Part-time pedestrian streets added to in Causeway Bay

The overall pedestrian environment along a section of Lockhart Road, East Point Road and Great George Street, Causeway Bay will further get improved when a part-time pedestrian street trial scheme takes effect from next Thursday (June 14).

Announcing details of the trial scheme at a press briefing today (June 8), Chief Engineer of the Transport Department (TD), Mr Tsang King-man said: "The part-time pedestrian street scheme under TD's pedestrian schemes is aimed at improving pedestrian safety and mobility in the crowed areas. It can also reduce air pollution and improve environmental hygiene as well."

In the part-time pedestrian street, vehicular access will be disallowed in specified periods from 4 pm to 12 midnight and no on-street parking space is available in the street. However, loading/unloading activities will be allowed before the restricted hours.

Mr Tsang said: "Currently, a section of Lockhart Road, East Point Road and Great George Street have been designated as part-time pedestrian streets on weekends and public holidays with wide public support. Therefore TD is confident to put it on trial during weekdays."

After the implementation of the scheme, the banning of left turn movement at the junction of Percival Street and Lockhart Road will help accord priority to pedestrians crossing Lockhart Road, he said.

Furthermore, the relocation of the GMB stand to Lockhart Road will provide a more preferable link to Causeway Bay MTR station. Additional loading/unloading bays provided in the area can greatly alleviate the loading and unloading demand.

Mr Tsang revealed that the pedestrian flow of the above three streets had recorded an average of 11,000 to 13,000 per hour during the peak period. The designation of a part-time pedestrian street will relieve the crowed condition in the streets.

He said: "Once the trial is proved to be successful, the scheme will become permanent. The streets will be beautified with landscaping works.

Also present at the press briefing, Senior Engineer of the department Mr Chan Kam-shun said a package of temporary traffic management measures will be introduced in three phases in the area to tie in with the trial.

Details of the temporary traffic measures are:

From June 9 (Saturday)

All parking meters in Jaffe Road between Canal Road and Percival Street will be suspended.

From 10 am, June 12 (Tuesday)

	Southbound vehicular traffic in Percival Street will be banned from left turn to Lockhart Road;
	GMB stand (route no.5) in Cannon Street will be relocated to Lockhart Road;
	The existing taxi stand on the south kerbside of Lockhart Road will be relocated to the north kerbside while the south kerbside of Lockhart Road will be designated as restricted zone;
	The north kerbside of Jaffe Road will be yellow-hatched as public loading and unloading bays;
	Existing taxi stand and motorcycle park will be shifted to the north kerbside of Jaffe Road;
	Jaffe Road east bound traffic could right turn to Percival Street to cater for the additional loading/unloading activities.
	Yellow-hatched loading/unloading bays are designated in Cannon Street, Jaffe Road and Lockhart Road. Loading/unloading outside Causeway Bay Plaza Phase I will be restricted from 12 noon to midnight.

From 4 pm, June 14 (Thursday)

The section of Lockhart Road, East Point Street and Great George Street will be closed to all traffic between 4 pm to 12 midnight.

Leaflets on temporary traffic diversion arrangements will be distributed to taxi and GMB drivers as well as motorists using the streets before and during the trial.

Mr Chan also reminded motorists driving along the streets to take heed of traffic diversion signs erected on site.

End/ Friday, June 8, 2001

Graphic:

	East Point Road Part-time Pedestrian Scheme--Temporary Traffic Diversion Scheme
	East Point Road Part-time Pedestrian Scheme--Temporary Traffic Arrangement