The Tsuen Wan Footbridge Network
Summary
Situated between Kowloon and the New Territories, Tsuen Wan serves as a major link between the western part of the New Territories/Lantau and the urban area, and is the gateway to the airport. Its sound transportation network, added with its numerous scenic spots and a full range of community facilities, has made it attractive to residents and visitors alike. With the rapid increase in population and economic development in recent years, there is a need to grade separate vehicular and pedestrian traffic by footbridges to improve the road safety and traffic capacity. With the tremendous effort of Tsuen Wan District Council and various government departments, a comprehensive footbridge network was constructed in the town center to connect different living areas, such as shopping centres, markets, hospitals, MTR stations and bus stops. The network not only allows a continuous flow of pedestrians through junctions without the need to wait at the kerbside to cross, but also greatly alleviate the traffic congestion problem.In establishing this footbridge network, serious consideration is given to choice of structural form, layout and finishes to encourage more people to use. For instance, covers are provided to protect the pedestrian from rain and sun shine and numerous entrances and exits are available to facilitate the users to reach different parts of the community. To cater for the needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities, barrier-free access facilities such as ramps and lifts are also being provided. A series of improvement works, including provision of steel barriers and handrails, are being progressively carried out to enhance the barrier-free access facilities of the footbridge. Tsuen Wan District Council and the Government will continue to study the feasibility to extend and enhance the footbridge network in Tsuen Wan so that pedestrians could enjoy much more freedom and leisure to walk along without interfering the vehicular traffic.
Key facts
Main target group: Older people in general
Sector(s): Urban development
Desired outcome for older people:
Be mobile
- Accessibility
Contact details
Name: Wong, Wai-kit
Email address: twdcadm@twdc.had.gov.hk
Preferred language(s): English, Mandarin and Cantonese