The Office for the Development of Infrastructure (GDI) said that a study on the feasibility of constructing a fourth bridge between Macau (Zone A) and Taipa (Zone E1) is currently being evaluated by the central government.
In reply to Business Daily enquiries about the construction of the bridge proper, the Office said ‘a public tender will be launched after the conclusion of the works and proceedings [referred to above].’
As for the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT), it said that all matters ‘related to the fourth bridge Macau-Taipa should be addressed to GDI.’
In September 2016, the Macau SAR Government announced that it had inked a contract to CCCC Highway Consultants Co., Ltd. for the initial design of the fourth Macau-Taipa connection project.
The project involves a 3.5 kilometre bridge linking the eastern side of the new artificial island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge reclaimed on the outer shore of the Macau Peninsula (Zone A) to land reclaimed near the Macau International Airport in Taipa (Zone E1), with a total cross-sea section of 2.87 kilometres, per the Infrastructure Development Office (GDI).
Undersea tunnels
CCCC Highway Consultants, a Mainland China-based infrastructure design company, was also hired by DSSOPT in ‘mid-2016’ to conduct a feasibility study related to the development of two tunnels between Macau and Taipa to be placed within the Bridge Nobre de Carvalho, according to previous reports.
The underwater tunnels would be constructed either on the west side or east side of the old Macau-Taipa bridge, or a tunnel on either side of the bridge.
According to GDI’s spokesperson – who claimed to have first referred to DSSOPT – “it is expected that the research unity [in charge of the study] will present the report about the project’s feasibility in the third quarter of the current year, followed by the collection of opinions from other departments.”
According to previous reports, the study in question was ordered by the Macau SAR Government in July 2016, to be completed within 260 days.
DSSOPT explained that the study is being conducted in two phases, saying: “Given that the first phase of the study was completed within 100 days, the investigation unity will present its preliminary report. The works for the second phase are to be held within the limit of 160 days, once [the first] is approved by the Administration. The period of 260 days for the study does not include the period of evaluation and approval.”
Estimated at MOP7.2 million, the study will include “hydrological analysis and geotechnical survey,” according to the Bureau.
Public works also announced that the estimated cost for the study remains the same and that the date for construction plans and work contracts “will depend upon the final results of the study.”
