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5.12
5.13
at most locations it will be necessary to relocate and reconstruct loading islands to accommodate the longer, wider cars. The opportunity will be taken to reduce the number of existing stops as this work proceeds, although it is envisaged that the majority of stops would remain at their present location. Figure 8 shows possible alternative station layouts. At the most important stops footbridges would be provided with steps down to platform level. the long term on redevelopment of adjoining properties these footbridges could be extended to form high level walkway systems in areas other than Central such as North Point and Causeway Bay.
In
The new Light Rail Vehicles will be double ended and double sided which will allow, in 1981, the removal of the reversing loops which cause traffic disruption. Thus the loops, at Causeway Bay, Western Market and North Point would be removed in 1981. They would be replaced by a turn-back facility of the type illustrated in Figure 9 in Causeway Road, Connaught Road and near Healthy Street West in King's Road. In the last two cases, the proposed schemes can be integrated with committed road development.
Whilst this arrangement does require the use of a greater' width right-of-way mid-block, it does eliminate the need for turning across other traffic lanes at junctions which will allow rephasing of signals and will increase capacity.
It is possible at this stage that services could be temporarily terminated at Sai Wan Ho rather than Shau Kei Wan. Whilst this would undoubtedly result in a loss of passengers, it may be preferable to increasing the space between the tram tracks. through the narrower street section of Shau Kei Wan.
Shortly after 1981, as the first part of the Chai Wan extension, it will be possible to re-route the tram services along the ground level Shau Kei Wan by-pass which is proposed to improve traffic conditions in Shau Kei Wan prior to the completion of the Island Eastern Corridor. The by-pass scheme must be designed to allow the future extension of the LRT
to Chai Wan, a possible layout is shown in Figure 10.
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