Traffic arrangements to cope with works projects in Tsim Sha Tsui
The Transport Department (TD) recommends a series of arrangements to improve traffic conditions in Tsim Sha Shui (TST) later this year (2002) to cope with the possible traffic disruption caused by major infrastructure projects in the area.
Speaking at a press briefing today (January 24), TD's Senior Engineer Mr Fok Wai-kit said a number of major infrastructure/development projects had started or were being planned from 2001 to 2006 in TST, an area with heavy vehicular traffic and pedestrian flow.
These projects include KCRC East Rail TST Extension, MTR TST Station enhancement works, Salisbury Road underpass, drainage or sewerage works by the Drainage Services Department, laying of high voltage electric cable and the Urban Renewal Authority's development at Hanoi Road.
"Construction works of these projects may cause considerable disruption to traffic in TST between 2001 and 2007 and there is a need to co-ordinate the overall implementation of individual road works and their associated temporary traffic arrangements."
TD has commissioned a "Study to Tackle Traffic Problems Caused by Road Works in Tsim Sha Tsui" to make recommendations on the temporary traffic arrangements to contain traffic impact of the road works to a manageable size.
The study reports that the worst traffic situation in TST will occur between mid 2002 and mid 2003, when the KCRC TST Extension and MTRC TST Station enhancement works take place concurrently.
During the period, the works for the KCRC and MTRC projects will require the closure of one lane each bound on Salisbury Road; two lanes northbound, one lane southbound on Nathan Road; closure of a section of Mody Road east of Nathan Road and lane closure on Middle Road.
"As a result, several major junctions along Salisbury Road are expected to be overloaded," Mr Fok noted.
TD has therefore, recommended the following traffic improvement measures:
i) Salisbury Road widening - it involves widening of Salisbury Road with associated junction improvements to alleviate the anticipated capacity problems at junctions of Chatham Road South/Salisbury Road, Nathan Road/Salisbury Road and Kowloon Park Drive/Salisbury Road.
ii) Peking Road gyratory system - it will alleviate the congestion at junction of Nathan Road/Peking Road. The right turn from Nathan Road southbound to Peking Road westbound has to be banned when two northbound and one southbound traffic lanes are closed to facilitate the construction of the MTR Nathan Road Link. The Nathan Road southbound traffic heading for Hankow Road area has to route through Salisbury Road westbound, Kowloon Park Drive northbound and Peking Road eastbound.
iii) Mody Road diversion scheme - it involves reversing the section of Carnarvon Road between Nathan Road and Hanoi Road from westbound to eastbound in order to facilitate the full closure of Mody Road between Bristol Avenue and Nathan Road as a result of the KCRC works.
Mr Fok pointed out that the above improvements had to be implemented within 2002 to facilitate the most critical construction works for the KCRC TST Extension and MTRC TST station enhancement projects.
"The other road work projects will, however, have less significant impact on the traffic in the area because the locations and construction periods are more spread out.
"Less disruptive road opening techniques such as the trenchless method will be adopted where practicable to minimise the traffic impact," Mr Fok added.
Other general traffic management measures will include removal of on-street parking spaces, addition of "No Waiting" Zones / Taxi Pick-up & Drop-off Points" and rationalisation of urban clearway restriction as well as franchised bus routes at various stages of construction activities.
End/Thursday, January 24, 2002