Authorities allow LRT ‘relevant sites’ works on a 24h basis

To make up for lost time, authorities are allowing works on “relevant sites” of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) construction project to continue during late night and early morning (the period between midnight and 7 a.m.). Such is the case with the Ocean Station, located close to the Ocean Gardens neighborhood.
The Times inquired with the Transportation Infrastructure Office (GIT) about the undergoing works.  “To cope with the construction progress, the government has permitted relevant sites the extension of working hours to night time till early morning,” GIT confirmed on Wednesday. “Taking into account the possible impact on the public, our Office requires all contractors to strictly carry out mitigation measures for noise control during such extensions… [in particular] loud/ noisy processes should be avoided,” the office says.
However, the area’s residents are being disturbed during their rest hours. Loud noises can be heard late at night affecting the neighborhood, although drilling machines and other heavy machinery are not being used at odd hours. The construction works also trigger visual pollution as spotlights are used at the construction site. Regarding the lights, GIT explains that, “during night work, there should be adequate lights to ensure construction safety.”
In order to minimize the inconvenience caused by the works to the neighborhood’s residents, GIT says that “there should be on-site supervision during such period, so as to continuously monitor and improve the arrangement.”
The office responded to the complaints detailed by our newspaper by stating that it “will require relevant contractors to pay more attention on night work arrangement and coordination, site management should also be improved in order to minimize impact on nearby residents.”
The construction work for the foundation of the LRT depot, considered the “heart zone” of the LRT system, started in November 2011. The large-scale construction project began in 2012 with the construction of the Taipa and Cotai sections.
The latest Commission of Audit report on the LRT, issued this week, indicates that the project’s budget will substantially surpass the GIT’s 2013 internal estimation of MOP14.27 billion, and there is a “severe delay” in the LRT Taipa section of more than 300 days.

noise law opens doors to discretionary power

The legislation that regulates the noise in Macau (Law 8/2014) indicates that construction works where piledrivers are used will not be allowed on Sundays and public holidays, as well as on weekdays during the period between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. The same timeframe applies to works involving machinery if they are within 200 meters of residential buildings. However, the law gives some discretionary power to authorities, since the work embargo is not applied in cases of “urgent reparation works to be executed by public services or concessionaires.”