Temporary Traffic Management Schemes for MTR TST Station Modification Works
The Transport Department today (September 12) reminds the public on the temporary traffic management schemes to be implemented in Tsim Sha Tsui from September 17 for facilitating MTR Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) Station Modification Works.
The Modification Works included the extension of the southern station concourse and construction of a pedestrian subway link to the Middle Road Subway which connects the future KCR East TST Station and MTR TST Station. Upon completion, the pedestrian subway link will not only facilitate easy transfer between the two railway systems, but also relieve road congestion at TST by providing a 24-hour pedestrian subway network.
MTRCL needs to close three lanes (i.e. two northbound (N/B) lanes & one southbound (S/B) lane) on Nathan Road between its junctions with Mody Road and Middle Road temporarily stage by stage. In effect, one N/B lane and two S/B lanes will be maintained.
Speaking at a press briefing today, Senior Engineer of the Transport Department, Mr William Chung, said the concerned sections of Nathan Road were expected to be busy.
To cope with the traffic impacts brought by the above temporary lane closure, two improvement schemes are necessary. They include:
| (a) | Salisbury Road Widening |
It involves widening of Salisbury Road west of Nathan Road with associated junction improvements at junctions of Nathan Road/Salisbury Road and Kowloon Park Drive/Salisbury Road. The works were completed by Highways Department in early September 2002.
| (b) | Peking Road Gyratory System |
To improve the traffic condition at the junction of Nathan Road/Peking Road and facilitate the traffic flow along Nathan Road, the right turn from Nathan Road S/B onto Peking Road westbound (W/B) has to be banned. At the same time, MTRCL will implement the Peking Road Gyratory System, in which the Nathan Road S/B traffic heading Peking Road/Hankow Road area has to route through Salisbury Road W/B, Kowloon Park Drive N/B and Peking Road eastbound (E/B). The existing traffic flow directions on (i) Peking Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Hankow Road, (ii) Hankow Road between Peking Road and Middle Road, and (iii) Ashley Road between Middle Road and Peking Road, will also be reversed.
In addition, the following arrangements will be implemented:
| (i) | Private cars traveling along Middle Road W/B will be prohibited from entering Ashley Road N/B between 9:00am and 7:00pm; | |
| (ii) | Green mini-buses, buses and goods vehicles from Ashley Road N/B will be allowed to turn left onto Peking Road W/B and then turn right onto Kowloon Park Drive N/B; and | |
| (iii) | The termini of 3 green mini-bus routes, i.e. Nos. 3, 6 & 8, will be repositioned slightly to suit the change in flow directions. |
The Peking Road Gyratory System will be implemented in two stages on 17 and 18 September 2002, and temporary traffic signs will be in place to direct the motorist on the changes. After allowing several days for the traffic to get accustomed, the three traffic lanes (i.e. two N/B lanes and one S/B lane) on Nathan Road will be closed with effect from 23 September 2002 for the MTR TST Station Modification Works. The whole scheme will last until end-2004.
Mr Chung said with the implementation of the improvement schemes, adverse traffic impact could be alleviated and the traffic condition will be kept within an acceptable limit.
The concerned authorities will closely monitor the situation and the public are encouraged to use public transport to the area.
Should the public have any enquiries, please contact the Integrated Call Centre at 1823.
End/Thursday, September 12, 2002