Implementation of pedestrianisation in Mong Kok

Shopping and walking comfortably in the area around Sai Yeung Choi Street South will become a reality on August 13, the day the pedestrianisation scheme in Mong Kok is first implemented.

With effect from the date and every Sunday afterwards, all vehicles will be prohibited from entering the following sections of roads which will be designated as part-time pedestrian zones between 12 noon and 12 midnight:-

	Sai Yeung Choi Street South between Argyle Street and Dundas Street ;
	Nelson Street between Fa Yuen Street and Sai Yeung Choi Street South ; and
	Soy Street between Fa Yuen Street and Sai Yeung Choi Street South.

Explaining the details of the pedestrianisatin scheme in Mong Kok this afternoon (August 3), Senior Engineer of the Transport Department Mr David Chan said the scheme would serve to enhance road safety and improve the pedestrian environment as well.

"The pedestrian flow on the streets concerned is about 25,000 people per peak hour and the scheme is to help minimise the conflict between pedestrians and vehicular traffic," he said.

To tie in with the scheme, a series of traffic management measures will be implemented in phases starting August 5.

With effect from 10 am on August 5, vehicles will be allowed to turn left from Arygle Street westbound onto Nathan Road southbound.

With effect from 10 am on August 6, Sai Yeung Choi Street South between Arygle Street and Shantung Street will be re-routed from one-way southbound to one-way northbound and vehicles will no longer be allowed to turn left from Arygle Street westbound onto Sai Yeung Choi Street South southbound.

As a result, vehicles on Arygle Street heading for Sai Yeung Choi Street South between Nelson Street and Arygle Street will be routed via Arygle Street westbound, Fa Yuen Street southbound, Nelson Street westbound and Sai Yeung Choi Street South northbound.

Vehicles on Arygle Street heading for Sai Yeung Choi Street South between Nelson Street and Shantung Street will have to travel via Arygle Street westbound, Nathan Road southbound, Shantung Street eastbound and Sai Yeung Choi Street South northbound.

Starting from 10 am on August 7, Sai Yeung Choi Street South between Soy Street and Dundas Street will be re-routed from one-way southbound to one-way northbound.

Vehicles heading for Sai Yeung Choi Street South between Soy Street and Dundas Street will be routed via Fa Yuen Street southbound, Dundas Street westbound and Sai Yeung Choi Street South northbound.

Those heading for Sai Yeung Choi Street South between Shantung Street and Soy Street will be routed via Arygle Street westbound, Nathan Road southbound, Shantung Street eastbound and Sai Yeung Choi Street South southbound.

Green Minibus Route 5 will be re-routed with effect from August 7.

Mr Chan said the phased traffic measures were required for a smooth implementation of pedestrianisation in Mong Kok.

Apart from the above measures, the Transport Department will ban vehicles from entering Sai Yeung Choi Street South between Nelson Street and Soy Street between 4 pm and 12 midnight on September 13 for the trial implementation of the part-time pedestrianisation scheme to be carried out later on this road section from Monday to Saturday and public holidays as well.

"We will closely monitor the traffic situation and make adjustments whenever necessary," he said.

End/Thursday, August 3, 2000

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