Footbridge Network in Tsuen Wan
It directly connects more than 20 shopping malls with various locations in Tsuen Wan, allowing residents to reach their destinations without going down to the ground and providing access to most public transport services.
After the development of Tsuen Wan as a satellite town was gazetted by the British Hong Kong government in 1961, the Overseas Chinese Daily News published a special report on 29 October the following year discussing the need for pedestrian bridges in satellite towns, including Tsuen Wan, in an attempt to raise public awareness of the construction of pedestrian bridges on arterial roads.
[3][4] The pedestrian bridge at the junction of Castle Peak Road - Tsuen Wan section and Tai Chung Road [zh], which crosses the traffic lanes, was completed in 1979 as the first pedestrian bridge in Tsuen Wan, providing a passage for villagers migrating from the coastal area of the Northern Mountain to travel between the China Dyeing Factory and the southern Fuk Loi Estate and market.
[5] The Tsuen Wan Transport Complex, completed the following year, adopted a platform design and was connected by several pedestrian bridges, initiating the development of the southern section.
[8] The pedestrian bridge across Sha Tsui Road [zh] leading to the Tsuen Wan Government Office was completed in 2001, branching from the Discovery Park Footbridge.
It is composed of a series of pedestrian footbridges constructed by multiple government and developer groups, connecting shopping malls, residential buildings, and public structures through elevated pathways.
[5] It provided a passage for villagers who had relocated from the coastal area to the hills in the north, connecting them to the China Dyeing Factory and southern Fuk Loi Estate and markets.
[5] When the MTR Tsuen Wan Line was constructed through the northern side of Castle Peak Road at the foot of Tai Mo Shan in the 1980s, the railway project cut off the villagers' access to the mountains, necessitating the construction of two pedestrian bridges over the tracks to connect the Fu Yung Shan [zh] area.
[5] These two pedestrian bridges now link Tsuen King Circuit Sports Centre [zh] and Pak Tin Pa Village, as well as the Discovery Park footbridge and Route Twisk.
[25] However, the footbridge outside Lik Sang Plaza, managed by the mall's owners' committee, was found to be at risk of collapse due to neglect in 2018-2019.
[26][21] The east exit connects to Luk Yeung Galleria, the Fou Wah Centre, and the Tsuen Wan Multi-Storey Car Park, leading to Chung On Street [zh].
[25] The ground level of Nan Fung Centre serves as a bus terminal, or the Tsuen Wan Station Public Transport Interchange [zh].
In 1991, the government built a 200-meter-long pedestrian bridge over Castle Peak Road and Kwan Mun Hau Street [zh], connecting it to Indi Home in 1997.
[8] The branch of the Discovery Park footbridge leading to the Tsuen Wan Government Offices High Block was completed and opened in 2001.
[27] After New World Development completed the renovation of Tsuen Kam Centre,[28] they began researching the construction of a pedestrian bridge connecting their Grand City Plaza in 2004.
Originally, this platform was part of the overall public building plan, and adjacent land was initially designated for the construction of a government complex.
This complex was intended to integrate with the Town Hall via a large platform,[30] and a pedestrian bridge was planned to connect to the Four Seasons Estate [zh] (now Vision City).
The government complex was initially expected to begin construction after the relocation of the Tsuen Wan Ferry Bus Terminus [zh].
The complex included a bus terminal, minibus station, taxi stand, public parking, government offices, and a few retail and dining spaces.
The surrounding projects near Tsuen Wan West Station covered a large area, and the internal layout of Ocean Pride’s mall emphasized the shopping experience over traditional linear connectivity.
At that time, the developer, Sun Hung Kai Properties, expressed willingness to build a pedestrian bridge connecting to Tai Ho Road [zh], but the plan did not materialize.
Meanwhile, the Territory Development Department [zh] had begun studying the construction of a pedestrian bridge along Tai Ho Road in 1989.
3 near Hau Tei Square [zh] to a pedestrian bridge across Sha Tsui Road, avoiding the two planned safety islands and Tin Po Building.
The bridge has branches leading to Tsuen Wan Station and Fu Wah Centre, providing additional traffic dicrease for the existing network.
[32] Before the bridge opened, cracks had appeared in parts of it, and some netizens reported feeling vibrations while walking on it, describing the sensation as "shaking" or "wobbling.
Walking from Tsuen Wan West Station to Panda Hotel via the pedestrian bridge network takes about half an hour.
[32] Due to heavy foot traffic in the northern network, many shops near Tsuen Wan Station are concentrated on the bridge level, leaving the adjacent Sai Lau Kok Garden [zh] surrounded by roads and difficult for pedestrians to access.
[37] A 1994 report, Compilation of Tsuen Wan Traffic Conditions, mentioned the issue of vendors gathering in the semi-open skyway at Nan Fung Centre,[7] and to this day, the pedestrian bridges near Tsuen Wan Station remain popular locations for telecom companies setting up booths, advertising banners, promotional personnel distributing leaflets, street performers, and beggars.
[40] The Tsuen Wan pedestrian footbridge network is set to expand, with the Hong Kong government gazetting the expansion project in 2007.
Bridge B’s alignment near Po On Commercial Association Wong Siu Ching Secondary School [zh] and adjacent residential areas was supported by the Tsuen Wan District Council’s Traffic and Transport Committee in 2002 but faced opposition from locals.
