Roadworks execution up 20% this year

The Roadworks Coordination Task Force held a year-end review yesterday, reporting notable improvements in the consolidation of construction projects.

The Transport and Public Works Bureau (DSAT) said the proportion of combined roadworks rose by nearly 20% compared with last year.

Looking ahead to 2026, roadworks will be organized into 47 “coordination zones” based on location and schedule, allowing multiple projects within the same area to proceed simultaneously.

Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam noted the importance of reducing the number of street manhole covers wherever possible to improve safety for motorcyclists.

He also urged the task force to apply lessons from past projects to enhance operational efficiency and coordination.

By the end of November, authorities reported approximately 360 roadworks projects this year, a decline of more than 30% compared with the same period in 2024. Nearly 120 of these – about one-third – were carried out under combined construction arrangements, demonstrating the task force’s growing effectiveness.

Pilot projects such as the reserved pipeline initiative on Rua dos Mercadores have been successfully completed, while ongoing works on Rua do Volong, including pipeline and sewer construction, are also using reserved pipeline systems.

Tam instructed members to carefully review the Rua dos Mercadores project, urging efficient integration within coordination zones and the streamlining of approval processes for works near gas pipelines, with the aim of improving administrative efficiency and minimizing public disruption. LV