Tai Chung Kiu Road (Chinese: 大涌橋路) is a three-lane carriageway in Sha Tin District, New Territories, Hong Kong. It arises from the north-east at Shek Mun Interchange, traversing much of the Shing Mun River's south bank before terminating at the intersection between Lion Rock Tunnel Road and Che Kung Temple Road.
  | |
|---|---|
 Tai Chung Kiu Road near Shek Mun | |
| Native name | 大涌橋路 (Yue Chinese) |
| Length | 3.3 km |
| Location | Sha Tin District, New Territories, Hong Kong |
| Coordinates | 22°23′10″N 114°11′57″E / 22.386028°N 114.199156°E |
| From | Shek Mun Interchange |
| To | Lion Rock Tunnel Road, Che Kung Temple Road |
| Construction | |
| Inauguration | 1980 |
Due to its proximity to the numerous public and private housing estates along the river, such as City One Shatin, Sha Kok Estate and Jat Min Chuen, Tai Chung Kiu Road serves as one of the major north–south thoroughfares in Sha Tin.
Etymology
editIn the early twentieth century, the Tsang family of Tsang Tai Uk proposed that a bridge be built across Tai Chung (Chinese: 大涌; lit. 'big river'; now the Shing Mun River). Subsequently, a stone bridge was inaugurated in June 1915, becoming the first crossing between the two sides of the Shing Mun. The bridge was known as Tai Chung Kiu (i.e., Tai Chung Bridge).[1]
In 1962, Typhoon Wanda destroyed Tai Chung Kiu. Nearby residents built a wooden bridge in replacement. Following the development of Sha Tin New Town, the government converted Tai Chung Kiu into a concrete pedestrian crossing, which continues to stand today between Lion Bridge and Lek Yuen Bridge.[1]
Route
editTai Chung Kiu Road begins at Shek Mun Interchange, where the Tate's Cairn Highway feeds into the road. Its Shek Mun section consists of it traversing alongside the area's major private residential estates, namely Pictorial Garden, Garden Vista and Ravana Garden.[2]
Tai Chung Kiu Road then crosses the Siu Lek Yuen Nullah of the Shing Mun River, at this point becoming directly adjacent to the river's south bank. It passes alongside ClubONE Riviera and City One Shatin, beyond which the Sha Tin Road crosses above it. Here the road encounters the first of its three major junctions, forming one with Banyan Bridge.[3]
The road proceeds in a straight line; lining it are (from north to south) Belair Gardens,[3] the Regal Riverside hotel, Garden Rivera and Yue Shing Court. Beyond Garden Rivera, Tai Chung Kiu Road forms a second junction with Sha Tin Rural Committee Road. Notably, visible from this section are the Buddhist Kok Kwong Secondary School and the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education.[4]
Afterwards, the Shing Mun River bends westwards, causing Tai Chung Kiu Road to no longer be aligned with the river's south bank. It borders Jat Min Chuen before similarly curving westwards to meet Che Kung Temple Road and Lion Rock Tunnel Road, where it terminates.[5]
Safety
editTai Chung Kiu Road has been known to be a frequent site of traffic accidents.[6] Between 2014 and September 2019, the road saw a total of 253 incidents, causing three deaths and 436 injuries.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b Sha Tin District Council (23 June 2015). "社區重點項目計劃(沙田區) - 活化城門河河濱沙田市中心段 - 改善河濱展示設施" (PDF). Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ MTR (February 2024). "石門站街道圖 Shek Mun Station street map" (PDF). Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b MTR (July 2024). "第一城站街道圖" (PDF). Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ MTR (August 2023). "沙田圍站街道圖 Sha Tin Wai station Street map" (PDF). Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ MTR (October 2023). "車公廟站街道圖 Che Kung Temple station Street map" (PDF). Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "LCQ13: Tai Chung Kiu Road in Sha Tin". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "大涌橋路2014至2019年9月錄253宗交通意外 運房局曾稱已改善「孭仔燈」". 明報. 2021-06-13. Archived from the original on 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2024-07-31.