The Expert Panel for Sustainable Transport Planning & Central-Wan Chai Bypass has affirmed the transport need for the bypass and its two planned slip roads to improve the reliability of the road network and tackle the deteriorating traffic conditions in the area.

In its report released today, the expert panel gives support for the two planned slip roads at the Convention and Exhibition Centre area and at Victoria Park Road/Gloucester Road/Hing Fat Street to magnify the benefits of the bypass.

It also recognises the need for Road P2 as an important interim measure to address traffic congestion in the Central reclamation area.

The panel recommends a full range of short-, medium- and long-term measures to improve traffic conditions along the east-west corridor on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island.

The Sub-committee on Wan Chai Development Phase II Review of the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee considered the report at its meeting today and the Environment, Transports & Works Bureau welcomed the report.

Missing link

The bypass is the missing link of the planned strategic road on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, between the Rumsey Street Flyover and the Island Eastern Corrido, the bureau said.

When completed, vehicles can travel from Chai Wan in the east all the way to the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok and the northwest New Territories without having to use the Connaught Road Central/Harcourt Road/Gloucester Road Corridor.

There is an essential transport need to build the bypass as the existing transport infrastructure cannot meet the current and future traffic demand, the bureau added.

On Electronic Road Pricing, the panel's view is that without the proper infrastructure, ERP alone cannot solve the traffic problem. This is consistent with the Government's view that ERP can complement, but cannot replace, the CWB. 

Electronic road pricing feasibility considered

The bureau said it is considering the feasibility of introducing ERP in Hong Kong. It will refine the previous traffic models with more up-to-date traffic data, carry out sensitivity tests on charging scenarios, keep in view the technological developments and make reference to successful experiences in other places. It will consult the community before it makes any decision.

While a few sub-committee members expressed concern over the traffic impact of the proposed developments under the Central Reclamation Phase III project including the Tamar redevelopment project, the bureau said traffic generated by those developments would constitute a small percentage of the total traffic flow on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island.

As the transport experts had pointed out in their report, the bypass would be needed even if there is zero car growth and no further land development in Central and Wan Chai.

The bureau looks forward to seeing the incorporation of the bypass and its planned slip roads into the concept plan at the next stage (Realisation Stage) of the Harbour-front Enhancing Review - Wan Chai, Causeway Bay & Adjoining Areas project to foster sustainable transport planning. It will continue to address the visual and environmental impacts and social concerns arising from the construction of the bypass.