The Public Works Bureau (DSOP) said in a statement yesterday that it expects the construction of a footbridge crossing the busy Avenida Marginal Flor de Lótus in Cotai, near the Pousada Marina Infante hotel on one side and the Galaxy Macau casino-hotel resort on the other, to get off the ground in the fourth quarter of this year.
The government launched a public tender in late March for the footbridge project. Potential bidders were required to submit their quotations by Monday.
A total of 14 construction companies had submitted their bids, which were unsealed by DSOP officials yesterday. All bids were accepted.
The winning bidder will be required to carry out the project’s final construction design first before starting the construction.
Yesterday’s DSOP statement announced that the quotations for the footbridge project (final design plus construction) proposed by the 14 bidders range from 23.8 million patacas to 30.6 million patacas.
The bureau has set a maximum period of 360 working days for the winning bidder to complete the project.
Yesterday’s statement announced that the final design and construction periods proposed by the 14 bidders range from 324 to 342 working days.
The statement also noted that the new footbridge will be equipped with a staircase, an escalator, and a lift on each side.
Currently, near the location of the new footbridge project, there is an enclosed footbridge connecting the interior of the Broadway Macau casino-hotel and the interior of Galaxy Macau, with access points on both sides of the avenue. From the avenue’s pavement on both sides, the enclosed footbridge can be accessed via stairs and lifts.
In the vicinity, this enclosed footbridge is currently the only footbridge crossing Avenida Marginal Flor de Lótus.
Avenida Marginal Flor de Lótus in west Cotai runs from near Galaxy Macau to near the Seac Pai Van neighbourhood in Coloane.
Observers have noted that the vehicular traffic along the section of Avenida Marginal Flor de Lótus near Pousada Marina Infante, Broadway Macau, and Galaxy Macau has been affected by jaywalking for years.
Observers have also noted the low number of zebra crossings in the section.
Yesterday’s statement also underlined that the future footbridge near Pousada Marina Infante and Galaxy Macau will create a walking environment that separates pedestrians from vehicular traffic and makes it more convenient for pedestrians to cross the avenue.
