XN000022-1994-12-05 — Page 17

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"The purpose of the test is to assess the overall traffic improvement and impact of the proposed scheme against its objective of improving the traffic movement along the eastbound IEC near the eastbound approach to the EHC," the spokesman said

He added that the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Eastern District Board had agreed on this pilot test and that the test would be reviewed to determine if further tests should be conducted.

During the test period, the tunnel bound traffic from Man Hong Street slip road will be guided to route via IEC eastbound, the Sai Wan Ho/Lei King Wan area and IEC westbound to enter the EHC.

Kowloon-bound tunnel bus routes 601, 680, 690 and 691 will be routed via King's Road, Kornhill Road, Shau Kei Wan Road and Tai Hong Street to the IEC westbound and then enter the EHC.

Traffic cones will be placed between the slow lane and the middle lane of eastbound IEC from the junction with Man Hong Street slip road to the approach to the EHC to prohibit weaving between the two lanes. Appropriate temporary traffic signs and overhead gantry signs indicating "Diversion" will be put up to guide motorists.

Traffic police will standby at the major road junctions in Lei King Wan area and will assist to direct motorists when necessary. Survey teams of Transport Department will carry out traffic surveys during the test period.

Upon completion of the pilot test at 10 pm, the traffic cones will be removed and the temporary traffic signs will be covered up. All temporary traffic diversion arrangements will be reintroduced if it is decided to conduct further pilot tests.

The spokesman said the pilot test would enable the Transport Department to carry out traffic surveys to assess the overall traffic implications of the proposed traffic management scheme.

Information collected will be analysed to finalise the appropriate scheme for consultation with members of the Eastern District Board prior to its implementation.

He pointed out that at present, traffic congestion was observed during evening peak hours at the eastbound carriageway of IEC near the approach to the EHC.