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Announcing details of the blasting operations today (Tuesday), the Government Engineer/Project Management of the Highways Department, Mr Peter Orange, said the rock blasting operations were required for the construction of climbing lanes at four uphill sections of the Kowloon-bound carriageway of Tuen Mun Road.
These sections are at Sam Shing, So Kwun Wat, Tai Lam and Ting Kau.
"The use of blasting methods for cutting back the existing rock slopes along the road is considered necessary in order to complete the road widening work in a reasonable time so as to minimise overall effects of the works on the travelling public and local residents," Mr Orange said.
"From now on, blasting operations will be carried out quite frequently until March 1996," he added.
The programme and frequency for the blasting operations are as follows:
Sections
Programme
Frequency (times per week)
Sam Shing Hui
May 95 to October 95
1-2
So Kwun Wat
July 95 to November 95
Tai Lam Ting Kau
April 95 to March 96
3-5
May 95 to January 96
2-3
For safety reason and protection of the public, it was necessary to evacuate the area within 150 metre of the blasting site, Mr Orange said.
He said it was therefore necessary to close both carriageways of Tuen Mun Road during each blasting operation. For a short section at Tai Lam, it is also required to close Castle Peak Road during blasting because of its proximity.
The carriageways will have to be closed for about 10 minutes at each blast to provide time for the blasting operation and subsequent checking.
Results of traffic surveys show that the hour from noon to 1 pm is the least busy hour during the day with traffic flow figures at 2,500 each way on Tuen Mun Road and 200 each way on Castle Peak Road. The blasting operations are therefore planned to be carried out at this hour.
The Highways Department will maintain a close liaison with the Traffic Police and Transport Department.
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