Pedestrian scheme creates better environment for pedestrians

The overall environment for pedestrians in Causeway Bay will be improved when Phase I of the Causeway Bay pedestrian scheme is implemented in the second quarter of this year.

Phase I of the scheme comprises the full-time pedestrianisation of Paterson Street (section between Great George Street and Yee Wo Street), as well as the part-time pedestrianisation of:

	Lee Garden Road (section between Hennessy Road and Kai Chiu Road);
	Lockhart Road east of Cannon Street, East Point Road and Great George Street west of Paterson Street.

Vehicular traffic will only be permitted to enter the part-time pedestrianised streets during certain hours of the day mainly for loading and unloading purpose.

Elaborating on the details of the Causeway Bay pedestrian scheme at a press briefing this (Tuesday) afternoon, the acting Assistant Commissioner for Transport, Mr Louis Hung, highlighted that the scheme was devised to achieve a dual purpose.

He said: "The scheme is designed to improve the general pedestrian environment through beautification of the area and diversion of vehicular traffic.

"It also aims to minimize the conflict between pedestrians and vehicular traffic thereby reducing the occurrence of traffic accidents involving injuries to pedestrians," he added.

The full-time/part-time pedestrianisation of the above streets will be implemented through a step-by-step approach to facilitate better assessment on the impact of traffic circulation and to let the public get accustomed to the changes.

That is to say, the pedestrianised streets will only be closed to vehicular traffic on Sundays and public holidays on a trial basis during the initial period.

To tie in with the Phase I of the pedestrian scheme, Mr Hung pointed out that a number of traffic management measures had been devised to keep the impact on vehicular circulation of the surrounding area to the minimum.

These include:

Cannon Street will be re-routed from two-way to one-way northbound;

the cancellation of 19 on-street parking spaces at Lockhart Road and Jaffe Road; and

the relocation of the green minibus stand for routes 4A, 4C and 5 from Lockhart Road to Cannon Road near its junction with Jaffe Road.

"Paving works will also be carried out at Lee Garden Road, Lockhart Road, East Point Road, Paterson Street and Great George Street to enhance pedestrian comfort," Mr Hung said.

As regards the implementation of Phase II of the pedestrian scheme, details of which are still to be finalised, it will be subject to the public acceptability of Phase I of the scheme, he added.

Tuesday, February 22, 2000