Congestion continues on major trunk roads and alternative routes due to protests
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     The Transport Department (TD) today (October 8) said that since major trunk roads on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon Town Centre continued to be closed and the capacity of alternative routes had a limit, drivers therefore turned to use other roads such as roads on Mid-levels East which led to traffic congestion in those areas as well.

     At an inter-departmental press conference today, the Assistant Commissioner for Transport, Mr Albert Su, said that although members of the public and drivers had started their journey earlier in the past two days to help alleviate pressure on road traffic, this travel pattern could not last long. He called on protesters to release carriageways of the major trunk roads, such as Queensway and Harcourt Road, so that traffic and the public's daily life could be back to normal.

     Traffic queues started to appear at 7am today on a number of roads on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon. Due to traffic congestion on alternative roads on Hong Kong Island, drivers turned to use roads in Wan Chai and Mid-levels East such as Tai Hang Road, Broadwood Road and Yee King Road, leading to congestion on these roads. Annexes 1 to 5 showed the traffic situation of major trunk roads on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon this morning as well as alternatives routes on Hong Kong Island.

     In view of resumption of classes of kindergartens in Wan Chai and Central & Western districts tomorrow, Mr Su advised the schools and parents to discuss with nanny bus operators on the routes and time for picking up students. He continued to appeal to drivers that they should avoid driving to Hong Kong Island especially the affected districts and school areas as far as possible. Members of the public going to work or school should also continue to start their journey earlier and allow more time for travelling tomorrow. They should also pay attention to the TD and bus companies' latest announcement of public transport information.

     Regarding public transport services, a total of 249 bus routes are affected today, representing 40 per cent of the total bus routes. This included 22 suspended bus routes and 227 diverted bus routes. A total of 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. As the bus services have been seriously affected, MTR has become the major transport mode for commuters. Any delay in MTR services would further affect the public's daily life seriously.

     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 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, 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

For details of suspended and diverted bus routes, please refer to "What's New" section of the TD website (www.td.gov.hk).

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/Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Issued at HKT 21:45

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