The Macau government granted two local companies a contract to study the underground infrastructure during the first stage of Macau’s light railway project, or Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system, which is expected to be  constructed in 2009, according to Macau News agency.
Nam Shui – Centro de Tecnologia e Engenharia, Limitada and CAA, Planeamento e Engenharia, Consultores Limitada, were granted a four million pataca contract and the study should be completed within six months.
The Infrastructure Development Office (GDI) added that the study would verify what underground infrastructure exists along the routes of the LRT, namely pipelines, electricity and telecommunication cables as well as water and sewage pipes, as the government found it needed to carry out the study after discovering the existence of a large amount of infrastructure along the LRT routes. This infrastructure will most likely need to be relocated.
The first phase of the LRT, to be concluded in 2011, is expected to cost around 4.2 billion patacas.
The first phase of the LRT will be built on a 20 km elevated platform with 23 stations linking the Portas do Cerco area, the border with mainland China, and the Pac On area on Taipa island, near the Macau International Airport, passing through the city centre.
The light railway will be driven automatically – no driver will be needed – and will be able to have trains at stations every three minutes. The LRT is being projected to have the capacity to transport a maximum of 152,000 passengers per day.
The GDI is analysing proposals from France’s EGIS Rail, Portugal’s Consulgal consortium and Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation. This last company however, is only offering advisory services for the LRT.
The chosen company will analyse and optimise the preliminary implementation study for the LRT, as well as the management and business model, on how to attract passengers, and its project costs.
The company will also be responsible for preparing the tender documents on granting supply contracts for the system, such as rolling stock, along with the design and construction of the LRT.
The Transportation Infrastructure Office is also analysing proposals from three international consultants that propose to carry out feasibility studies for a new route for the LRT.
The second phase of the LRT in the northeast of Macau will link the Portas do Cerco area (the border with mainland China) to the inner harbour near Barra.
The three companies who presented bids for the feasibility study for the second phase of the LRT are the United Kingdom’s Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong, the United States’ Parsons Brinckerhoff (Asia) and Hong Kong’s Maunsell Consultants Asia.