TD appeals to members of the public to stay alert to traffic situation tomorrow

The Transport Department (TD) today (October 5) reminded members of the public again that since tomorrow will be the first normal working day after the National Day long holidays and classes of secondary schools in the Wan Chai and Central and Western districts will also resume, it is anticipated that traffic would be much more congested tomorrow if a number of major trunk roads continue to be closed.

The Assistant Commissioner for Transport, Mr Albert Su at an inter-departmental press conference today appealed to members of the public going to work or school to pay attention to the TD and bus companies' latest announcement of public transport information. They are also advised to plan their journey in advance, start their journey earlier and allow more time for travelling tomorrow. Drivers should avoid driving to Hong Kong Island especially the affected districts and school areas as far as possible.

Mr Su pointed out that transport arrangements had been made to tie in with the resumption of classes of secondary schools in the Wan Chai and Central and Western districts tomorrow, adding that Citybus Route 40M would provide a special service to facilitate students and teachers to go to school in the Central and Western District. The school day bus service from Southern District to the schools in Central and Western District will also resume tomorrow. For the secondary schools in Wan Chai District, teachers and students are advised to take MTR to go to schools as far as possible.

A total of 161 bus routes are affected today, representing 30 per cent of the total bus routes. Of which 29 bus routes are suspended and 132 bus routes are diverted. If those major trunk roads being occupied by protesters remain closed, it is anticipated that there would be suspension of about 28 bus routes and diversion of about 200 bus routes tomorrow.

Currently, about 27 Green minibus (GMB) routes are diverted, suspended or with service adjusted. The tram service between Western Market and Victoria Park remains suspended. While the MTR service remains normal, the MTRCL will continue to monitor passenger demand and will increase frequencies and deploy more manpower to the stations and platforms when necessary. 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, and will deploy staff members to conduct site inspection tomorrow morning at major locations in the territory. They will report the latest situation to the Centre so that arrangements can be made to strengthen public transport services as and when necessary.

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;

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

Please refer to Annex 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/Sunday, October 5, 2014
Issued at HKT 23:40

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