Junction too tight for roundabout
I refer to Ross Mitchell's letter 'Roundabouts are better' (South China Morning Post, November 22) concerning the traffic management measures in Repulse Bay and Stanley.
The Transport Department has considered various methods of control in detail before deciding to implement the traffic lights at the junction of Stanley Gap Road/Chung Hom Kok Road. Due to severe site constraints (ie, the junction is surrounded by steep slopes), junction-widening cannot be carried out without significant slope works.
Under such circumstances, traffic signals are the only practicable solution prior to junction-widening because the site cannot accommodate even the smallest mini-roundabout.
For your reference, the mini-roundabout at Blue Pool Road/ Tai Hang Road junction (an exceptionally miniature roundabout in an urban area) has a 20-metre diameter whilst the existing Stanley Gap Road/Chung Hom Kok Road junction can only provide, at maximum, a 16-metre diameter circulating carriageway. Obviously, roundabout operation cannot be satisfactorily provided at present.
Nonetheless, the Transport Department has plans to widen the junction of Stanley Gap Road/Chung Hom Kok Road and we would definitely include a roundabout as one of the options to be considered for implementation in future.
C. C. LI for Commissioner for Transport
