Special traffic and transport arrangements for Hong Kong Marathon 2014
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     The Transport Department (TD) today (February 12) reminded the public that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented this Sunday (February 16) to facilitate the holding of the Hong Kong Marathon 2014.

     The 10km race will continue to be held on the Island Eastern Corridor this year, and the finishing point of the 10km, half and full marathon races will be at Victoria Park.

     Both carriageways of the Island Eastern Corridor between Victoria Park Road and Shau Kei Wan will be closed from 1.30am on Sunday for the 10km race. 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 on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories from 11.45pm on Saturday (February 15). The races will start at Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and take a 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 Crossing, 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 to     4.14am
                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     3.46am
                to 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 operate for runners going to Victoria Park on Sunday:

Routes                            Departure times
--------                          ---------------
R592                              4.10am, 4.30am and
Ap Lei Chau to Causeway Bay       4.50am
(Moreton Terrace))     

R307                              3.30am, 4am and
(Tai Po (Ting Tai Road) to        4.30am
Causeway Bay (Causeway Road))       

R680                              3.40am   
(Kam Ying Court to
Causeway Bay (Victoria Park))

R930                              3.45am
(Tsuen Wan (Discovery Park
Bus Terminus) to Causeway Bay
(Causeway Road))

R948                              4am
(Cheung Wang Estate to
Causeway Bay (Victoria Park))

R962                              3.40am, 3.55am,
(Tuen Mun (Lung Mun Oasis)        4.10am and 4.25am
to Causeway Bay (Moreton Terrace))

R969                              3.40am and 4.10am
(Tin Shui Wai Town Centre
to Causeway Bay (Moreton Terrace))

     In connection with road closures for the marathon, a total of 171 bus routes and 30 green minibus routes will be diverted or suspended. Affected bus routes include cross-harbour routes via the Eastern Harbour Crossing and Western Harbour Crossing, 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 and Canton Road will be suspended and relocated.

     Bus stops, taxi stands, public light bus/green minibus stands, roadside parking spaces and private car parks within the road closure areas will also be suspended.

     The Hong Kong-bound stretch of the Western Harbour Crossing 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 17).

     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.

     Details of the special traffic and transport arrangements are available at the department's website (www.td.gov.hk). For further queries, please call 1823.

Ends/Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:48

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