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Following is a question by the Dr Hon Lau Wong-fat and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (November 21):
Question:
Quite a number of vehicular flyovers (e.g. Kwai Chung Road Flyover which passes through Mei Foo Sun Chuen, Ma Tau Wai Road Flyover in Hung Hom and Tsing Fung Street Flyover in Tin Hau) and expressways in Hong Kong cut through the old districts. Many residents living beside such flyovers and expressways have relayed to me that they have been affected by the traffic noise nuisance for a long time, but the authorities have not implemented effective improvement measures so far. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the authorities have compiled statistics on the number of traffic noise black spots throughout Hong Kong which are similar to the aforesaid situations, as well as the number of residents affected;
(b) whether the authorities measure the noise levels at the black spots concerned on a regular basis and assessed their impact on the residents' health; and
(c) of the reasons why the authorities have not yet retrofitted noise barriers at such vehicular flyovers and expressways?
Reply:
President,
Before answering the Dr Hon Lau Wong-fat's question, I would like to give a gist of the general traffic noise policy in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is an intensively developed place. Owing to the natural development of our urban area in the past, many previously built roads and flyovers are either close to or cutting through residential areas. This has caused various environmental problems, such as traffic noise. Following the overall development of our community and the rising public demand in terms of the quality of life, we gradually establish a town planning system and set various environmental targets for the long-term goal of sustainable development.
Since the mid-1980's, we have incorporated traffic noise standards into the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines. This requires that when planning new roads, the relevant Government departments or developers must ensure that noise levels at noise sensitive receivers meet the standards. They have become statutory road traffic noise limits for designated projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Ordinance since April 1998 when traffic noise standards were included in the Technical Memorandum under the EIA Ordinance. Therefore the design of new major roads must comply with the traffic noise standards.
Despite the introduction of the planning standards and the EIA Ordinance, a large number of residents are still affected by traffic noise arising from many previously built roads and flyovers. There are no simple methods or technology to drastically reduce the overall traffic noise level in Hong Kong. To mitigate the noise impact of existing roads on nearby residents, the Government implemented in 2000 a policy of retrofitting noise barriers and enclosures or resurfacing with low noise materials on existing roads (including flyovers and expressways cutting through old districts) with a traffic noise level exceeding the limit of 70 dB(A) L10(1hour) to minimise the impact of noise where practicable and resources are available.
Apart from the traffic noise level and allocation of resources, technical feasibility is a prerequisite for retrofitting existing road sections with noise barriers and enclosures. We must consider, inter alia, the following criteria:
(1) whether the noise barrier or enclosure will obstruct any emergency access or hinder fire fighting efforts;
(2) whether the noise barrier or enclosure will affect road safety or obstruct the flow of pedestrians and traffic; and
(3) whether there is adequate space and structural capability (applicable to flyovers) for supporting the noise barrier or enclosure.
Since 2001, the Government has carried out retrofitting works of noise barriers on 17 existing road sections in Hong Kong under the above policy. Retrofitting works on eight road sections have been completed, whereas the construction of noise barriers on the remaining nine sections is in progress. Owing to various objective constraints, retrofitting the majority of existing roads and flyovers with noise barriers or enclosures has great difficulties, with the lack of space and of structural capability being the most common reason.
Another means to reduce noise is to resurface the road surface with low noise surfacing material. However, in using such material, we must consider the actual traffic condition of the road concerned and the types of vehicles travelling on it. This is because if such material is used on a steep road or a location where many heavy vehicles start or stop, the road surface will be damaged quickly, resulting in more noise instead. The Government has selected 21 suitable sections of expressways (with a speed limit of 70 km per hour or above) for resurfacing with low noise surfacing material. The noise level can be reduced by up to 5 dB(A). We have further selected over 90 local road sections for testing the noise reduction and engineering effectiveness of low noise surfacing material. So far we have completed the surfacing works for 59 local road sections. The noise level can be reduced by up to 2 dB(A).
My reply to the Dr Hon Lau Wong-fat's question is as follows:
(a) According to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD)'s assessment, throughout Hong Kong there are about 14 locations exposed to traffic noise similar to that of Kwai Chung Road Flyover in Mei Foo Sun Chuen, Ma Tau Wai Road Flyover in Hung Hom (i.e. East Kowloon Way) and Tsing Fung Street Flyover in Tin Hau. It is estimated that about 100 000 residents are affected. The details of such locations, whether noise barriers or enclosures can be retrofitted, and whether low noise surfacing material can be used, are set out at the Annex.
(b) The EPD uses traffic flow data (e.g. traffic flow, traffic speed and ratio of heavy vehicles) to assess traffic noise from major roads in Hong Kong. Therefore, measurements at extensive locations are not required. Regarding the impact on residents, traffic noise may cause annoyance and sleep disturbance, but no international research has indicated that traffic noise is causing other health problems.
(c) The Annex has set out in detail the reasons why noise barrier or enclosure cannot be provided at each location. To sum up, the EPD has invited the Highways Department (HyD) from time to time to explore the feasibility of retrofitting noise mitigation measures at such locations. However, as such flyovers were built many years ago (more than 30 years ago), they cannot bear the extra load brought about by the retrofitting of noise barriers or enclosures. Neither is there enough space to accommodate a free-standing structure for erecting noise barriers along the flyovers. Moreover, the provision of noise barriers or enclosures at many of the locations will affect fire fighting and rescue efforts. So, no noise barrier or enclosure can be retrofitted.
As for the use of low noise surfacing material, apart from Prince Edward Road, Tsing Fung Street Flyover and Hill Road Flyover where low noise road surfacing is not suitable for such reasons as road traffic, gradient or curvature, the HyD has surfaced Kwai Chung Road Flyover, East Kowloon Way and other suitable road sections in old districts with low noise surfacing material to mitigate traffic noise. The HyD will resurface the roads regularly and monitor the condition of road surface. Maintenance works will be carried out if road surfaces are damaged so as to minimise traffic noise as far as practicable.
Although there is no quick and easy solution to the traffic noise problem, the Government understands the public concern over the problem of road traffic noise. We will continue to prevent this problem by a multi-pronged approach. This includes the requirement of the adoption of suitable noise mitigation measures for new development areas, large-scale development projects and new roads through planning and environmental impact assessment. This can help us prevent new noise problems and move towards the long-term goal of sustainable development. We will also adopt the statutory vehicle noise standards and continue to keep in view the availability of new technology in the market as far as practicable to minimise the impact of traffic noise to the residents.
Ends/Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:14
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