XN000022-1975-01-03 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1975

PEAK-HOUR URBAN CLEARWAY SYSTEM FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT

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THE FIRST STAGE OF A SCHEME TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC IN CENTRAL DISTRICT, FEATURING A PEAK-HOUR URBAN CLEARWAY SYSTEM FOR A SECTION OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, WILL START ON SUNDAY (JANUARY 5).

STAGE TWO - A PROPOSED BAN ON PRIVATE CARS ALONG THE SAME SECTION OF THE ROAD - WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO START IN MID- FEBRUARY BUT WILL NOW BE INTRODUCED ONLY AFTER MONITORING OF THE WORKING OF STAGE ONE HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT.

WITH EFFECT FROM 4 P.M. ON SUNDAY, CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS BANNING VEHICLES FROM STOPPING WILL BE IMPOSED ALONG THE WEST- BOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL BETWEEN JACKSON ROAD AND JUBILEE STREET, AND THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN PEDDER STREET AND JUBILEE STREET.

ALL VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND TRAMS, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM STOPPING ALONG THIS SECTION OF THE ROAD TO PICK UP OR SET DOWN PASSENGERS, AND TO LOAD OR UNLOAD GOODS DURING THE PEAK HOURS OF 7 A.M. TO 10 A.M. AND 4 P.M. TO 7 P.M.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THESE MEASURES, SUPPLEMENTED BY CHANGES IN TRAFFIC ROUTING AND TURNING MOVEMENT, SHOULD HELP IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE BUSY AREA,

HE SAID THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT HAD BEEN PLANNED AS PART OF A CONTINUING PROCESS TO REDUCE CONGESTION IN CENTRAL DISTRICT, AND TO PREPARE MOTORISTS FOR ANY LATER DIVERSIONS ONCE WORKS ON THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY START,

HE SAID THAT, AT THE REQUEST OF UMELCO MEMBERS AND FOLLOWING REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE CENTRAL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED WITH THE SCHEME HAD AGREED TO CARRY OUT MONITORING OF THE EFFECTS OF THE PEAK-HOUR URBAN CLEARWAY SYSTEM IN DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL BEFORE INTRODUCING THE PROPOSED BAN ON PRIVATE CARS.

FURTHER CONSULTATIONS WILL BE MADE WITH UMELCO. AFTER WHICH A DECISION WILL BE MADE ON A DATE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF STAGE TWO, HE SAID.

ALSO WITH EFFECT FROM SUNDAY, ICE HOUSE STREET BETWEEN DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL WILL BE RE- ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND. THIS WILL PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR MOTORISTS USING WYNDHAM STREET AND PEDDER STREET.

TRAFFIC ON QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TURN RIGHT INTO ICE HOUSE STREET.

EXCEPT ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS WHEN THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT IS OPEN, ALL NORTHBOUND VEHICLES IN ICE HOUSE STREET WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT INTO DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE POSTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

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