XN000022-1980-05-16 — Page 13

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FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1980

SAFE CROSSING FOR PEDESTRIANS AT SAIGON ST

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WORK WILL BEGIN NEXT WEEK ON A PEDESTRIAN SUBWAY AT SAIGON STREET IN YAU MA TEI TO PROVIDE A SAFE CROSSING FOR THE PUBLIC AND TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN NATHAN ROAD.

A CONTRACT FOR THE PROJECT, WORTH MORE THAN $4.5 MILLION, WAS SIGNED THIS AFTERNOON BETWEEN MR TOM ARMOUR, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS (KOWLOON) DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF WING FAI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

A PWD SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE WORK FORMED PART OF A PLAN TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN NATHAN ROAD,

IT WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 33-METRE SUBWAY UNDER NATHAN ROAD WITH ENTRANCES AT SAIGON STREET, AND THE DIVERSION OF STORMWATER DRAINS. THE PROJECT WILL TAKE 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, TWO-LANE TRAFFIC IN EACH DIRECTION ALONG NATHAN ROAD WILL BE MAINTAINED.

THE WORK HAS BEEN DESIGNED BY THE HIGHWAYS STRUCTURAL DESIGN DIVISION AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE HIGHWAYS (KOWLOON) DIVISION OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE.

MAXICAB FARES REVISED *****

MAXICAB FARES IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE INCREASED FROM SUNDAY (MAY 18).

PRESENT FARES RANGE FROM 40 CENTS TO $2. THE REVISED RATE RANGES FROM 50 CENTS TO $3, AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF 35 PER CENT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE OCTOBER 1978 MAXICAB FARES ARE RAISED.

THE REVISION, HE SAID, IS LARGELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO INCREASES IN FUEL COSTS, DRIVERS' WAGES AND INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

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