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Works on Princess Margaret Road Link are near completion and the road link will be opened to traffic from 10 am next Tuesday (August 31).

The road link is part of the $1.4 billion Hung Hom Bypass and Princess Margaret Road Link project. Hung Hom Bypass was opened in mid-July this year.

"Together with Hung Hom Bypass, Princess Margaret Road Link will help segregate traffic heading for the Cross Harbour Tunnel and Tsim Sha Tsui/Hung Hom; hence relieve traffic congestion at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel approach roads," said a Government spokesman.

At present, motorists on Princess Margaret Road heading for Tsim Sha Tsui East have to travel via Princess Margaret Road, Hong Cheong Road and Salisbury Road.

Those heading for Tsim Sha Tsui have to route via Princess Margaret Road, Chatham Road South, and the junction of Austin Road and Cheong Wan Road.

As for motorists in Tsim Sha Tsui east heading to the north, they usually travel via Salisbury Road, Hong Cheong Road and the busy Cross-Harbour Tunnel Approach.

After the opening of Princess Margaret Road Link, the spokesman said, motorists from the north might opt for a quicker route by travelling via the road link and Hung Hom Bypass when heading for Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom.

Motorists from Tsim Sha Tsui may divert via Salisbury Road, Hung Hom Bypass and Princess Margaret Road Link when heading to the north.

To access Kowloon West, motorists from Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom may take the Princess Margaret Road Link to reach Gascoigne Road Flyover direct.

The speed limits on Hung Hom Bypass and Princess Margaret Road Link will mainly be 50 kilometres per hour. The section of Princess Margaret Road Link connecting Princess Margaret Road will be subject to a speed limit of 70 kilometres per hour.

The spokesman said: "As the elevated road system will bypass the existing congested ground level road network, motorists' journey time will be greatly reduced.

"The new road network will also bring relief to Chatham Road North, Chatham Road South, Wuhu Street, and the junction of Chatham Road South/Austin Road/Cheong Wan Road."

The spokesman highlighted that the new elevated road network would not only provide a shorter route for motorists, but also well-designed facilities for pedestrians.

He said: "In addition to the construction of a footbridge linking Hung Hom and East Rail's Hung Hom Station, we have built an elevated walkway along a section of Hung Hum Bypass outside the International Mail Centre.

"The 500-metre long walkway will connect Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade at Salisbury Road with Hung Hom Bay Reclamation.

"The walkway, when opened for public use later this year, will provide a pleasant environment for people travelling between Hung Hom Bay Reclamation and the waterfront along Tsim Sha Tsui East on foot.

"We hope it will encourage people to give up short vehicle trips and protect the environment.

"When using the walkway, pedestrians can also take a chance to view the world-renowned Victoria Harbour and the beautiful landscape on Hong Kong Island," he added.

The construction of Hung Hom Bypass and Princess Margaret Road Link began in March 1996.

To mark the completion of the project, the Secretary for Transport, Mr Nicholas Ng, and the Secretary for Works, Mr S.S. Lee, will officiate at a ceremony to be held by the Highways Department next Monday (August 30) morning.

End/Thursday, August 26, 1999

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