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Following is a question by Hon Tang Ka-piu and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (December 10):
Question:
In its reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on the Estimates of Expenditure 2014-2015, the Government stated that there were then 21 existing road sections noise barriers retrofitting works for which were under planning and review, or under review in the light of the circumstances of individual sections. Regarding the programme for retrofitting noise barriers on existing roads (the programme), will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the following information on each of the aforesaid 21 works items: (i) the expected commencement date of the works, (ii) the road section concerned, (iii) the traffic noise level at the road section concerned, (iv) the estimated project cost, (v) the current work progress (including the time for drawing up the conceptual design), (vi) the expected completion date of the works, and (vii) the estimated number of persons benefitting from the works (set out in a table in chronological order of the expected commencement dates);
(2) of the mechanisms adopted by the authorities for determining the order for commencing works of and the design criteria for the aforesaid 21 works items, as well as the target date for completing all these 21 works items;
(3) given that when the issue of retrofitting noise barriers at Tsung Pak Long section of the Fanling Highway was discussed last year at the Traffic and Transport Committee of the North District Council, the government officials indicated that project establishment for the proposed works had been made, of the reasons why this works proposal has not yet been included in the programme so far;
(4) of the measures put in place by the Government to alleviate the noise problems at the relevant road sections before completion of the noise barriers retrofitting works in (1) and (3);
(5) given that the Government will retrofit noise barriers or enclosures on existing roads with noise levels exceeding 70 dB(A) under the existing traffic noise mitigation policy, whether the Government will conduct an in-depth study with a view to including in the programme those road sections with noise levels exceeding 70 dB(A) but have not yet been included in the programme; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(6) as it is learnt that the roads near Golf Parkview, a residential development in Sheung Shui, have noise levels reaching 72.4 dB(A), but the Government has all along rejected residents' request for retrofitting noise barriers at the relevant road sections, whether the Government will consider afresh retrofitting noise barriers at the road sections concerned?
Reply:
President,
The works for retrofitting noise barriers on existing roads by the Government are public works projects, the implementation of which should follow the established procedures of the Public Works Programme (PWP). Like all other public works projects, the funding required has to be processed through the resources allocation mechanism in the order of priority of the PWP. Currently, a total of 40 existing road sections are included in the Noise Barrier Retrofitting Programme, of which, 16 are completed and one is under construction. The works projects of two other road sections are intended to be submitted to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council within this legislative year for upgrading to Category A and funding approval with a view to commencing work. For the remaining 21 road sections, planning, review and design etc. are underway.
Our reply to Hon Tang's question is as follows:
(1) The concerned road sections, traffic noise level, estimated number of persons benefitting from the works and the estimated project costs of the 21 retrofitting projects under planning are at Annex. As the works projects for these 21 road sections have not yet been upgraded to Category A, their order of implementation, and dates of commencement and completion are not available for the time being.
(2) The criterion opted by the Government for arranging the order of retrofitting works is to accord priority to road sections with the highest noise level and the largest number of residents affected. However, the Government will explore to tie in the retrofitting works of individual road sections with the adjoining new road projects under planning. The purpose is to avoid carrying out works projects repeatedly at nearby locations causing disturbance to residents and road users and, where possible, achieve some savings on the overall project time and costs. Given that the funding arrangements of public works projects have to follow the established procedures and require an overall consideration, the target dates for completing all the 21 works items are not available at the moment.
(3) The Government included the retrofitting works item of the section of Fanling Highway near Tsung Pak Long in the Noise Barrier Retrofitting Programme in 2007. Implementation of the retrofitting works has to follow the established procedures of the PWP. Like all other public works projects, the funding required has to be processed through the resources allocation mechanism in the order of priority of the PWP.
(4) To minimise the traffic noise impact of the 21 road sections in the Annex on nearby residents, the Highways Department (HyD) has applied low noise road surfacing materials on some suitable road sections. Should the concerned road section fall on a vehicular flyover, the HyD will also study ways to improve the expansion joints so as to reduce the noise caused by vehicles passing by.
(5) When retrofitting noise barriers on existing roads, apart from the noise level affecting residents, the following technical criteria should also be considered:
(i) whether the noise barrier/enclosure will obstruct emergency access or fire-fighting;
(ii) whether the noise barrier/enclosure will undermine road safety or impede pedestrian and vehicular access; and
(iii) whether there are adequate space and structural capability (applicable to flyovers) for supporting the noise barrier or enclosure.
The Environmental Protection Department and HyD will continue to study the need and feasibility of retrofitting noise barriers along road sections currently subjected to high traffic noise level, taking account of practical situation, and to include suitable road sections in the works programme when resources allow.
(6) The section of Fanling Highway near Tsung Pak Long is within the list of the 21 retrofitting works projects. As mentioned above, the implementation of retrofitting works has to follow the established procedures of the PWP. To minimise the noise impact of the concerned section of Fanling Highway on nearby residents, the HyD has applied low noise road surfacing materials on the road section and completed the improvement works to the expansion joints of the vehicular flyover near Golf Parkview in the middle of this year. The HyD has also installed metal panels on railings along the vehicular flyover to further reduce the noise.
Ends/Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:36
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