L Ron Lam has raised concerns about the traffic disorganization in Zone A of the new landfills. He expressed these concerns during a spoken inquiry before the agenda in a recent plenary session at the Legislative Assembly.
Lam said that due to numerous construction projects in the area, traffic flow is constantly changing and frequently halted, creating chaos for those needing to use the roads. He said the issue has become particularly noticeable since the opening of the Macau Bridge last month, which has brought more traffic to Zone A. The situation has been further aggravated by transport authorities encouraging gaming operators to use the new bridge as the primary route connecting Cotai and the Border Gate area.
Describing Zone A as a “large construction site,” Lam said the area is not only home to various building projects but also includes ongoing work on technical galleries, roads, and the East Line of the Light Rapid Transit. He said many streets in the area have been temporarily converted to one-way streets, while others are operating in both directions but without clear signage, causing further confusion and traffic bottlenecks.
Lam criticized the lack of planning, pointing out that Zone A was developed from scratch, and therefore, the government had no excuse for the disorganization. He argued that the government should have anticipated these problems and coordinated the construction efforts more effectively.
“It’s important to note that Zone A, where the new landfills are, was planned from scratch, and construction proceeded accordingly. With comprehensive planning and better coordination of the works, the government could have minimized the disruption to residents and traffic. Instead, the government has taken a reactive approach, implementing provisional measures as problems arise, rather than addressing the issues proactively,” Lam said.
The lawmaker also highlighted the significant delays in the construction of the access bridges between Zone A and the Peninsula. He said these bridges should have been completed long before major developments, such as the Macau Bridge, were opened. He argued these delays reflect a broader issue of poor planning and a lack of foresight by the government in addressing the needs of the population.
Lam called on the authorities to reassess their priorities for the area and to reorganize the works to reduce the traffic disruptions.
