Shek O Road
{{Short description|Road in Hong Kong}}
{{Infobox street
| name = Shek O Road
| native_name ={{native name|yue|石澳道}}
| image = File:Shek O Road (blue sky).jpg
| caption = Shek O Road
| namesake = Shek O
| postal_code =
| addresses =
| length_km = 7.2
| width =
| location = Hong Kong
| client =
| owner =
| current_tenants =
| sector =
| category =
| coordinates = {{Coord|22.24188|114.23831|display=title, inline}}
| commissioning_date =
| direction_a = West
| terminus_a = Tai Tam Road
| direction_b = East
| terminus_b = Shek O Village Road
| construction_start_date =
| completion_date =
| inauguration_date = Seen on maps since 1922
| demolition_date =
| main_contractor =
| cost =
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
|order=ts
|t=石澳道
|j=sek6 ou3 dou6
|p=Shí'ào Dào
}}
Shek O Road ({{lang-zh|石澳道}}) is a road in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The road links Tai Tam Road near Tai Tam Gap and Chai Wan to Shek O Village in the southeast. It is widely known as a scenic drive, with views of the South China Sea.
History
The name Shek O Road was found in maps in 1888, which today is part of Big Wave Bay Road and the Hong Kong Trail Section 8. (see inlet).{{cite web|url=https://www.hkmaps.hk/map.html?1888.1|website=hkmaps.hk|title=HK Maps|access-date=5 December 2024}} The old Shek O Road was not wide enough for vehicular access, so another road was built to connect Shek O and Cape D'Aguilar to the rest of Hong Kong Island.
The current Shek O Road was completed latest by 1922, indicating a start of construction in the 1910s.{{cite web|url=https://www.hkmaps.hk/map.html?1922|website=hkmaps.hk|title=HK Maps|access-date=5 December 2024}} The name Shek O Road was standardized and named in the Hong Kong Government Gazette on April 12, 1935:
{{Blockquote|text=Road commencing at Tytam Gap and running to Shek O Village ... Shek O Road 石 澳 道|title=No. 302, Hong Kong Government Gazette, 28 September 1935|source={{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Government Gazettes 1935 |url=https://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkgro/view/g1923/82600.pdf |access-date=5 December 2024}}}}
Shek O was home to a large quarry named Shek O Quarry, which occupied 45 hectares on the west side of Cape D'Aguilar. It was one of the eight quarries that operated in Hong Kong.{{cite web|url=https://www.cedd.gov.hk/filemanager/eng/content_454/IN_2022_30E.pdf|date=14 November 2022|title=Quarries in Hong Kong (Information Note 30/2022)|access-date=5 December 2024}} During its rehabilitation contract between 1993 and 2005, whose objective was to repair the surrounding environment for its eventual closure, Shek O Road was diverted and repaired, and shortened by 660 meters. A steep bend near {{ill|Windy Gap (Hong Kong)|lt=Windy Gap|zh|大風坳(畢拿山)}} was also removed.{{cite web|url=https://www.devb.gov.hk/tc/publications_and_press_releases/publications/works_digest/issue_41_july_2000/index/quarries/index.html|title=發展局 - 香港的石礦場發展 (506)|website=devb.gov.hk|access-date=5 December 2024}}
On 8 September 2023, a large rainstorm destroyed large parts of Shek O Road. The restoration and strengthening work was mostly completed by February 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.hk01.com/18區新聞/989411/世紀暴雨-石澳道本月底重開兩線行車-3月開放耀興道臨時行車線|website=hk01.com|title=世紀暴雨︱石澳道本月底重開兩線行車 3月開放耀興道臨時行車線|date=8 February 2024 |access-date=5 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202402/29/P2024022900336.htm|website=info.gov.hk|title=石澳道全線重開（附圖）|access-date=5 December 2024}}
Intersecting Streets
Roads are listed West to East.
See also
{{Commons category|Shek O Road}}