XN000022-1974-07-18 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1974.

CASTLE PEAK ROAD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME EXTENDED

THE SPECIAL HOLIDAY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME INTRODUCED ALONG A SECTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW WILL BE FURTHER EXTENDED UP TO AND INCLUDING THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 23.

IT WILL THEN COME INTO OPERATION IN SUMMER MONTHS IN THE COMING YEARS UNTIL THE NEW ROAD PROJECT LINKING TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN IS COMPLETED.

A TRIAL SCHEME, SIMILAR TO THE ONE FOR CLEARWATER BAY ROAD, VAS CARRIED OUT ON THE ROAD FOR TWO MONTHS EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND WAS LATER EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER TWO MONTHS ENDING NEXT MONTH.

UNDER THE SCHEME, GOODS VEHICLES ARE NOT PERMITTED TO TRAVEL ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD BETWEEN ITS JUNCTIONS WITH SHA TSUI ROAD IN TSUEN WAN AND CAUSEWAY ROAD IN TUEN KUN FROM 11 A.M. TO 6 P.M. ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, UNLESS THEY HAVE A PERMIT.

SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION. A SURVEY INDICATED THERE HAD BEEN A GENERAL INCREASE OF 10 PER CENT IN TRAFFIC VOLUME ON THE ROAD. JOURNEY SPEED HAD INCREASED BY ABOUT 14 PER CENT.

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY: +BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF SLOW-MOVING LORRIES AND HEAVY VEHICLES BREAKING DOWN, BUS SERVICES IN THIS PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADHERE MORE CLOSELY TO THEIR TIMETABLE.+

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE BASIC AIM OF THE SCHEME IS TO GIVE PRIORITY TO PASSENGER TRANSPORT FOR A FEW HOURS ON HOLIDAYS TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO HAVE REASONABLY QUICK ACCESS TO BEACHES AND RECREATIONAL AREAS.

DURING THE PERIOD OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION, GOODS VEHICLES CAN STILL MOVE TO AND FROM THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ON SUCH ALTERNATIVE ROUTES AS TAI PO ROAD, ROUTE TWISK, AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD OUTSIDE THE RESTRICTED HOURS.

PERMITS HAY BE ISSUED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW GOODS VEHICLES TO MOVE ON THE ROAD DURING THE RESTRICTED HOURS WHERE THIS IS ESSENTIAL AND WHERE NO ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.

PERMITS ALREADY ISSUED AND EFFECTIVE UP TO EARLY NEXT MONTH WILL HAVE TO BE RENEWED FOR THE FURTHER EXTENDED PERIOD. THIS SHOULD BE DONE IN PERSON AT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AT 2 HURRAY ROAD, 9TH FLOOR, HONG KONG.

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