Unstable traffic situation continues with roads closed for over one month

 The Transport Department (TD) today (October 31) said that, due to the closures of major trunk roads caused by protests on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon, the traffic situation is extremely unstable. The TD and the Police will continue to implement temporary traffic control measures according to the traffic situation. Motorists should comply with the arrangements and contribute to alleviating the traffic situation in the affected areas.

Although road closures caused by protests have lasted for over one month, the traffic situation has continued to be unstable. The times when traffic congestion began and the locations and lengths of traffic queues at busy road sections have varied daily. Affected by the road situations, the routings and frequencies of public transport services have remained unstable. Thus, the TD has repeatedly advised members of the public to start their journeys early and allow more time for travelling.

The TD and the Police are closely monitoring the traffic situation, and are implementing temporary traffic control measures at road sections or locations where congestion has continued to appear, in attempts to improve the situation. Motorists should comply with the arrangements and follow the traffic signs or the Police instructions. To avoid aggravating the traffic load of affected areas, motorists must not park illegally or even double-park. This is because certain road sections congested by illegal parking will cause a chain effect in the traffic of other roads in the area.

Regarding public transport services, a total of 225 bus routes are still affected today with eight bus routes suspended and 217 bus routes diverted. Among the affected bus routes, 85 routes travelling via Mong Kok are diverted due to the closure of a number of road sections in Mong Kok. A total of 20 green minibus routes travelling via Harcourt Road, Nathan Road and Argyle Street are still diverted or suspended or with service adjusted. Currently, the tram service between Percival Street and Paterson Street is still suspended. The MTR Corporation Limited continues to increase services for all urban lines to cope with passenger demand.

The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will continue to monitor the road traffic situation and public transport services. For details of road closure, traffic diversion, suspension and route diversion of green minibus services, please refer to the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk). Regarding temporary traffic arrangements for bus routes, please refer to the following bus companies' websites for details:

For routes of Citybus and New World First Bus: www.nwstbus.com.hk/en/uploadedFiles/OC2014/TAA.htm　

For routes of Kowloon Motor Bus: www.kmb.hk/en　

As there will be updates on bus services from time to time due to traffic changes, members of the public are advised to pay attention to the latest service arrangements announced by bus companies before starting their journeys.

Ends/Friday, October 31, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:31

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