for the completion of repairs and renewals with the minimum of delay. The Waterworks, Drainage Works, Electric Company, Cable & Wireless and Telegraph Cos. and finally the Gas Co., all carried out extensive work on their services as each section of road was opened up. A programme of work was drawn up in conjunction with the Traffic Police and Utility Cos. and a 30′-0″ width of road on lengths varying from 300′-0″ to 900′-0″ was made available to the contractor for reconstruction at any one time.
The contract which was scheduled to take 18 weeks was commenced on 2nd November and completed 5 weeks ahead of schedule on 31st January.
181. The second major reconstruction job was carried out on a mile section of Connaught Road Central between Blake Pier and Gilman Street. This road 75'-0" wide bounded by the harbour on the north side and shops and office buildings on the south was reconstructed to the standard specification in two half sections 22′-0″ wide divided by a central parking strip. The opportunity was taken during construction for the provision of a 7'-0" wide footpath and handrails on the seaward edge. This was long overdue as the old seawall was a popular unloading point for scores of junks which attracted haulage lorries and coolie porters and severely obstructed the traffic flow. With the erection of the railings, however, the junks used the authorized piers or sections of Praya Wall more removed from the City Centre for unloading, and as a result the traffic congestion disappeared. In conjunction with the reconstruction of Connaught Road Central the vehicular ferry concourse was completely reorganized and reconstructed, more space was provided for cars and lorries waiting for the ferries and the bus terminus was re-positioned for the benefit of the Operating Company and general public.
182. In addition to these two major schemes, reconstruction jobs completed during the year included a section of Belcher's Street, the Praya at Kennedy Town, Blue Pool Road, Yen Chow Street, Argyle Street, Kimberley Road, Jordan Road, Tong Mi Road, Gascoigne Road and Prince Edward Road.
38