THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1986
19
LEGISLATION SPECIALLY FOR +EXPRESSWAYS+ SOON
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NEW LEGISLATION IS BEING PREPARED TO ENSURE STRICT CONTROL OF DRIVING, ACCESS AND ROADWORKS ON A +NEW BREED OF ROADS+, THE DIRECTOR OF HIGHWAYS, MR HAROLD BEATON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
MR BEATON WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A ROAD MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS CENTRE AT TAI LAM CHUNG IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
REFERRING TO THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD, HE SAID SUCH ROADS HAD BEEN GIVEN VARIOUS NAMES IN THE PAST, BUT ONE UNDERLYING THEME PREVAILED IN THAT THEY AIMED AT STRESSING THAT THESE ROADS WERE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS.
THIS DIFFERENCE WAS NOTICEABLE NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF THEIR SIZE AND ALIGNMENT, BUT ALSO IN THE WAY THEY WERE SIGNED, LIT, PATROLLED, DRIVEN ON AND MAINTAINED.
+ IT IS THIS LATTER ASPECT WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF TODAY'S
ONE OPENING OF THE TAI LAM CHUNG MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS CENTRE OF THE NEW CENTRES SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED AND EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE WHICH THIS NEW BREED OF ROAD REQUIRES,+ MR BEATON SAID.
THE CENTRES, WHICH WERE EQUIPPED FOR ALL ROUTINE AND EMERGENCY WORKS, WOULD BE MANNED 24 HOURS A DAY BY THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR. COMPREHENSIVE SIGNING, GUARDING AND LIGHTING EQUIPMENT WAS BEING PROPERLY STORED, ISSUED AND KEPT IN A HIGH STATE OF REPAIR.
ALL VEHICULAR PLANT PROVIDED UNDER THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT WAS PAINTED IN A CONSPICUOUS YELLOW COLOUR, LIT AND SIGNED TO ENSURE CLEAR VISIBILITY WHEN WORKING ON THE ROAD.
+THE OPERATION OF THE ROADS REQUIRES STRICT CONTROL OF DRIVING RULES, ACCESS AND ROAD WORKS AND NEW LEGISLATION IS BEING PREPARED TO ENSURE THIS IS POSSIBLE,+ MR BEATON SAID.
+ THE NAME RECOMMENDED FOR THE ROADS WITHIN THIS NEW LEGISLATION IS +EXPRESSWAYS+ CHOSEN SPECIFICALLY TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE SPECIAL NATURE OF THE ROADS.
IT WAS INTENDED THAT THE NEW +EXPRESSWAY ORDINANCE+ WOULD NOT ONLY CONTROL THE MANNER IN WHICH TRAFFIC USED THE ROADS, BUT WOULD ALSO STRICTLY CONTROL THE MANNER IN WHICH ANY WORKS WERE CARRIED OUT.
THE PROVISION OF THIS NEW MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS CENTRE AND THE ONE AT SHA TIN WAS IN READINESS FOR THE NEW LEGISLATION, HE SAID.
+OUR INTENTION IS TO MAINTAIN THESE ROADS TO A HIGH STANDARD IN THE SAFEST POSSIBLE MANNER TO PROVIDE THE BEST LEVEL OF SERVICE POSSIBLE TO THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC.+
/NK SEARCH