The Transport Bureau (DSAT) announced in a statement yesterday that in response to the laying of underground pipes and cables for four new buildings in the Rua dos Mercadores (營地大街) and Rua Oeste do Mercado de S. Domingos (公局新市西街) area, in order to avoid repeated road excavations, the DSAT roadwork coordination team has coordinated construction companies and public utilities to carry out, for the first time, the city’s first roadworks with integrated pipe and cable laying, slated to begin in the second week of this month, i.e., after the National Day/Mid-Autumn Festival Golden Week.
According to the statement, the main construction area will be concentrated on Rua dos Mercadores between Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (新馬路) and Rua das Estalagens (草堆街).
Meanwhile, underground space for the laying of pipes has been set aside in advance for six upcoming development projects in the vicinity, the statement said.
According to the statement, as the first local pilot project for underground space “pre-reserved” for the laying of pipes, the project will serve as a significant reference for the early planning of pipework projects, adding that following cross-departmental coordination, the construction will be carried out in three phases to reduce its impact on the neighbourhood.
Phases 1 and 2 will impact the main thoroughfare (involving its closure to vehicular traffic), which are expected to last approximately 30 days in total, while Phase 3 will primarily involve implementing restricted traffic flow and temporary suspension of parking spaces on surrounding roads, the statement said.
Regarding bus services, Route 18 will temporarily skip the “Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro / Tai Fung,”(新馬路/大豐) “Rua dos Mercadores,” (營地大街) “Rua das Estalagens,”(草堆街) and “Rua Cinco Outubro” (十月初五日街) bus stops during the project period, the statement said, adding that passengers can use the “Ponte 16” or “Rua do Tarrafeiro” (沙欄仔) stops instead.
According to the statement, the bureau has requested the two bus companies to announce the temporary route adjustments on their buses and at the respective bus stops.
The statement noted that considering the significant impact that these roadworks will have on traffic circulation in the area, and to ensure that the public better understand the project background, temporary traffic measures and arrangements, cross-departmental briefings and multiple on-site visits were conducted in advance, which aimed to facilitate communication and gather feedback from neighbourhood associations, community organisations, street vendors, merchants, schools, and others.
Moreover, leaflets have been distributed to respective vendors and related parties in the affected area to enhance awareness of the expected impact, the statement said.
The statement added that regarding the arrangements for passenger drop-off/pick-up and goods loading/unloading, the bureau will coordinate arrangements with the relevant entities in advance to streamline traffic flow.
Pedestrians walk past shops on Rua dos Mercadores (營地大街) yesterday. – Photo: Tony Wong
