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The Transport Department (TD) today (June 30) reminded the public that special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented on Hong Kong Island to facilitate the flag raising ceremony and public processions tomorrow (July 1).
The special traffic and transport arrangements will mainly include:
(I) Flag raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai
Road closure
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Expo Drive, Expo Drive Central and Expo Drive East in Wan Chai will be temporarily closed from about 5.30am to 11am.
Public transport services
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1. The bus terminus at Expo Drive East will be suspended from about midnight to 11am. During the period of suspension of bus terminus, New World First Bus Route No. H1 will omit Expo Drive and Expo Drive East, Citybus Route 25A and Cross Harbour Route 961 will also omit Expo Drive East and temporarily terminate at Wan Chai North Temporary Public Transport Interchange;
2. The taxi stand at Expo Drive will be suspended from about 5.30am to 11am; and
3. Part of the taxi stand at Harbour Road westbound opposite to Harbour Centre will be suspended from about 7.30am to 9am.
(II) Public Procession from Victoria Park to Central Government Complex
Road closure
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Phase I
The following roads will be closed from about 1.30pm:
1. The U-turn slip road leading from Gloucester Road southbound to Gloucester Road northbound underneath Tai Hang Road flyover;
2. Sugar Street;
3. Great George Street (if necessary);
4. The section of Paterson Street between Gloucester Road and Great George Street (if necessary);
5. Kingston Street (if necessary);
6. The section of Gloucester Road southbound between Victoria Park Road flyover and Causeway Road (if necessary); and
7. Cleveland Street (if necessary).
Phase II
The following roads will be closed from about 2.15pm:
1. Jardine's Bazaar;
2. Tang Lung Street;
3. The section of Canal Road East between Russell Street and Hennessy Road;
4. The section of Canal Road West between Sharp Street West and Hennessy Road;
5. The section of Wan Chai Road between Canal Road West and Morrison Hill Road; and
6. The section of Bowrington Road between Sharp Street West and Hennessy Road.
Phase III
The following roads will be closed from about 2.30pm:
1. Causeway Road westbound;
2. Moreton Terrace;
3. Shelter Street;
4. The slip road leading from Yee Wo Street eastbound to Causeway Road westbound;
5. Irving Street;
6. The section of Pennington Street between Keswick Street and Yee Wo Street;
7. The slip road leading from Leighton Road westbound to Pennington Street (if necessary);
8. Yee Wo Street westbound;
9. Hennessy Road westbound;
10. The section of Lee Garden Road between Kai Chiu Road and Hennessy Road;
11. Kai Chiu Road;
12. The section of Yun Ping Road between Lan Fong Road and Kai Chiu Road;
13. The slip road leading from Johnston Road eastbound to Hennessy Road westbound;
14. The section of Thomson Road between Johnston Road and Luard Road;
15. The section of Luard Road between Johnston Road and Hennessy Road;
16. The section of Fenwick Street between Hennessy Road and Johnston Road;
17. The section of Johnston Road westbound between Ship Street and Landale Street; and
18. The section of Johnston Road eastbound between Fenwick Street and Hennessy Road.
Phase IV
The following roads will be closed from about 3.30pm:
1. The section of Queensway westbound between Queen's Road East and Rodney Street;
2. Queensway eastbound;
3. The section of Harcourt Road westbound between the exit of Harcourt Garden carpark and Cotton Tree Drive;
4. The section of Tim Wa Avenue southbound between Lung Wo Road and Harcourt Road (except for vehicles accessing to Chief Executive's Office and Central Government Complex carpark);
5. The section of Edinburgh Place southbound between Lung Wo Road and Connaught Road Central;
6. Rodney Street;
7. Drake Street;
8. Tamar Street;
9. The slip road leading from Cotton Tree Drive southbound to Queensway eastbound;
10. The section of Cotton Tree Drive southbound between Harcourt Road westbound and Queensway (if necessary);
11. The flyover leading from Garden Road northbound to Queensway eastbound;
12. The slip road leading from Garden Road northbound to Cotton Tree Drive northbound (if necessary)
13. The first and second rightmost lanes of Murray Road between Lambeth Walk and Queensway;
14. The section of Des Voeux Road Central eastbound between Pedder Street and Queensway; and
15. The section of Ice House Street northbound between Queen's Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central.
Additional road closure
If necessary, the following roads may be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic at any time until the crowd is dispersed and the road closure is lifted:
1. Yacht Street;
2. The section of Lau Li Street between Ngan Mok Street and Hing Fat Street;
3. The section of Electric Road between Lau Sin Street and Tsing Fung Street;
4. Lau Sin Street west of King's Road;
5. The section of Hing Fat Street between Causeway Road and Lau Sin Street;
6. Tai Hang Road flyover northbound; and
7. The section of Percival Street southbound between Gloucester Road and Lockhart Road.
Public transport services
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A total of 87 bus routes and 14 green minibus routes operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted, and one green minibus route will be temporarily suspended. The public transport operators will display notice to inform passengers of the temporary arrangements.
Due to extensive road closure in the affected areas, the TD anticipates that other major roads in the vicinity, such as King's Road, Canal Road flyover, Victoria Park Road, Gloucester Road, Harcourt Road flyover, Connaught Road Central, Cross Harbour Tunnel and Aberdeen Tunnel will become very congested. Motorists are advised to be patient in case of traffic congestion in the affected areas. Motorists should also follow Police's instruction and watch out for the latest traffic news through the media.
Members of the public are advised to use public transport services, in particular railway services and avoid driving to the affected or congested areas, especially in the vicinity of Tin Hau, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty and Central unless necessary. Early planning of journeys and use of alternative travelling routes are advised to avoid unexpected delay. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures whenever necessary.
For details of the special traffic and transport arrangements, members of the public can call 1823 or browse through TD's website (www.td.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, June 30, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:16
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