TNAG-1611-FCO40-2214-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 37

horse abatement studies and mesures question No.12

Question:

to reduce posi

Reply by Hon. G. Barnes, JP, Secretary for

Lands and works to question by Hon. Edward S.1. Ho at Legislative Council on 9 December 1987–

7. Mr. EDWARD HO asked:

In his reply to the questions raised in this Council on 12 November 1986 and 6 May 1987 respectively, the Secretary for Lands and Works said that measures were being taken to contain noise pollution wherever possible at the planning stage of new road works, and that noise barriers would be used where effective and practicable on new roads but not on existing roads or flyovers until they were replaced. Will Government inform this Council how many new trunk roads have been subject to noise abatement study, what measures are being proposed, and whether any roads and flyovers under reconstruction have included the provision of noise barriers?

SECRETARY FOR

sir,

FOR LANDS

LANDS AND WORKS:

Noise abatement studies have been carried out on a total of 19 new trunk roads, including the Kwun Tong By-pass, Route 5, Tate's Cairn Tunnel and the Eastern Harbour Crossing. Noise assessments are carried out at the planning stage following initial consultation between the Highways Department and Environmental Protection Department. It is now normal practice for all major highway proposals to be subject to such noise assessments. In addition, noise assessments have been carried out in respect of many minor road schemes.

The measures adopted to reduce noise vary depending on the nature of the project and its environment. These include realignment or relocation of the road to move it further away from noise sensitive buildings; and the erection of barriers, such as screen walls, concrete or perspex panels, or earth bounds to screen adjacent buildings. They also include the replanning of surrounding development to provide buffers against the traffic noise.

The Princess Margaret Road Flyover, which is currently under reconstruction, was subject to a noise assessment. It was concluded that there would be no significant increase in noise level between the old flyover and the new one, which is on virtually the same alignment. It was, however, decided to install concrete parapets on the edges of the flyover, instead of the originally designed open steel parapets, to achieve a minor improvement in screening vehicle noise.