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The Transport Department (TD) today (February 1) reminded the public that special traffic and public transport arrangements will be implemented this Sunday (February 5) to facilitate the holding of the Hong Kong Marathon 2012.
This year, the 10-kilometre races will continue to be held on the Island Eastern Corridor and the finishing point of the 10-km race and half and full marathon races will be located at Victoria Park.
For the 10-km race, both the east- and west-bound carriageways of the Island Eastern Corridor between Victoria Park Road and Shau Kei Wan will be closed from 2am on Sunday. Traffic along the Island Eastern Corridor will be diverted to King's Road and Shau Kei Wan Road. Traffic to and from the Eastern Harbour Crossing will be diverted to the Sai Wan Ho exit/entrance.
For the half and full marathons, road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases at various locations in the territory from 11.45pm on Saturday (February 4). The races will start at Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and take the route via the West Kowloon Highway, Tsing Sha Highway, Stonecutters Bridge, Nam Wan Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Highway, Tsing Ma Bridge, Ting Kau Bridge, Cheung Tsing Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Tsing Kwai Highway, West Kowloon Highway, Western Harbour Tunnel, Connaught Road West flyover, Man Po Street, Man Kwong Street, Man Yiu Street, Lung Wo Road, Fenwick Pier Street, Convention Avenue, Hung Hing Road, Marsh Road flyover, Lockhart Road, East Point Road and Great George Street and will finish at Victoria Park.
To enable participants to go to Victoria Park and Tsim Sha Tsui to prepare for the races, the first departures of Mass Transit Railway (MTR) services will be advanced on Sunday. The details are as follows:
Lines Directions First departures
from terminal
stations
----- ---------- ----------------
Island Line From Chai Wan to 3.56am
Sheung Wan
Island Line From Sheung Wan 4.14am
to Chai Wan
Tsuen Wan Line From Tsuen Wan to 3.55am
Central
Tsuen Wan Line From Central to 4.22am
Tsuen Wan
Kwun Tong Line From Tiu Keng Leng to 3.46am
Yau Ma Tei
Tseung Kwan O From LOHAS Park to 3.57am
Line North Point
Tseung Kwan O From Po Lam to 4am
Line North Point
East Rail Line From Sheung Shui to 3.25am
Hung Hom
Ma On Shan Line From Wu Kai Sha to 3.30am
Tai Wai
West Rail Line From Tuen Mun to 3.25am
Hung Hom
Tung Chung Line From Tung Chung to 3.40am
Hong Kong
In addition to MTR services, the following special bus services will also be operated for runners going to Victoria Park on Sunday:
Routes Departure times
-------- ---------------
R592 (Ap Lei Chau to Causeway 4.10am, 4.30am
Bay (Moreton Terrace)) and 4.50am
R307 (Tai Po (Ting Tai Road) 3.25am and
to Causeway Bay (Central Library)) 3.45am
R680 (Kam Ying Court to Causeway 3.40am
Bay)
R948 (Cheung Wang Estate to 3.40am and 4am
Causeway Bay (Victoria Park))
R962 (Tuen Mun (Lung Mun Oasis) 3.45am, 4.05am
to Causeway Bay (Moreton Terrace)) and 4.25am
R969 (Tin Shui Wai Town Centre to 4am and 4.30am
Causeway Bay (Moreton Terrace))
In connection with road closures for the marathon, a total of 167 bus routes and 29 green minibus routes will be diverted or suspended. Affected bus routes include cross-harbour routes using the Eastern Harbour Crossing and Western Harbour Tunnel, airport routes and routes travelling along the Island Eastern Corridor and in Yau Tsim Mong, Central and Western as well as Causeway Bay Districts. The bus termini at MTR Tin Hau Station, Expo Drive East, Central Ferry Piers, To Wah Road in Jordan, Canton Road and MTR Kowloon Station will be suspended and relocated.
Bus stops, taxi stands, public light bus/green minibus stands, roadside parking spaces and private car parks within the closed roads will also be suspended.
The Hong Kong-bound stretch of the Western Harbour Tunnel will be closed from 12.45am on Sunday until the end of all marathon races and re-opening of roads. Motorists heading for Hong Kong Island are advised to use other tunnels.
Tourists going to the China Hong Kong Ferry Terminal or MTR Kowloon Station are advised to plan their journey early to avoid any delay caused by road closures and traffic diversions.
The commencement of Chater Road pedestrian precinct in Central will be postponed to 3pm or when the major roads on Hong Kong Island are re-opened to vehicular traffic. Road closures in the pedestrian precincts on Lockhart Road, East Point Road and Great George Street in Causeway Bay will be extended from 12.01am on Sunday till midnight on the same day. The roads will be re-opened to all vehicular traffic from 12.01am on Monday (February 6).
Taxi and public light bus drivers who go to Wan Chai North for gasoline refilling are advised to take note of the road closures in the area.
Members of the public planning to go to the affected areas are advised to allow more time to get to their destinations and stay alert to the latest traffic news on radio and television. They are advised to use public transport as far as possible. In case of traffic congestion, motorists are urged to exercise patience and follow the instructions of the Police.
Members of the public may call 1823 or browse the TD website (www.td.gov.hk) for details.
Ends/Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:52
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