Central Kowloon Route – Phase 2 Public Engagement Exercise Commences
The Highways Department commences a three-month Phase 2 Public Engagement exercise for Central Kowloon Route (CKR) today (December 5) to collect public views on the detailed design and construction arrangements of CKR.
CKR is a 4.7km long dual-three lane trunk road with 3.9km in tunnel and will form a key component of the strategic road network in Hong Kong after commissioning.
The Project Manager of the Major Works Project Management Office of the Highways Department, Mrs Joanna Kwok Tam Yuk-ying, indicated at the media briefing today that the CKR would connect the Yau Ma Tei Interchange in West Kowloon with Kowloon Bay and Kai Tak Development in East Kowloon and hence divert traffic away from the major east-west corridors in Kowloon. This would therefore effectively relieve the existing congestion problems and cater for traffic demand generated by future developments. Furthermore, CKR consists mainly of tunnels and will therefore help reduce air pollution resulting from traffic congestion.
“With the commissioning of CKR, the journey time between Kowloon Bay and Yau Ma Tei through CKR at the peak hours will take only around 5 minutes, thus saving about 25 to 30 minutes in comparison with the travel time without CKR,” Mrs Kwok said.
The department conducted Phase 1 Public Engagement exercise for CKR between 2007 and 2009. According to the feedbacks collected at that time, the public generally agreed with the need for construction of CKR and supported the recommended alignment as well as the reprovisioning arrangements for the affected public facilities.
“The design of CKR incorporated several features to respond to the public concerns raised in the Phase 1 Public Engagement exercise. On environment, we will construct landscape decks and noise enclosures and barriers at appropriate locations to enhance the environmental benefits of the project and at the same time introducing more greening and improving the adjacent environment. On culture and heritage, the recommended alignment will preserve the historic buildings of the Yau Ma Tei Police Station and allow Temple Street night market activities to continue during the construction stage,” Mrs Kwok added.
“We will adopt the approach of reproviding the affected public facilities in advance to minimise the impacts to the public services. The extent of the temporary reclamation for construction of the underwater tunnel in Kowloon Bay will be kept to the minimum.”
“Furthermore, the tunnel will be constructed mainly deep underground in rock stratum and will not therefore affect the foundation, structures and use of the adjacent buildings. The recommended alignment will not involve any resumption and clearance of private properties or relocation of any households.”
The department is progressively issuing the latest project news and invitations to adjacent residents to participate in the focus group meetings to be held from December 12 to 20 to introduce the CKR project. Other public engagement activities including public forums and roving exhibitions will also be organised to help the public understand and conduct wider discussions on the project.
The department will complete the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report in parallel with the public engagement and will apply to the Director of Environmental Protection for the approval of the EIA report and issue of the Environmental Permit in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance. The CKR project will also be gazetted in accordance with the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance in due course. It is anticipated that the works will start in around 2015 and will be completed in about 5 years.
The revamped CKR website (www.ckr-hyd.hk) is launched today to disseminate information on the project and latest news on the public engagement activities. Visits by the public are welcomed. For any enquiries, please contact us via the department's hotline (at tel. no. 2762 3601).
Ends/Wednesday, December 5, 2012