A week-long stint of major roadworks has just begun on Rua do Guimarães and Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (popularly known by its Cantonese name San Ma Lo), frustrating road users and nearby businesses, TDM reports.
The construction is part of the Inner Harbour’s two-phase rainwater pumping station project, designed to combat storm surges in the area during severe weather – a perennial hazard of Macao’s low-lying areas.
Temporary vehicle diversions are now in place, causing traffic jams between 3 pm and 6 pm, one local driver told the broadcaster. Another said she found the diversion signs misleading and confusing to follow.
A local dried seafood store owner told TDM that while the roadworks were impacting his sales, he believed the end result would be worth it. “Once the project is completed and the road is no longer flooded, everything will be fine,” he said. Nevertheless, the merchant added that he hoped construction would be over as quickly as possible.
[See more: Pumping station project slammed for poor planning]
The project’s northern phase has already been completed. The current construction belongs to its second phase and involves underground excavations to install new pipelines beneath Rua do Guimarães and connect them to the existing drainage system.
The project has been described by the Transport Bureau and Public Works Bureau as one of “great importance and urgency.” It is set for completion on 24 June.
