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The Transport Department (TD) today (October 3) said that although protesters had continued to gather in Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok with major trunk roads in these areas blocked, 24 out of the 262 affected bus routes had been improved with five resumed partial services while 19 extended to the original servicing areas.
The TD and bus companies will continue to re-assess the traffic and road situation, hoping to resume the normal operation of bus services gradually. Nevertheless, whether the services could be resumed, it would depend on the road traffic situation.
Speaking at an inter-departmental press conference, the Assistant Commissioner for Transport, Mr Albert Su said, "Today is a normal working day, about 53 bus routes operating via Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok are suspended and about 209 bus routes are diverted. A total of 262 bus routes are affected today, representing 45% of the total bus routes. Over 1.5 million passenger trips have been directly affected, representing 40% of the total bus patronage."
Mr Su added that the MTRCL had continued to strengthen the services of Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line and Island Line. They had dispatched more manpower to the stations and platforms to deal with the crowd while the number of passengers in urban lines had surged by 20 per cent. As the MTRCL had extended their services to their fullest capacity, Mr Su appealed to the protesters occupying the main trunk roads, such as Queensway and Lung Wo Road, to release carriageways as soon as possible so that traffic could be resumed.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that once classes of schools in the Wan Chai and Central & Western districts resumed, Citybus 40M route would provide a special trip running from Queen's Road Central to Pokfield Road to facilitate students and teachers to go to school. Details of the special bus trip will be announced in due course. The TD will also provide relevant traffic information to the school bus trade.
Currently, about 34 Green minibus (GMB) routes via Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok are diverted, suspended or with service adjusted. In addition, the tram service between Western Market and Victoria Park remains suspended.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will continue to monitor the road traffic situation and transport services, and will disseminate the latest traffic information to members of the public.
Details of the major traffic and transport arrangements currently implemented are as follows:
(A). Road closure
The following major road sections have been temporarily closed:
Hong Kong Island
[Central] (a) Des Voeux Road Central both bounds between Pedder Street and Queensway; (b) Chater Road eastbound between Pedder Street and Murray Road; (c) Connaught Road Central both bounds between Pedder Street & Harcourt Road; (d) Edinburgh Place both bounds
[Admiralty] (e) Harcourt Road; (f) Cotton Tree Drive; (g) Garden Road northbound slip road to Queensway eastbound; (h) Queensway between Justice Drive and Garden Road; (i) Tim Mei Avenue; (j) Tim Wa Road; (k) Legislative Council Road; (l) Lung Wui Road; (m) Performing Arts Avenue; (n) Rodney Street
[Wan Chai] (o) Fenwick Pier Street flyover; (p) Gloucester Road westbound between O'Brian Road and Arsenal Street; (q) Gloucester Road eastbound between Fenwick Street and Arsenal Street; (r) Hennessy Road both bounds between Yee Wo Street and Percival Street;
[Causeway Bay] (s) Yee Wo Street; and (t) Great George Street
Kowloon:
[Mong Kok] (a) Nathan Road southbound between Mong Kok Road and Dundas Street (b) Nathan Road northbound between Shantung Street and Bute Street; (c) Argyle Street westbound between Portland Street and Fa Yuen Street; (d) Mong Kok Road eastbound between Portland Street and Sai Yeung Choi Street South; (e) Sai Yeung Choi Street South northbound between Argyle Street and Nelson Street; (f) Nelson Street westbound between Sai Yeung Choi Street South and Tung Choi Street.
(B). Traffic diversion
The following traffic arrangements have been implemented:
* Traffic on Island Eastern Corridor westbound is diverted via Inner Gloucester Road to Wan Chai area. Traffic heading to Wan Chai North is diverted via Tonnochy Road flyover.
* Cross Harbour Tunnel southbound traffic is diverted via Tonnochy Road flyover before accessing Wan Chai North
* Island Eastern Corridor westbound is diverted via Tonnchy Road flyover to Wan Chai North
* Vehicles travelling through Western Cross Harbour Crossing (Route 4) Hong Kong bound heading for Central North and financial districts are prohibited from entering Pedder Street and diverted to Lung Wo Road.
* Lung Wo Road westbound traffic has been diverted onto eastbound carriageway
(C). Public transport services being affected
Cross Harbour routes:
* 11 Cross Harbour routes travelling via Central and Wai Chai (including Routes 101X, 103, 103P, 104, 109, 111, 111P, 113, 182, 301, 305): services are suspended
* Western Harbour Crossing Routes Hong Kong Island bound (including E11, E11S, 373A, 905, 914, 914P, 914X, 930, 930A, 948, 948P, 948X, 960, 961, 962, 962A, 962B, 962P, 962S, 962X, 968, 967, 969, 969A, 969B, 982X) are truncated at Exchange Square; Routes 904 and 905 are departed and terminated at Olympic Station;
* Eastern Harbour Crossing Routes Central bound (including 302, 601, 601P, 603, 619, 619P, 619X, 621, 641, 680, 680A, 680B, 690, 690P, 692P) are truncated at Wan Chai (Southorn Playground); Routes 601, 601P, 603, 603P, 619, 680, 690 Kowloon/ New Territories bounds at Hennessy Road are diverted via Percival Street, Leighton Road, Pennington Street, Yee Wo Street, Causeway Road, and then resume the normal routeing;
* XHT Route Nos. 681 and 681P terminate at Hennessy Road (near O'Brien Road). For Hong Kong bound, after Victoria Park Road, divert via inner Gloucester Road, Fenwick Street and Henessey Road. For New Territories bound, after Hennessy Road, divert via Percival Street, Leighton Road, Pennington Street, Yee Wo Street, Causeway Road, then resume to their original routeing;
* XHT Route Nos. 307, 307A and 307B terminate at Wanchai (Fenwick Street). For Hong Kong bound, after Victoria Park Road, divert via Inner Gloucester Road and Fenwick Street. For New Territories bound, after Fenwick Street, divert via Lockhart Road, Arsenal Street Flyover, Gloucester Road and resume their original routeing.
* Cross Harbour Tunnel Route 110 is diverted via Kowloon Park Drive;
* Cross Harbour Tunnel Route 108 Kowloon bound service is diverted via Inner Gloucester Road and Canal Road West
* Cross Harbour Tunnel Route 88R is converted into a circular route and diverted via Convention Avenue westbound, Fleming Road southbound, Harbour Road before resuming the normal routeing for City One, Sha Tin bound service;
* Cross Harbour Tunnel Routes (including 101, 115, 115P) are truncated at Wan Chai Ferry Pier on Hong Kong Island;
* Cross Harbour Tunnel Routes Kowloon bound (including 102, 102P, 112, 118, 118P, 171, 171A, 171P) are diverted via Gascoigne Road, Kansu Street, Ferry Street, Tong Mei Road, Lai Chi Kok Road, Wong Chuk Street, Cheung Sha Wan Road before resuming the normal routeing; Hong Kong bound services are operated via Sham Shui Po and omit Nathan Road between Prince Edward and Yau Ma Tei;
* Cross Harbour Tunnel Route 117 is diverted via Boundary Street, Waterloo Road, Princess Margaret Road and Hong Chong Road
* Western Harbour Crossing Routes Kowloon bound (including 970, 970X) are diverted via Ferry Street, New Reclamation Street, Argyle Street, Tong Mei Road, Lai Chi Kok Road, Wong Chuk Street, Cheung Sha Wan Road before resume the normal routeing; Hong Kong bound services are operated via Sham Shui Po and omit Prince Edward and Yau Ma Tei;
* Western Harbour Crossing Route Kowloon bound (including 971) is diverted via Ferry Street, New Reclamation Street and Argyle Street before resuming its normal routeing;
* Western Harbour Crossing Routes 967X, 969P, 969X are diverted via Cross Harbour Tunnel and omit Central District. Hong Kong Island Bound services diverted via Canal Road East, Canal Road West, Victoria Park Road, Gloucester Road flyover, Tai Hang Road flyover and Moreton Terrace. New Territories bound services are diverted via Leighton Road, Tin Lok Lane, Hennessy Road, Luard Road, Inner Gloucester Road, Fenwick Street, Lockhart Road, Arsenal Street flyover, Gloucester Road and Cross Harbour Tunnel;
* Western Harbour Crossing Routes (373A, 960, 961) Wan Chai bound are truncated at Pedder Street;
* Western Harbour Crossing Routes (934, 935, 936) Wan Chai bound are truncated at Central Pier;
* Cross Harbour Route 680X both bounds are diverted via Tsing Sha Highway and Western Harbour Crossing; omit Eastern District and Wan Chai, and terminate at Central and Sheung Wan;
* Cross Harbour Route 973 Tsim Sha Tsui bound is diverted via Kowloon Park Drive and Salisbury Road after reaching Canton Road; Stanley bound service is diverted via Kowloon Park Drive and Canton Road after reaching Salisbury Road;
* Western Harbour Crossing Route 904 Kowloon bound is truncated at Cherry Street roundabout;
* Western Harbour Crossing Route 905 Hong Kong Island bound is truncated at Exchange Square and diverted via Jubilee Street and Des Voeux Road Central before resuming the normal routeing; Kowloon bound service is truncated at Cherry Street roundabout;
* Cross Harbour Tunnel Route No. 171R Kowloon bound service is diverted via Waterloo Road after Nathan Road, and terminates at Kwong Wa Hospital;
* Cross Harbour Tunnel Route No. 116 Tsz Wan Shan bound service is diverted via Hing Fat Street, Victoria Park Road, Inner Gloucester Road, Cross Harbour Tunnel after King's Road, and resumes to normal routeing; Quarry Bay bound service is diverted via Victoria Park Road Flyover, Gloucester Road before resuming its normal routeing.
* Cross Harbour Tunnel Route No. 170 Shatin bound service is diverted via Canal Road West, Canal Road Flyover, Victoria Park Road, Victoria Park Road Flyover, Gloucester Road after Morrison Hill Road before resuming the normal routeing.
Hong Kong Island routes:
* 33 NWFB and CTB bus routes (including 1, 3A, 3B, 5C, 5P, 5S, 6A, 12, 12A, 12M , 13, 15B, 15C, 18, 18P, 18X, 23, 23B, 26, 40P, 93, 93A, 93C, H1, H2, 590, 629A, 629S, 722, 780, 788, 802 and 811) are suspended
* Routes 37B, 37X, 43X, 46X plying between Southern District and Hong Kong Island North via Pok Fu Lam Road are truncated at Connaught Road Central near Pedder Street;
* Routes plying between Southern District and Hong Kong Island North (including: 6, 6X, 66) are diverted via Morrison Hill Road, Tin Lok Lane, Hennessy Road, Anton Street, Queens Road East before resuming the normal routeing;
* Routes plying between Southern District and Hong Kong Island North (including: 72, 72A, 96, 592) are diverted via Morrison Hill Road, Tin Lok Lane, Hennessy Road, Percival Street, Leighton Road, Wong Nai Chung Road for Southern District bound services;
* Routes plying between Southern District and Hong Kong Island North via Aberdeen Tunnel or Wong Nai Chung Road (including: 76) is diverted via Wong Nai Chung Road, Morrison Hill Road, U-turn, Morrison Hill Road, Wong Nai Chung Road, Queen's Road East, Stubb Road for Southern District bound services;
* Routes plying between Southern District and Hong Kong Island North (including: 40M) is truncated at Garden Road;
* Routes plying between Southern District and Hong Kong Island North (including: 40) is converted into a circular route; and diverted via Queen's Road Central, Douglas Street, Lyndhurst Terrace, Hollywood Road, Arbuthnot Road and Caine Road before resuming its normal routeing;
* Routes plying between Southern District and Eastern / Kowloon (including: 38, 42, 42C, 65, 77 and 671) omit Tin Hau and Causeway Bay area;
* Route 90B plying between Southern District and Central and Western District terminate at Exchange Square;
* Routes departing from Southern District (including: 37A, 70, 70P, 70M, 75, 90, 90C, 97 and 590A) are terminated at Hennessy Road after Fenrick Street; Southern district bound services are diverted via Johnston Road, Wan Chai Road before resuming the normal routeing
* Route 629 serving Ocean Park is terminated at Tin Hau; Route 260 plying between Stanley and Central is diverted via Tin Hau and Moreton Terrace; Route 15 plying between Central and The Peak is terminated at Tin Hau (Hing Fat Street);
* Routes 11, 511 and 25A Central bound services are truncated at Causeway Bay;
* Routes from Eastern District to Central & Western District (including: 2) is terminated at Irving Street;
* Routes from Eastern District to Wan Chai District (including: 2A, 2X, 8, 8P) are diverted via Leighton Road, Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai Road, Fleming Road and then resume the normal routeing; Eastern District bound services travel via Percival Street, Leighton Road, Pennington Street, Yee Wo Street and Causeway Road after reaching Hennessy Road;
* Route from Eastern District to Central (25) is truncated at Tin Hau;
* Route operated via Island Eastern Corridor (789) is diverted via Harbour Road, Fleming Road, Wan Chai Road for Eastern District bound service;
* Routes from Western District to Central & Eastern District (including: 5, 10) are truncated at Pedder Street;
* Routes from Western District to Central & Eastern District (including: 5B) is truncated at Sheung Wan;
* Routes 720, 720A, 720P are converted into circular routes. After Inner Gloucester Road, the routes are diverted via Inner Gloucester Road, Fenwick Street, Lockhart Road, Arsenal Street, Gloucester Road, and then resume the normal routeing;
* Routes 780P are diverted via Gloucester Road, Tonnochy Road flyover, Convention Road after reaching Inner Gloucester Road; The route is truncated at Harbour Road near Sun Hung Kei Centre;
* Route 82M is strengthened and the service hour is extended to 11.00 pm;
* Route 5X is diverted via Harbour View Street (Hong Kong Station), Connaught Road Central eastbound, U-turn, Connuaght Road Central westbound after Man Yiu Street, and then resume normal routeing;
* Route 720 is diverted via Gloucester Road westbound, Fenrick Street, Lockhart Road, Arsenal Street flyover, Gloucester Road eastbound before resuming the normal routeing
Kowloon routes:
* 12 KMB routes 6F, 13P, 18, 41, 45, 212, 230X, 234P, 238P, 238S, 268X, 287X are suspended
* Routes 12, 203C, 260X, 268B, 269B, 281A, 296D, 215X are diverted via Kowloon Park Drive and Salisbury Road before resuming normal routeing
* Routes terminating at Canton Road are terminated at Tsim Sha Tsui Pier (includingˇG271, 271P)
* Routes plying between Kowloon East/Tseung Kwan O and West Kowloon are truncated at Kowloon City roundabout (includingˇG95, 203E)
* Routes plying between Kowloon East and Yau Tsim Mong are diverted via Waterloo Road (including: 1, 1A, 9, 3C, 87D, 281A)
* Routes plying between Kowloon East and Lai Chi Kok/Mei Foo/ Sham Shui Po are diverted via Prince Edward Road West (including: 2A, 98C, 98S, 296C, 13D, 16, 796C)
* Routes plying between Kwai Tsing/ Tseung Wan/ Yuen Long/ Tuen Mun and Urban areas are truncated at Sham Shui Po (including 30X, 33A, 35A, 36B, 42A, 44, 46, 58X, 59X, 60X, 67X, 68X, 69X, 234X, 238X, 43C)
* Routes plying between Tsing Yi/ Tuen Mun and Urban areas are truncated at Mei Foo (including 242X, 252B, 259B, 259C, 260B, 261B, 267S, 63X)
* Route plying between Tai Po and Urban area is truncated at Olympic Station (including 270P)
* Route 6C omit Mong Kok; its Kowloon City bound service is diverted via Yen Chow Street, Cheung Sha Wan Road, Boundary Street, Waterloo Road and Nathan Road; Mei Foo bound service is diverted via Kansu Street, Ferry Street, Tong Mei Road, Lai Chi Kok Road, Wong Chuk Street and Tai Po Road
* The following routes are truncated at Castle Peak Road near Tai Po Road (6,81)
* The following routes are truncated at Waterloo Road near Kowloon Hospital (10, 72X)
* Route 41A Tsim Sha Tsui bound is diverted via West Kowloon Highway; Tsing Yi bound service is diverted via Public Square Street, Shanghai Street, Jordan Road, West Kowloon Highway, New Reclamation Street and Cherry Street before resuming the normal routeing;
* Route 701/701S Mong Kok bound services are diverted via Tong Mei Road and Argyle Street after West Kowloon Highway and then resume normal routeing;
Airport bus routes:
* Both bounds of Route A11 are diverted via Cross Harbour Tunnel omitting Central & Western District;
* Both bounds of Route A12 are diverted via Eastern Harbour Crossing omitting Central & Western District and Wan Chai;
* Both bounds of Route A21 omit Nathan Road between Public Square Street and Lai Chi Kok Road;
* Routes E21/E21A are terminated at Tai Kok Tsui (Harbourview) at Urban area. Urban area bound service is diverted via Yen Chow Street, Sham Mong Road, Hoi Fai Road and Hoi Fan Road before resuming the normal routeing after reaching Cheung Sha Wan Road; Lantau bound service is diverted via Hoi Fan Road, Hoi Fai Road, Sham Mong Road, Yen Chow Street and Cheung Sha Wan Road
* Route E21X Tsim Sha Tsui bound is diverted via Kowloon Park Drive and Salisbury Road before resuming the normal routeing;
GMB services
Services of some GMB routes operating via Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok and Canton Road may be suspended, route diverted or frequency adjusted.
Hong Kong Tramway
Tram services between Western Market and Victoria Park are suspended (including Happy Valley Loop)
MTR
MTR have strengthened the services of Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line and Island Line.
Ends/Friday, October 3, 2014
Issued at HKT 23:42
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