Recently, an accident occurred at Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha District, Guangzhou in which a bridge pillar was broken by a vessel. The accident not only resulted in five deaths and three injuries, but also raised the alarm on the maintenance and management of the existing infrastructure and the alert system. The accident has exposed the major loopholes in the management and control of the bridge. The SAR Government and relevant departments must carry out regular maintenance of such large-scale public transport facilities and pay close attention to the vehicles in order to safeguard the safety of the facilities and the public.
It is appreciated that in order to maintain the structural safety and good serviceability of the bridges, apart from carrying out comprehensive and large-scale maintenance works every ten years, the DSSCU also adopts the Structural Health Monitoring System for the bridges for daily monitoring, monitoring the bridge structure in real time to ensure that it is in a stable condition. The authorities also carry out localised maintenance works in a timely manner in accordance with the utilisation of the bridges, such as repaving of the road surface, repair of the bridge body, and implementation of protective works for the pillars and parapets underneath the bridges, etc., so as to prolong the serviceable life of the bridges.
The three cross-sea bridges are not only the land “arteries” connecting the Macau Peninsula with Taipa and Coloane, but with the rapid growth of the economy and the increase in the number of vehicles, the three bridges are under increasing pressure of utilisation. Although the probability of a ship colliding with the bridges is “extremely small”, the consequences are unimaginable when it happens. Therefore, apart from strengthening the daily supervision and management of the bridges through the use of modern innovative technology and other big data analysis techniques, the SAR Government needs to strengthen the maintenance and monitoring of the anti-collision devices at the bridge supports. At the same time, it is also necessary to strengthen the real-time monitoring of vessels travelling in the vicinity of our bridges and formulate relevant emergency plans to ensure that the repair work of the bridges and the rescue work can be carried out proactively in the first instance after the occurrence of accidents.
As bridges are the core link between the public and the city, their safe operation is related to the lives of every citizen and the stable development of society and economy. The accident at the Lixinsha Bridge in Guangzhou is a reminder that we must pay adequate attention to the safety maintenance of bridges and other important transport infrastructures. Through continuous maintenance, technological innovation, and enhancement of public awareness and emergency response capability, we can ensure the safe operation of vehicles and safeguard the lives and properties of the public. In addition, contingency planning and drills for emergencies are also key points that should not be overlooked. Improving contingency plans and enhancing the ability and efficiency to respond to emergencies will ensure that rescue teams can be organised quickly and effectively to minimise the loss of life and economic property in the event of a similar incident.
Associação dos Trabalhadores da Função Pública de Macau（atfpm）
