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The Transport Department today (October 18) said that several main roads in Mong Kok are closed and 76 bus routes travelling via Mong Kok are diverted due to protest activities.
A number of road sections in Mong Kok, including Nathan Road south bound between Mong Kok Road and Dundas Street, Nathan Road north bound between Waterloo Road and Argyle Street, Argyle Street west bound between Nathan Road and Shanghai Street, and Shantung Street between Nathan Road and Tung Choi Street, are closed, resulting in the diversion of a total of 15 cross harbor bus routes, 18 Kowloon bus routes, 40 New Territories bus routes and three Airport/Tung Chung bus routes. Seven Green Minibus routes are also suspended and diverted. Since the frequencies and routings of bus services and other road-based public transport services may have to be temporarily adjusted according to traffic situation, members of the public should pay attention to the TD and bus companies' latest announcement of traffic and transport information.
On Hong Kong Island, there was traffic congestion on Gloucester Road (west bound), Hennessy Road, Tai Hang Road and Stubbs Road this morning since Harcourt Road is still occupied by the protesters. The TD and Police have continued to carry out temporary traffic management measures to relieve traffic. In order to relieve traffic in the vicinity of Wan Chai, in particular Gloucester Road, with effect from tomorrow during the period of 7am to 10pm, only buses will be allowed to make left turn from Gloucester Road (Central bound) onto inner Gloucester Road via the temporary access near old Wan Chai Police Station; and the bus stops at Gloucester Road (Central bound) outside old Wan Chai Police Station will be suspended. Temporary bus stops will be designated at inner Gloucester Road between O'Brien Road and Stewart Road. Appropriate traffic aids will be erected to guide motorists. Motorists should follow the instruction of the Police on site.
Meanwhile, the section of Chater Road from Pedder Street will be temporarily closed for setting up a pedestrian precinct starting from 12.01am tomorrow until 1pm to facilitate the holding of an event on Chater Road in Central tomorrow. All vehicles are not allowed to enter Chater Road, Ice House Street as well as Jackson Road and motorists should use alternative routes. Citybus routes 12A (Admiralty - MacDonnell Road) and 12M (Admiralty - Park Road) will also suspend services tomorrow morning until Chater Road is re-opened to traffic in the afternoon. There will also be a horse race meeting tomorrow in Happy Valley and traffic is expected to be very congested in the vicinity. Motorists are advised not to drive to Hong Kong Island as far as possible.
Regarding public transport services, a total of 212 bus routes are still affected today with eight bus routes suspended and 204 bus routes diverted. A total of 23 Green minibus routes travelling via Harcourt Road and Nathan Road are still diverted, suspended or with service adjusted. Tram services between Percival Street and Victoria Park remains suspended. The MTRCL continues to increase services of all urban lines.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will continue to monitor the road traffic situation and transport services. For details of the major traffic and transport arrangements currently implemented, please refer to the TD website (www.td.gov.hk).
Ends/Saturday, October 18, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:00
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