The EIA recommended to change the original rail alignment from Middle Road to Salisbury Road in order not to cut Signal Hill, and to thus:
- better protect Signal Hill Tower and other cultural heritage structures and objects;
- keep Signal Hill Garden intact and open for the public (including 250 regular Tai Chi practitioners);
- reduce the volume of construction spoil by 40% (from about 613,000m3 to 371,000m3);
- preserve a valuable 100 year-old Champion Tree, and over 100 other mature trees on the southern part of Signal Hill; and
- increase the total number of trees within the project boundary from 1044 to at least 1500 after the completion of the project.
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| Key Outcomes |
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Population Protected : |
- 9.6 million tourists per year (1998 figures)
- 50,000 daytime workers
- 22,500 residents in East Tsim Sha Tsui
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Problems Avoided : |
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| 1. |
The Signal Hill Tower, an 100-year-old declared monument under the Antiquities and Monument Ordinance (Cap. 53), and other cultural heritage structures and objects (e.g. Pre-World War II Brick Structure and iron winch) are completely preserved and protected due to the adoption of a "revised" alignment (Refer to the left-hand-side photo above). |
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| 2. |
No portion of the Signal Hill cut, and over 100 mature trees on the southern part of the Signal Hill preserved (Figure 2 below). |
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| 3. |
Since there is no need to cut the Signal Hill, the volume of construction spoil due to the East Tsim Sha Tsui Station is reduced by 40% (from about 613,000m³ to 371,000m³ ). |
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| 4. |
The Signal Hill Garden, a favourite spot at the top of the hill for about 250 regular Tai Chi players, kept intact and remained open during the whole construction period (Figure 3 below). |
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| 5. |
Ground-borne noise mitigation measures (including the floating slab track, low vibration track) implemented at the rail tracks to mitigate the operational ground borne noise impact on receivers including Sheraton Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel, Grand Standford and Nikko Hotels, Mariner's Club and New World Centre (Figures 4a to 4b below). |
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| 6. |
A valuable Champion Tree over 100 years old is protected (Figure 5 below) |
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| 7. |
With quiet construction plants and appropriate phasing of the construction programme, the worst residual construction noise impacts at Blenhiem Avenue, Chatham Road, Mody Road and Middle Road will be lowered from 91 - 97dB(A) for 11 - 20 months to 84 - 86dB(A) for 10 - 11 months (Figure 6 below). |
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| 8. |
KCRC originally considered the use of a conveyor system over Salisbury Road and a temporary marine platform at the waterfront promenade to transport construction spoil. The EIA study has however confirmed that this would cause adverse visual impact on Tsim Sha Tsui East, and the system was finally abandoned (Figure 7 below). |
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| Environmental Friendly Designs : |
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| 1. |
With the rail extension, the road traffic and hence the vehicular emissions in Tsim Sha Tsui can be reduced. The air quality in the area can be improved. |
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| 2. |
A continuous and instantaneous construction noise monitoring was adopted and the data was made available through KCRC’s website for public inspection. This speeds up the monitoring process (no need to wait for the monthly EM&A reporting) and enhances the public accessibility to the EM&A data. This project is the first one to adopt this monitoring system (Figure 8 below). |
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| 3. |
1044 new trees proposed in compensation of 471 trees transplanted out of the area or felled due to the project. The total number of trees (preserved trees + new trees) is 1588, which is around 50% more than the no. of existing trees within or just outside the project area (Figure 9a to 9c below – over 600 new trees planted under Stage 1 planting. Remaining trees to be planted under Stage 2 and Stage 3 plantings). |
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Figure 1 Rail alignment |
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Figure 2 Signal Hill and Mature Tree preserved |
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Figure 3 Signal Hill Garden remained open during the construction period |
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Figure 4a – Ground borne noise mitigation measures implemented at the rail track |
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Figure 4b – Ground-borne noise mitigation measures implemented at the rail tracks |
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Figure 5 Champion Tree No. 251 protected |
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Figure 6 Construction noise levels lowered |
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Figure 7 Visually intrusive spoil disposal method avoided |
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Figure 8 Continuous Noise Monitoring System |
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Figure 9a New trees planted under Stage 1 planting (Middle Road Children Playground ) |
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Figure 9b New trees planted under Stage 1 planting (Middle Road Children Playground) |
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Figure 9c New trees planted under Stage 1 planting (Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui) |
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