I REFER to Keith Chan's letter, 'How to handle Clear Water Bay roadworks' (South China Morning Post, February 28). The whole project of the reconstruction of New Clear Water Bay Road is being monitored by all concerned departments. All traffic arrangement submissions are scrutinised by a traffic management group specifically set up for this purpose before implementation. Temporary lane closures are necessary to allow reconstruction work to be carried out. Every effort has been made to ensure that disruption to traffic is kept to a minimum. Where a road narrows from two lanes to one, merging movements are inevitable and should not be viewed as 'queue jumping' as alleged by your correspondent. A high degree of self-discipline among motorists is expected in these circumstances and it is undesirable for the traffic police to direct who should merge and who should not. The traffic lights near Ping Shek primary school is under the control of the area traffic control system of the Transport Department. Prompt adjustment can be made from the control centre to suit the traffic conditions. In fact, the traffic lights at this particular location have been adjusted recently to improve the downhill-bound traffic. Before commencement of each stage of construction, the contractor has to submit traffic diversion schemes for approval by the aforementioned traffic management group. The relocation of any bus stop will be considered whenever necessary. However, the existing bus stop is at a bus bay which is considered appropriate. The contractor's progress is being closely monitored. CHAN HON-WING for Commissioner for Transport
