The Transport Bureau’s (DSAT) Coordination Department Chief Mok Soi Tou warned residents about “big” traffic jams during a press conference yesterday at the Macau Grand Prix Building about the 71st Macau Grand Prix (MGP), which will take place between next Thursday and Sunday (November 14-17).
Mok made the remarks during a press conference at the Grand Prix Building in Zape yesterday.
Mok said that according to past experience, the first day of the MGP (next Thursday) was expected to see the most serious traffic jams. He pointed out that major traffic congestion could be expected to mainly affect Avenida Dr Rodrigo Rodrigues (羅理基博士大馬路), Avenida do Coronel Mesquita (美副將大馬路), Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga (雅廉訪大馬路), Rua de Francisco Xavier Pereira (俾利喇街), and Avenida de Sidónio Pais (士多鳥拜斯大馬路).
Mok also said that 52 bus routes will be temporarily affected, pointing out that two will be suspended, while two new temporary bus routes will be added.
The Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee (MGPOC) Infrastructure Subcommittee Coordinator Vong Ka Kun said that of the Guia Circuit’s 162 metal barriers some were still being installed, adding that the MGPOC has set up LED display panels and road signs outside the barriers to remind residents of the temporary transport arrangement.
Vong said the remaining barriers will be installed between Monday and Wednesday next week. On Monday, the installation schedule will start in the afternoon in roads including Avenida da Amizade (友誼大馬路), Estrada D. Maria II (馬交石炮台馬路), Rua dos Pescadores (漁翁街), while on Tuesday the installation begins at 10 a.m. in Avenida da Amizade and Estrada de Cacilhas (海邊馬路); next Wednesday, on the eve of the MGP, the exit of the Macau-Taipa Friendship Bridge to the Outer Harbour area will be closed.
The Transport Bureau urged the public to pay close attention to the temporary transport adjustments, and to plan their trips ahead of time to avoid traffic peaks.
200-300 tickets reserved every day for walk-in
Meanwhile, Sports Bureau (ID) President Luís Gomes (張子軒) told reporters that tickets for the main events for Grand Prix this year are almost sold out, adding that 200 to 300 tickets will be reserved for sale during the races every day, so that walk-in spectators still have the chance to buy them.
Gomez made the remarks on the sidelines of the traditional blessing ceremony for the upcoming MGP outside the Macau Grand Prix Building in Zape yesterday.
Gomez said that the organising committee has also cooperated with more than 20 schools and will arrange for more than 4,200 local students to watch the races.
Gomez said that the number of racers participating in this year’s Grand Prix was higher than that of the pre-pandemic year in 2019, with more than 190 racers, 25 of them from Macau.
Gomez also revealed that staff from the Paris-based Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) arrived in Macau last Saturday to inspect the track and the event’s communication measures. He said they would make a final pre-race inspection on Wednesday to ensure that the track is in the safest and best condition for the arrival of the racing cars.
Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes estimated that this year’s MGP will attract over 400,000 tourists to Macau, which may lead to a higher than 90 percent occupancy rate of local hotels, adding that the bureau will invite KOLs from the mainland and from other places to promote the event, so as to further boost the MGP effect.
Zone A-peninsula flyover opens on Saturday
During yesterday’s press conference, Public Works Bureau (DSOP) Infrastructures Department Chief Ng Hong announced that the government will open the flyover connecting the Zone A land reclamation area and the peninsula near the Macau Peninsula Wastewater Treatment Plant on Saturday.
Ng added that the bureau will only open the lanes from the direction of Zone A to Avenida do Dr Francisco Vieira Machado (馬揸度博士大馬路) in Areia Preta district, while the opposite direction will open later.
The flyover is officially known as A2, which has two lanes – one in each direction.
The 500-metre-long two-way flyover runs between Zone A’s northern part and Avenida 1º de Maio near the Macau Peninsula Wastewater Treatment Plant in Areia Preta district.
Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes (from left to right), Sports Bureau (ID) President Luís Gomes, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U, Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee (MGPOC) member-cum-legislator Andrew Chan Chak Mo, and MGPOC Sporting Subcommittee Coordinator Chong Coc Veng pose during yesterday’s traditional blessing ceremony for next week’s 71st Macau Grand Prix outside the Grand Prix Building in Zape.– Photo: GCS
