The government-owned Light Rail Transit (LRT) operator has announced that it plans to start an enhancement project by the end of this year to “improve the facilities” on the elevated platform connecting the LRT Jockey Club station with the adjacent transport hub.
The LRT operator, Macau Light Rapid Transit Corporation Limited (MLM), made the announcement in a statement on Monday, which, however, did not elaborate on what facilities will be covered by the project.
The transport hub located outside the Macau Jockey Club (MJC) is officially known as Estrada Governador Albano de Oliveira Public Transport Interchange.
Facilities currently in use at the transport hub include a public bus interchange and an underground parking area for heavy passenger vehicles, i.e., buses and tourist coaches.
Running along the Macau Jockey Club, Estrada Governador Albano de Oliveira is a one-kilometre-long road connecting the Ocean Gardens estate with the Macau Stadium.
Currently, the LRT only operates on the 9.3-kilometre-long Taipa section which includes Cotai. The Taipa-Cotai section, which started operating on December 10, 2019, has 11 stations.
Monday’s MLM announcement came after local Chinese-language media reports earlier this month stated that various unused facilities on the elevated platform, such as escalators, lifts, and areas earmarked for green spaces are surrounded by water-filled barriers.
The elevated platform enables passengers to travel between the LRT Jockey Club station and the adjacent public bus interchange on the ground level.
After a visit to the LRT Jockey Club station earlier this month, The Macau Post Daily found that outside the station’s entrance on the elevated platform, there was a long rectangular area apparently earmarked for a green space, but nothing had been planted in the area, which was only covered by soil and surrounded by water-filled barriers. In addition, a number of escalators and lifts connecting the elevated platform and the pavement below were not in use and were also surrounded by water-filled barriers.
Monday’s MLM statement acknowledged that the LRT Jockey Club station and its adjacent Estrada Governador Albano de Oliveira Public Transport Interchange are “two important transport facilities used by residents in the neighbourhood”, adding that MLM is now planning to carry out an enhancement project to “improve the facilities” on the elevated platform connecting the two facilities, with the aim of improving their “accessibility”.
The statement underlined that MLM aims to “make better use of the space” on the elevated platform, adding that the company has temporarily fenced off the areas that have not been opened yet on the platform.
The statement underlined that MLM has been carrying out the design for its project to improve the elevated platform’s space, adding that it has also been carrying out regular cleaning work there with the aim of maintaining public hygiene and controlling pests.
The statement said that the project’s design has “recently” been approved by the government’s public works entity because of which MLM can now get its preparation work for the enhancement project finally off the ground. MLM will soon launch a limited tender for the project, i.e., inviting a number of construction companies to submit their quotations, the statement said, adding that MLM is now aiming for the project to start by the end of this year.
This photo taken earlier this month shows the elevated platform outside LRT Jockey Club station’s entrance where nothing had been planted in a rectangular area earmarked for a green space. – Photo: Tony Wong
