Traffic expected to be busy tomorrow at Causeway Bay

      Traffic at Causeway Bay is expected to be busy and may be congested in the afternoon peak tomorrow (June 13), which is the first working day after implementation of the traffic arrangements to facilitate the reconstruction of Causeway Bay Flyover.

     At a joint press briefing today (June 12), Deputy Commissioner for Transport, Mr Lau Ka-keung, said as motorists might need time to familiarize with the new traffic arrangements, the Department would closely monitor the traffic condition tomorrow through the activation of the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre.

     Mr Lau advised motorists to drive carefully and observe the traffic signs and road markings in the vicinity and follow the advice given from police officers on site. Members of the public and students should leave home earlier.

     Also speaking at the press briefing, Project Manager of Highways Department’ s Major Works Project Management Office, Mr Adrian Ng, said the reconstruction works which included a new 210-metre long two-lane one way flyover aimed at improving road capacity to relieve traffic congestion at the existing Causeway Bay Flyover and the Island Eastern Corridor eastbound outside Victoria Park.

     The following arrangements have been implemented and will last throughout the reconstruction period of about 24 months:

A. Re-arrangement of Traffic Lanes on Gloucester Road and Victoria Park Road eastbound:

     The three rightmost traffic lanes of Victoria Park Road eastbound between the access road to Causeway Bay Promenade and the upramp of Island Eastern Corridor has been closed.  The affected traffic lanes have been temporarily re-provided at Causeway Bay Promenade and the traffic have been diverted to the temporary carriageway with the following new arrangements:  

* Traffic on the leftmost traffic lane of Victoria Park Road eastbound has been directed to North Point only;

* Traffic on the second and third leftmost traffic lane of Victoria Park Road eastbound have been directed to North Point/ Island Eastern Corridor; and

* Traffic on the rightmost lane of Victoria Park Road eastbound have been directed to Causeway Bay Flyover for Tai Hang and/or Causeway Bay.  

B. Traffic Diversions at Cross Harbour Tunnel Exit and Hung Hing Road flyover:

* Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading to North Point have been diverted to the first exit road at the left;  

* Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading to Causeway Bay have been diverted to the second exit road at the left;

* Traffic from Hung Hing Road Flyover have been directed to North Point and Island Eastern Corridor only.

     Motorists in Wan Chai North heading to Causeway Bay and/or Tai Hang might consider the following alternative diversion routes:  

* Motorists on Harbour Road eastbound west of Fleming Road might divert via Fleming Road northbound, U-turn, Fleming Road southbound, Gloucester Road eastbound, Victoria Park Road eastbound and Causeway Bay Flyover;  

* Motorists on Harbour Road eastbound east of Fleming Road might divert via Tonnochy Road northbound, Convention Avenue westbound, Fleming Road southbound, Gloucester Road eastbound, Victoria Park Road eastbound and Causeway Bay Flyover;  

* Motorists on Expo Drive southbound might divert via Fleming Road southbound, Gloucester Road eastbound, Victoria Park Road eastbound and Causeway Bay Flyover;

* Motorists on Tonnochy Road northbound or Marsh Road northbound might divert via Convention Avenue westbound, Fleming Road southbound, Gloucester Road eastbound, Victoria Park Road eastbound and Causeway Bay Flyover; and

* Motorists on Convention Avenue eastbound or Hung Hing Road eastbound might divert via Hung Hing Road flyover, Gloucester Road eastbound, Victoria Park Road eastbound, Wing Hing Street, King’ s Road westbound and Causeway Road.

     Cross Harbour Bus route nos. 914X and 948P on journeys to Causeway Bay have been diverted via Fleming Road northbound, Wan Chai Ferry Pier Bus Terminus, Fleming Road southbound at-grade, Gloucester Road eastbound, Victoria Park Road eastbound and Causeway Bay Flyover before resuming their original routings.  

     The bus stops for the above routes on Harbour Road outside Wan Chai Swimming Pool and at Convention Avenue outside Wan Chai Ferry Pier have been relocated to Wan Chai Ferry Pier Bus Terminus.  

     Cross Harbour Bus route no. 307 on journeys to Tai Po have been diverted via Arsenal Street Flyover, Gloucester Road eastbound, Victoria Park Road eastbound and Causeway Bay flyover before resuming its original routing.

     The bus stops for the above route on Harbour Road outside Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Wan Chai Swimming Pool have been relocated to Gloucester Road outside Immigration Tower.

     Details of the above arrangements had been uploaded onto the Transport Department’ s website http://www.info.gov.hk/td/eng/notice/specialtravel/specialtravel_index.html

     A series of publicity items were in place to enhance public awareness of the traffic and transport arrangements.  These items included announcement through the press and radio; radio broadcast inside the Cross Harbour Tunnel; distribution of information leaflets and erection of banners. For enquiries, please dial 1823 or 2804 2600.

    Motorists were advised to pay attention to the broadcast about the latest traffic situations. Appropriate traffic aids have been erected to guide motorists and notices have been displayed by bus companies to advise passengers of the changes.

Ends/Sunday, June 12, 2005