The Connaught Road Central subway was built to ease pedestrian flow
- Before it was built, as many as 250 people a minute would cross Connaught Road Central, significantly slowing traffic
- Completed in 1959, initial reactions from pedestrians ‘were that it did not entail too much hardship’ for them
On September 8, 1957, the South China Morning Post posed a simple question: “Bridge or subway?”
The topic at issue was how to connect the new Star Ferry pier with Connaught Road Central “to speed the flow of passengers and to eliminate as far as possible their personal inconvenience” and to ensure that “east-west vehicular traffic” is not “unduly impeded”.
On August 15, 1958, the government announced its decision to build a subway. “The subway will be a continuation of the existing covered way leading from the Star Ferry pier and will take about six months to complete,” reported the Post a day later. “Recent surveys have shown that as many as 250 people a minute cross the road during the morning and evening rush hours, and that vehicles are frequently held up for long intervals. The subway will thus do much to eliminate inconvenience to both motorists and pedestrians.”
Construction on the subway started on September 10, 1958. On April 1, 1959, the Post reported that “Hongkong’s first pedestrian subway under Connaught Road Central, connecting with the Star Ferry piers on the Central Reclamation, is to be opened for public use tomorrow”.
The subway cost “just under” HK$2 million to construct and was finished one month ahead of schedule, “despite the rains in February and the late delivery of tiles from Japan”.
According to the Post, initial reactions from pedestrians “were that it did not entail too much hardship” for them. “A few stragglers were seen crossing Connaught Road on the surface. Many went through the arcade of Queen’s Building and Ice House Street to walk straight across to the ferry wharf, but extra traffic policemen were on duty to redirect them.”
Most Star Ferry passengers today use the Central Elevated Walkway, construction of which began in the 70s with a footbridge over Connaught Road Central.