Barra public interchange budget reaches MOP1.23b

The cost of the Barra Public Transportation Interchange (PTI) construction has been released as MOP1.23 billion.
According to a notice published in the Official Gazette yesterday, Zhen Hwa Harbour Construction Company Limited and China State Construction (Macau) were jointly awarded the contract. The government will be paying the MOP1.2 billion over five years, with MOP185.7 million and MOP334.2 million to be paid in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
The Macau government seeks to combine and connect several transportation modes through the Barra PTI, which will be located next to the Customs Service headquarters and the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) Barra Station.
Information from the Transportation Infrastructure Office (GIT) suggests that the PTI will be an underground structure, which will be covered by a surface of open green space of around 10,000 square meters.
The three-story underground project will include temporary and permanent parking areas for buses, shuttle buses and taxis, as well as for private vehicles and motorcycles. It will also be connected to the LRT system.
Given that the previous public underground structure, the Border Gate interchange, has been heavily criticized for its design and poor ventilation, GIT said that it will adopt a design for the Barra PTI that will separate passengers and pedestrians from vehicles.
The government also wants to beautify the region by utilising the green space on top of the PTI and to integrate the facility with the future underground tunnel, the world heritage walking path and coastal green corridor.