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The Transport Department (TD) today (October 7) said that in view of occupation of major trunk roads by protesters on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon Town Centre, members of the public and drivers started their journey earlier this morning than yesterday as advised by the department. Traffic queues started to appear at 7am today on a number of roads while traffic congestion was still serious.
The Assistant Commissioner for Transport, Mr Albert Su, said at an inter-departmental press conference today that traffic queues were first seen in the vicinity of northern part of Hong Kong Island and Aberdeen Tunnel heading for Wan Chai. During the peak of traffic flow at 8.30am, the queues in northern part of Hong Kong Island extended to the Hong Kong exits of Western Harbour Crossing and Eastern Harbour Crossing, resulting in a total length of about 10km. In Kowloon, traffic queues were also seen on Waterloo Road and the entrance of Cross Harbour Tunnel. Annexes 1 to 4 showed the traffic situation of major trunk roads on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon between 7.30am and 9am.
Mr Su noted that if the major trunk roads such as Hennessey Road, Gloucester Road, Queensway, Harcourt Road, Lung Wo Road and Nathan Road could not be re-opened, it was anticipated that there would be possible recurrence of severe traffic congestion on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon Town Centre. Also, the impact on passengers taking MTR, bus and other road based public transport could not be improved.
He appealed to members of the public going to work or school tomorrow to start their journey earlier and allow more time for travelling. They should also pay attention to the TD and bus companies' latest announcement of public transport information. Drivers should avoid driving to Hong Kong Island especially the affected districts and school areas as far as possible to alleviate burden on roads on Hong Kong Island.
On the first day of resumption of classes of primary schools in Wan Chai and Central & Western districts, parents, students and teachers started their journey earlier this morning and public transport services for school areas in the two districts were in normal operation. Citybus Route 40M also continued to provide special service in Central & Western district.
Regarding public transport services, a total of 249 bus routes are affected today, representing 40 per cent of the total bus routes. This included 23 suspended bus routes and 226 diverted bus routes.
Currently, about 23 Green minibus routes are diverted, suspended or with service adjusted. The tram service between Western Market and Victoria Park remains suspended. The MTRCL will continue to deploy more manpower and increase frequencies for urban lines. The Star Ferry will also strengthen services to cope with passenger demand.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will continue to monitor the road traffic situation and transport services.
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 and 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 Avenue; (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;
Kowloon:
[Mong Kok] (a) Nathan Road southbound between Mong Kok Road and Dundas Street (b) Nathan Road northbound between Waterloo Road and Mong Kok Road; (c) Sai Yeung Choi Street South northbound between Argyle Street and Nelson Street; (d) Nelson Street westbound between Sai Yeung Choi Street South and Fa Yuen Street; (e) Argyle Street both bounds between Shanghai Street and Fa Yuen 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 Tonnochy 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, Man Kwong Street and Man Yiu Street.
*Nathan Road northbound traffic have been diverted onto Waterloo Road
(C). Public transport services being affected
Bus routes
Please refer to Annex 5 for affected bus routes.
GMB services
Services of some GMB routes operating via Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok 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/Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Issued at HKT 23:22
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