XN000022-1995-03-16 — Page 10

9

Mr Lui pointed out that traffic volume on Tuen Mun Road had been increasing and the road was saturated in the morning peak hours. Traffic queues were often observed in the uphill sections. Consequently, bus operation was seriously affected, resulting in substantial lost trips and delay to thousands of bus passengers.

A Government/District Board Working Group was convened in 1992/93 to examine short-term traffic management measures to relieve congestion on this corridor. Its recommendations have been actively pursued by the Government departments concerned. The major proposals implemented include:

**

enhancement of publicity and education on road discipline;

increases in police patrols and monitoring;

construction of additional lay-bys for breakdown/accident management;

positioning of stand-by breakdown-recovery vehicles on-site;

commencement of the provision of a vehicle-weighing station at Tai Lam to deter overloading; and

improvement of bus and ferry services.

However, despite the efforts made in the above areas, no lasting relief had been achieved and the situation might deteriorate prior to the completion of the Tuen Mun Road widening scheme in late 1996 and the Route 3 Country Park Section in 1998, Mr Lui said.

"In view of the prevailing traffic conditions, there have been repeated suggestions and representations made by resident organisations in the past year pressing for the early introduction of a bus-only lane on Tuen Mun Road to speed up bus journeys in the morning peak period," he said.

The feasibility of bus-only lane on Tuen Mun Road has been studied in depth with the support of consultants. The proposal is considered worth pursuing, under certain conditions, initially on an experimental basis.

The bus-only lane scheme will be closely monitored by the Transport Department and the Police. A joint Scheme Co-ordination Centre made up of concerned departments will be established at Siu Lam to oversee the implementation of the scheme.

Page 10Page 11