Flyover detour: Traffic from the Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for North Point (blue line) will be diverted to the first exit road on the left, while those heading for Causeway Bay (red line) will be diverted to the second exit road on the left.

Traffic arrangements will be in place from 6am on June 11 to accommodate the reconstruction of the Causeway Bay flyover, the Highways Department says.

Speaking at a press conference, the department's Major Works Project Management Office's Deputy Project Manager Wan Man-leung said the new arrangements are expected to continue for about two years.

To acquire sufficient space for the reconstruction, a temporary carriageway was built on part of the Causeway Bay Promenade to replace the adjacent section of the Victoria Park Road eastbound carriageway, Mr Wan said. This maintains the existing three-lane configuration along the affected section.

Details of the temporary traffic arrangements are as follows:

* the three righthand  traffic lanes of Victoria Park Road eastbound between the access road for Causeway Bay Promenade and the up-ramp of the Island Eastern Corridor will be closed, and affected traffic diverted to the temporary carriageway at Causeway Bay Promenade;

* traffic from the Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for North Point will be diverted to the first exit road on the left;

* traffic from the Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Causeway Bay will be diverted to the second exit road on the left;

* access to the Causeway Bay flyover up-ramp will be shifted from the innermost lane of Victoria Park Road eastbound to the outermost lane;

* traffic from the Hung Hing Road flyover will be directed to North Point and the Island Eastern Corridor only;

* motorists in Wan Chai North heading for Causeway Bay or Tai Hang may consider using Fleming Road and Gloucester Road for access to the Causeway Bay flyover; and,

* the speed limit along the affected road sections on Victoria Park Road eastbound and in the vicinity will be reduced to 50 kilometers per hour from 70kph.

Cross harbour bus route Nos 914X and 948P on journeys to Causeway Bay will be diverted, with bus stops on Harbour Road and at Convention Avenue relocated to the Wan Chai Ferry Pier Bus Terminus.

Cross harbour bus route No 307 heading for Tai Po will also be diverted, with bus stops on Harbour Road and outside Wan Chai Swimming Pool relocated to Gloucester Road outside Immigration Tower.

Press and radio announcements will enhance public awareness of the new traffic and transport arrangements. The arrangements have been uploaded to the Transport Department's website.

Radio broadcasts inside the Cross Harbour Tunnel will remind drivers of the changes, and information leaflets will be distributed.

The public can call 1823 or 2804 2600 for enquiries.

To implement the traffic arrangements, the department will carry out road works in the early hours of June 11 and 12. Motorists heading for Causeway Bay and North Point during that period are advised to follow the traffic signs along the road and heed the announcements inside the Cross Harbour Tunnel.

The Highways Department signed a $73 million contract last June for the reconstruction of the Causeway Bay flyover and associated widening of Victoria Park Road for completion in mid-2007.

The works aim to improve road capacity to relieve traffic congestion at the Causeway Bay flyover and the Island Eastern Corridor westbound outside Victoria Park.

The contract includes demolition of the existing Causeway Bay flyover and the adjoining footbridge, construction of a 210-metre-long, two-lane, one-way flyover connecting Victoria Park Road eastbound to Gloucester Road southbound, construction of a covered footbridge spanning Victoria Park Road, widening and realignment of a 170-metre westbound section of Victoria Park Road to five traffic lanes, realignment of a 225-metre eastbound section of Victoria Park Road and the associated works including landscaping.