise by banning certain vehicles, such as heavy vehicles, from entering certain districts or road sections round the clock or at night. The successful implementation of such traffic control schemes depends on the availability of alternative routes. We also need to ensure that the noise problem will not be shifted to residents near the alternative routes. In addition, the measures should be acceptable to road users and the transport trades. Owing to these constraints, it is not easy for us to identify suitable road sections for implementing traffic management schemes.
Apart from Texaco Road Flyover, we are still exploring the feasibility of implementing traffic management schemes at other road sections. If potentially suitable road sections are identified, we will conduct detailed studies with relevant departments and consult local residents, affected individuals and organisations, District Councillors, etc. to help decide on whether or how to implement the schemes.
(c) As at February 2008, among the 72 local road sections identified for resurfacing with low-noise road surfacing materials, 36 have been resurfaced and the resurfacing works for 12 are being arranged. The resurfacing works are expected to complete by the end of 2010. The technical feasibility studies on another 14 road sections are being carried out and are expected to complete before 2009. The work schedules of the remaining 10 road sections have yet to be finalised due to the need to tie in with other road, railway and drainage projects.
In view of the enhanced durability of low-noise materials in recent years and having regard to the relevant experience gained from the surfacing works, the Government decided in mid-2006 to extend the trial scheme of resurfacing with low-noise materials by including 26 additional local road sections into the new phase of the scheme. The technical feasibility studies commenced in September 2007 and are expected to complete by the end of this year. If the findings show that the resurfacing works are technically feasible, we will arrange for the resurfacing of these road sections with low-noise materials as soon as possible, subject to the availability of resources.
Ends/Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:33
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