The Transport Department will add 15 new diagonal crossings in the second half of the year.

The Transport Department will establish “diagonal pedestrian crossings” at 15 intersections across Hong Kong, to be put into use in phases in the second half of the year.

The Transport Department submitted a document to the Legislative Council, saying that the 15 intersections include Mong Kok Sai Yeung Choi South Street/Shandong Street in Mong Kok’s busy district, Hung To Road/Junyip Street in Kwun Tong, Java Road/Shu Kuk Street in North Point, Belcher Street/North Street in Kennedy Town, Ma Tau Wai Road/Heh Yuan Street in Hung Hom, Po Yap Road/Tang Jun Street in Tseung Kwan O, Silver City Street/Flagpole Street in Sha Tin, and Tai Wo Road/Cui Lok Street in Tai Po.

The Transport Department said that the pilot schemes previously rolled out in Sha Tin and Tsim Sha Tsui have shown positive results, with overall safe and smooth operation. It said that, compared with traditional right-angle crossings, the diagonal crossings shorten walking distance and time by about 30%. The Transport Department emphasized that not all intersections are suitable for adding diagonal crossings, and it is necessary to balance the demand of pedestrian flow with the impact on surrounding vehicular traffic.