‘Gate of Understanding’ revamp to start soon

The “Gate of Understanding” (Portas do Entendimento), a monument erected in the 1990s in the Sai Van area to symbolize Luso-Chinese relations, will be finally given a major revamp. The revamp will repair the monument and make it available for public visits. A ceremony was held this week to open the public tender process for the rebuilding of the monument.

The 40-metre tall monument was completed in 1993 and closed for safety reasons several years ago, after parts of the structure deteriorated to the point that they fell off.

Now, after the launching of the public tender for proposals to conduct the repair works of the monument, the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) will soon start the work. So far, it has received a total of 20 proposals with prices ranging from MOP36 million to MOP48 million.

The DSSOPT said the proposed works are intended to support the platform and the connecting dock. In previous inspections, the bureau said that in addition to parts of the granite cladding falling, the pillars supporting the connecting dock were sloped.

The company that wins the tender will undertake works to replace the hooks that hold the walls, and demolish and rebuild the connecting bridge dock between land and the monument. These works will not cause any changes to the structure’s exterior appearance, according to the DSSOPT.

In a statement, the bureau noted that the repair works are expected to start in the second quarter of this year and will have a maximum of execution period of 536 working days.  RM