XN000022-1976-05-20 — Page 5

1

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1976

CHATHAM ROAD INTERCHANGE

PROVISION OF U-TURNING LOOP

*****

A NEW ROAD IS TO BE BUILT AT THE CHATHAM ROAD INTERCHANGE IN KOWLOON TO PROVIDE EASIER ACCESS TO THE HUNG HOM RAILWAY COMPLEX FOR MOTORISTS COMING FROM THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL.

TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE NOW BEING INVITED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

MR. H.C. BEATON, CHIEF P.W.D. ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, SAID TODAY WORK ON THE ROAD WAS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN AUGUST AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT ONE YEAR TO COMPLETE.

THE NEW ROAD, IN THE FORM OF A U-TURNING LOOP, WOULD BE ABOUT 100 METRES LONG RUNNING UNDER HONG CHONG ROAD BRIDGE NEAR THE SOUTHERN CARRIAGEWAY OF CHATHAM ROAD AND JOIN UP WITH THE TWO CARRIAGEWAYS OF THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL APPROACH ROADS.

+WHEN COMPLETED, THE NEW LOOP ROAD WILL PROVIDE A LESS TORTUOUS ROUTE FOR TRAFFIC FROM THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL AND THE POLYTECHNIC TO THE NEW RAILWAY COMPLEX AND THE EASTERN PART OF TSIM SHA TSUI,

+AT THE SAME TIME, IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A MORE DIRECT AND SHORTER ROUTE FROM THE EASTERN PART OF TSIM SHA TSUI AND THE POLYTECHNIC TO THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL,+ HE SAID.

MR. BEATON SAID THE NEW LOOP ROAD WOULD ALSO CATER FOR AN EXPECTED INCREASE IN TRAFFIC MOVEMENT LIKELY TO BE GENERATED BY THE PLANNED HUNG HOM INDOOR STADIUM AND INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE.

FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF PEDESTRIANS, HE SAID, THE EXISTING PEDESTRIAN THOROUGHFARE UNDER THE BRIDGE WOULD BE MAINTAINED BY AN EXTENSION OF THE SUBWAY UNDER THE EASTERN SLIP ROAD.

THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DESIGNED BY THE P.W.D.'S HIGHWAYS (KOWLOON) DIVISION WHICH WILL SUPERVISE THE CONSTRUCTION WORKS.

-

15