Streets in downtown Beijing will be closed for residents to set
off fireworks during Spring Festival, officials have said.
A total of 102 streets in the capital will be closed for half an
hour on the eve of the Lunar New Year as part of a plan of the
Beijing municipal office for fireworks management to facilitate the
practice, officials said.
Traffic in the designated areas will be controlled for the
setting off of fireworks from 11:45 pm tomorrow night to 12:12 am
on Thursday, covering eight districts and 106 communities.
The move is not a sign to encourage organizing the collective
use of fireworks, officials said.
Instead, it is meant to be an effective way to prevent fire
accidents, with volunteers from the community helping to keep order
during the festivities, officials added.
The 102 designated streets do not include main roads or public
bus routes and are situated far from places deemed particularly
vulnerable to fire, officials said.
The traffic police will set up temporary posts to monitor
vehicles. Drivers will be reminded to stay off the designated
streets in advance and violators will be fined, officials said.
Cyclists and pedestrians will not be affected by the
closure.
The fire department will also be put on standby. Firefighters
will be on duty during the period for any eventuality and to help
ensure fire safety.
(China Daily February 5, 2008)