Road projects face delays amid increased excavation activity

More than half of the 69 large-scale road projects in the region this year have exceeded their expected completion time by over a month, highlighting growing concerns over construction delays and coordination inefficiencies.

The Road Projects Coordination Group reported a 15% year-over-year increase in road engineering plans, with 39 major projects involving main roads taking longer than 30 days to finish—an alarming 39% rise compared to the previous year. This spike has raised questions about the management of roadworks, particularly as 39 instances of road excavation on main roads were recorded, reflecting a 40% increase.

To address these challenges, the Transport Bureau has emphasized the importance of streamlined management and improved coordination among various engineering units.

Their analysis of interdepartmental coordination in road projects seeks to optimize processes and enhance the completion rate, which stood at approximately 75% for large-scale projects last year.

In a bid to mitigate disruptions, the government introduced a regulation that aims to reduce repeated excavations, requiring that any necessary re-excavation be justified and approved by a dedicated department, ensuring that public safety remains a priority.

As authorities continue to strengthen coordination efforts, they are also urging project owners to conduct work during off-peak hours to minimize traffic disruptions.

With approximately 7,000 inspections of temporary traffic measures conducted in the past year, the focus remains on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of road construction across the region.

Victoria Chan