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SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 1976.
The eastbound traffic movement from Des Voeux Road Central, through
the Pedder Station works area, into Chater Road will be maintained if possible
although this will depend on the contractor's method of construction.
However, if necessary, this traffic will be diverted into Connaught
Road Central via Rumsey Street, Queen Victoria Street and Douglas Street.
It is anticipated that Pedder Street between Queen's Road Central
and Des Voeux Road Central will be reduced to two lanes for a limited period
of time, as yet unknown, to facilitate construction.
It may be necessary to close this section of Pedder Street to
traffic at a few weekends for periods of 36 hours to allow the erection
and realignment of the tram tracks and temporary decking.
All pedestrian routes and crossing facilities or equivalents in
the affected areas are to be maintained throughout the MTR construction
period.
After the traffic diversions are implemented, the various sites
in Central will be handed over to the contractors who will continue
preliminary tests on the soil under the roads.
Construction work will not start in earnest until several weeks
after the preliminary tests are completed. This the same case along the
length of Nathan Road in Kowloon where preliminary tests are still continuing.
Commenting on the traffic diversions in Central and in Kowloon,
a Police spokesman said: "Public understanding, cooperation and assistance
is important, having regard to the extent road usage will be limited during
the period of construction of the MTR. Wherever possible, members of the
public should make use of public transport."
The spokesman urged people living in areas not served by public
transport to form car pools wherever possible and especially when they travel
regularly into MTR construction areas.
/He also