ENG-1973 — Page 203

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT

137

On Hong Kong Island, the completion of Nam Fung Road was an important milestone in improving the road communication between the centre and the southern parts of the island. The new road, which is about one mile long and forms a direct link between Deep Water Bay Road and Wong Chuk Hang Road, was officially opened by the Governor on July 5.

As a continuation of the newly completed Waterfront Road, the section of Con- naught Road, Central between Harcourt Road and Morrison Street was substantially widened. The completion of this work, together with a new bus terminal and three public light bus terminals along the northern side of the widened road, brought con- siderable improvements to this major traffic route.

In the Mid-levels on the western part of Hong Kong, a flyover at the junction of Pokfulam Road/Hill Road/Bonham Road was built and opened to traffic in January 1973.

Other road projects included the widening of Wong Chuk Hang Road between Aberdeen Technical School and Aberdeen Fire Station, the construction of flyovers in Robinson Road and Queensway, as well as construction of new roads in the areas of Chai Wan, Shau Kei Wan, North Point, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai Reclamation, Tin Hau Temple Road, Little Sai Wan, Chung Hom Kok and Jardine's Lookout.

Traffic management techniques continued in an effort to facilitate traffic move- ments on the existing road network. ‘Clearway' schemes were introduced on a num- ber of main traffic routes to relieve traffic congestion by imposing restrictions on kerbside activities. Tenders were invited for the installation of an area traffic control system for western Kowloon as a first move towards computer-linked traffic control and surveillance. Good progress was made on the installation of traffic light signals at road intersections and pedestrian crossings and 246 sets of traffic signals were in operation by the end of 1973. The street lighting system was again expanded with a total of 1,182 new lamps.

With work on the mass transit railway programmed to start in 1974 high priority was given to the design and planning of diversions to preserve free traffic flow through the period of construction. Several projects were advanced to provide the necessary future relief routes.

Work started on a major comprehensive study of Hong Kong's long-term future transport demands and of the type of transport facilities required to meet the demands. Included in the study were interview surveys with some 25,000 households. A detailed traffic study of the Mid-levels and the Pok Fu Lam areas of Hong Kong Island was also carried out to determine what future development could be permitted in these areas. The public transport routes inventory was extended to include tramways. Parking surveys in the New Territories' satellite towns of Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long, Tai Po and Shatin and an interview survey of Macau ferry passengers were also carried out.

Road Tunnels

A road tunnel from Happy Valley to Aberdeen is in the planning stage. This will relieve the overloaded Pokfulam Road route. Work is proceeding on the second