EMPRESS PLACE (Removal of parking lots)

EMPRESS PLACE

**

(Removal of parking lots): **

15.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked the Minister for Transport why were the car park lots around the bend of Empress Place removed.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked why the two parking lots at Empress Place were removed. These two parking lots were removed to allow for better management of traffic flow along Empress Place. As Members are aware, Empress Place provides access to several buildings supporting the arts scene. As these buildings do not have public parking facilities, some limited public parking facilities were provided along the road. But they would not be sufficient to meet the entire parking demand of visitors to the various buildings. Instead, the nearby public parking facilities at Connaught Drive and at Parliament House are intended to cater to this demand.

Despite the clear road markings to prohibit parking along certain stretches of the road, like around the bends, many motorists continued to ignore these restrictions. I believe Members would recall the incident where an illegally parked car caused traffic to come to a standstill along Empress Place in October 2005. This incident not only affected other motorists, it also significantly inconvenienced tourists visiting the area.

We must avoid a repeat of such incidents. Therefore, a decision was made to introduce an added deterrence, in the form of yellow zig-zag lines to prevent motorists from parking illegally along the bends. The removal of the two parking lots along this stretch of road is consistent with the marking of zig-zag lines and will facilitate the Traffic Police’s enforcement action in this area.

Column: 1805