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The Transport Department (TD) today (October 14) said that although the barriers placed by protesters on a number of roads in Admiralty and Causeway Bay have been removed and the roads are re-opened, members of the public are urged to continue to use public transport services and not to drive to Hong Kong Island as far as possible because a number of major trunk roads are still occupied.
The Assistant Commissioner for Transport, Mr Albert Su, said at an inter-departmental press conference today that Yee Wo Street (west bound), Hennessey Road (west bound), Queensway (both east and west bounds), and the sections of Cotton Tree Drive uphill and Garden Road downhill were re-opened, adding that members of the public should pay attention to the temporary traffic arrangements and the instruction of Police at scene since some road sections were still closed.
He noted that with the re-opening of Queensway, over 60 bus routes travelling via Queensway resumed services. However, as Rodney Street is still occupied by the protesters, it has affected the normal operation of the bus terminus in Admiralty and full resumption of bus services. Moreover, bus routes serving the Mid-levels resumed services gradually, with Citybus (CTB) route 40 and New World First Bus route 23 resuming their original routing. Hence, the special trip of CTB 40M travelling between Central and Pokfield Road which was arranged to facilitate students and teachers since last week will be cancelled tomorrow. He also reminded parents to keep close contact with school bus operators to make necessary arrangements for adjusting routes and time for picking up their children in view of the re-opening of roads.
Based on the TD's observation, traffic flow of cross harbour tunnels and Aberdeen Tunnel has slightly increased in the past two days as compared with that of last week, with a surge of about 10 000 vehicles daily. Therefore motorists should continue to stay alert to the traffic situation and should not hastily drive to cause further traffic congestion even if some of the road sections previously occupied were re-opened.
As to the traffic situation this morning, roads on Hong Kong Island especially alternative routes connecting Hong Kong East and West and the major roads in the Southern District were still congested, resulting in a 17-km tailback at 8.30am on Hong Kong Island. Due to the holding of a large-scale fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, traffic was still very busy in the vicinity after 10am. It is anticipated that the roads will still be congested in the next two days until the end of the fair this Thursday.
Regarding public transport services, the TD and bus companies will continue to review the road situation to resume bus services following the re-opening of more roads. Currently suspended bus routes reduced to 11 and over 100 bus routes extended their services. Tram services between Kennedy Town and Happy Valley resumed while only the tram service between Percival Street and Victoria Park remains suspended. A total of 23 Green minibus routes travelling via Harcourt Road and Nathan Road are still diverted, suspended or with service adjusted.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will continue to monitor the road traffic situation and transport services. For details of the major traffic and transport arrangements currently implemented, please refer to the TD website (www.td.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Issued at HKT 21:07
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