Rainwater pumping station nears completion, set to ease flooding: DSOP

Works on the Rainwater Pumping Station and Drainage system in the southern part of the Inner Harbour is in its final phase, with the project on track for completion by June, according to the Public Works Bureau (DSOP)

DSOP director Lam Wai Hou, confirmed that approximately 86% of the work has been completed, ensuring that the long-standing issue of flooding in the Inner Harbour area will soon be alleviated. Once construction is finished, normal road access in the affected areas will resume.

The large-scale infrastructure project, initiated in November 2022, was divided into three phases.

The first two phases were completed in July and December of last year, respectively. The third and final phase, which began in April 2024, involves the construction of a wastewater pumping station, a rainwater box-culvert, and an upgraded drainage system in key roads, including Rua do Almirante Sérgio, Rua do Dr. Lourenço Pereira Marques, and Rua das Lorchas.

According to officials, pile foundations for the rainwater box-culvert have been completed, and efforts are now focused on securing the remaining foundations and excavating two sections of the culvert at Ponte-Cais No. 7 on Rua do Dr. Lourenço Pereira Marques and at Praça de Ponte e Horta.

Speaking to TDM during the Lunar New Year, Lam acknowledged the public’s patience and understanding throughout the construction period.

He noted that the project had necessitated several temporary traffic restrictions, limiting vehicle access on key roads, but emphasized that these measures were essential for the successful completion of the work.

Lam further highlighted the increasing public interest in infrastructure projects and reassured residents that the government has been continuously improving its construction processes.

“Measures such as the implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, smart site monitoring for safety, and the introduction of specialized quantity surveyors have significantly enhanced project quality while keeping costs and timelines under control,” he said.

Over the past five years, DSOP has maintained a high execution rate of public works, with project completion rates exceeding 90%.

Lam emphasized that both cost overruns and delays have been minimized, averaging less than 1%, indicating that previous inefficiencies in public construction projects have largely been resolved.

The rainwater pumping station project is a key component of the government’s disaster prevention efforts, with the design based on a 50-year flood management standard. Authorities anticipate that once completed, the system will provide long-term relief from severe flooding in the Inner Harbour area, a problem that has historically impacted residents and businesses alike.