The government will decide on whether to keep the scooter-only lane on Sai Van Bridge or to cancel it by early next year, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosário said on Tuesday.
The policy secretary made the remark during a Q&A plenary session in the Legislative Assembly (AL).
In 2012, the government set the scooter-only lane as a “temporary measure”, which has been extended six times, according to Rosario.
Rosario said he had recently approved a six-month extension of the scooter-only lane. “It is the sixth extension of the lane… we should make a [final] decision. To make the measure permanent, or to cancel it,” said Rosário, adding there was a daily average of about 13,000 scooter trips across the bridge in the first half of this year.
Some lawmakers on Tuesday suggested the government should open the enclosed lower deck of Sai Van Bridge, which currently is only open to drivers during typhoons. Senior Transport Bureau (DSAT) official Kuong Vai Cheok, who was also attending the Q&A session, rejected the idea.
Kuong said the ventilation system in the enclosed deck would have to be reconstructed if scooters were allowed to enter it, adding the reconstruction would possibly take about two years.
“Suppose we finish reconstructing the ventilation system, the Light Rapid Transit [LRT] system may come into use at the same time. No scooters should be ridden beside trains… we concluded it would be better not to reconstruct the ventilation system,” said Kuong.
The LRT line is planned to go through the enclosed lower deck of Sai Van Bridge.
(macaunews/ macaupost)
