District 18 News
Written by: Liao Junsheng
2019-11-30 12:40
Last updated: 2019-11-30 12:40The Highways Department applied to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council last year for the construction of the Yuen Long Elevated Footbridge at a cost of 1.7 billion. However, it caused controversy and was opposed by the five major professional associations, so the government pulled the discussion. However, the Highways Department has tendered the project in February this year. The new District Council was buried, and a number of Yuen Long District Councillors and district board members sent letters to the Highways Department asking for the project to be put on hold. Some district members said that the cost of the flyover was unreasonable, and all the new members felt that it was inappropriate and asked to reopen the discussion.
The government last year applied to the Legislative Council for funding of $ 1.7 billion for the elevated pedestrian walkway linking Long Ping Station in Yuen Long. The elevated footbridge is 540 meters long and connects the West Rail Longping Station to the south of Jiao Yu Road. Six pedestrian access platforms will be constructed along the roadsides of Anning Road, Qingshan Highway Yuen Long Section, and Jiao Yu Road. The Highways Department tendered for the flyover project in February this year. It was originally expected to begin a 50-month project in July this year, and it is now in the stage of examining and approving tenders. The related project was originally submitted to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for review when the Legislative Council resumed in October last year. However, regardless of social controversy, there are opinions that the flyover is too expensive and not very practical. Eventually, the government picked up the project. Debate.
The government plans to spend 1.785 billion yuan on a 540-meter high footbridge in Yuen Long. (Profile picture)
The Yuen Long District Council was about to be re-elected. Democrats who won a large number of seats wrote to the Highways Department asking for the shelving of the Yuen Long elevated footbridge project. Five current Yuen Long District Councillors, together with 23 Yuen Long District Councillors-elected, wrote to the Highways Department to indicate that the flyover project was highly questioned by the public, and that the district council, which was predominantly formed by the constitutional system, passed the relevant plan, while transportation and housing The Bureau invited tenders without approving funding in the Legislative Council. They considered the plan to be controversial and requested that the approval of bids be put on hold for further discussion in the District Councils.
A group of Yuen Long District Council members and district board members have called for the approval of tenders for the Yuen Long Elevated Footbridge Project. (Yuen Long Priceless Facebook Pictures)
Yuen Long District Council Member Mai Yecheng said that the bidding for the footbridge project has been completed but has not yet passed the formal review. It is basically "completely unsettled" and is in the state of document processing. Maiye Cheng said that the project has not yet been funded by the Legislative Council. He expected that there would be a lot of controversy even if it was brought up for debate in the Legislative Council. He requested that the project be put on hold in the hope of correcting the mistakes of the Highways Department. During discussions and regional consultations, "there are new members who feel that they are not suitable for the current situation in Yuen Long." Mai Yee-cheng added that the Highways Department has not responded for the time being.
Maiyecheng criticized that the project was a waste of money, the function of the footbridge was not large, and the cost was not reasonable at 1.7 billion. He explained that if the flyover is built, it will affect the adjacent greening and environmental protection, and even affect the use of public space. Mai Yecheng also pointed out that there are footpaths and sufficient space on both sides of the flyover, and other new facilities should be considered to avoid waste.
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