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Traffic management scheme along Island Eastern Corridor
A traffic management scheme will be implemented along the Island Eastern Corridor (IEC) to relieve the traffic congestion over the section of the IEC eastbound between Man Hong Street and the interchange with the Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC). The scheme will be implemented with effect from 10 am on August 20 (Sunday).
A spokesman for the Transport Department said today (Friday) that the scheme would involve:
* An all day ban on traffic, except franchised buses, from Man Hong Street
from entering EHC direct via the eastbound approach;
* Signalisation of two junctions in Lei King Wan to improve traffic circulation
and provide controlled pedestrian crossing facilities in anticipation of diverted tunnel traffic from Man Hong Street;
* Introduction of a 120-metre long bus lane in the IEC at the interchange with
EHC to maintain existing direct franchised bus routes from Man Hong Street to EHC; and
* Modifications to gantry signs in the IEC to improve information to motorists
for lane selection so as to achieve more efficient utilization of lanes.
"As a result, the tunnel-bound traffic from Man Hong Street slip road will be guided to route via the eastbound IEC, the Sai Wan Ho/Lei King Wan area and the westbound IEC in order to reach the westbound approach to the EHC to Kowloon East. This will improve the traffic flow along eastbound IEC," he said.
At present, traffic congestion was observed during evening peak hours at the eastbound approach to the EHC. The congestion problem is mainly due to the capacity of the EHC being reached during peak hours.
When this happens, traffic queues inevitably build up from the tunnel portal and extend onto the carriageway of the IEC. Traffic from Man Hong Street slip road would have to wait on the IEC for merging into the tunnel-bound traffic queue, thus creating blockage to the eastbound through traffic along the IEC.