Hong Kong to test flood scheme at 5 road sections hit by 2023 rainstorm chaos
Warning signs, wading lines and flood monitoring devices will be used at five low-lying road sections under pilot scheme
Authorities will carry out real-time flood monitoring of five low-lying road sections hit by record-breaking rainfall in Hong Kong two years ago and temporarily close them if water levels reach 0.3 metres in the coming rainy season.
The government on Friday announced a HK$700,000 (US$89,745) pilot scheme to place warning signs, paint wading lines and install flood monitoring devices at low-lying sections of Chai Wan Road on Hong Kong Island, Lung Cheung Road, Tsui Ping Road and Chatham Road North in Kowloon, and Nam Wan Road in Tai Po.
Under the plan, when the water level reaches the warning level – 0.1 metres from the lowest point of the road – the monitoring device will alert the relevant departments, which will send workers to inspect and clear drains. Generally, they will arrive within 15 to 30 minutes.
When the water reaches the wading line, which will be painted in red to indicate a depth of 0.3 metres, authorities will close off the road section to prevent vehicles from entering the area.
A government spokesman said the threshold was set at 0.3 metres as car exhaust pipes and electric vehicle batteries were located at around that level.
“If vehicles drive into water with a depth of 0.3 metres, there is a high possibility of damage. If the vehicle stalls and the water continues to rise under heavy rain, it will be worrying,” he said.