}
21
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1977
PROTECTION FOR UTILITY SERVICES DURING MTR CONSTRUCTION ADEQUATE
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON, DAVID MCDONALD SAID TODAY THAT ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO PROTECT UTILITY SERVICES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY SYSTEM.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM
THE HON.
T.S. LO WHO HAD ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED WITH THE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION AND ITS CONTRACTORS WITH REGARD TO AVOIDING DAMAGE TO PUBLIC UTILITY INSTALLATIONS.
MR. MCDONALD SAID A UTILITIES CO-ORDINATING GROUP HAD BEEN SET UP TO ORGANISE PRE-CONTRACT DIVERSIONS OF SERVICES WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
THE GROUP COMPRISED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT. THE UTILITY COMPANIES AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION.
+THE GROUP SUBSEQUENTLY PREPARED GENERAL SPECIFICATION CLAUSES FOR INCLUSION IN THE WORKS CONTRACTS WHICH REQUIRE CONTRACTORS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE PRESENCE OF UTILITY SERVICES IN THEIR METHODS OF WORKING, LOCATE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS BY MEANS OF HAND-DUG TRIAL HOLES, PREPARE UTILITY PROTECTION PROGRAMMES AND SUBMIT FOR APPROVAL BY THE CORPORATION FULL DETAILS OF THE IR PROPOSALS FOR SUPPORTING OR DIVERTING THE SERVICES, SAID MR. MCDONALD.
MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO PROTECT UTILITY SERVICES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAILWAY SYSTEM WERE REASONABLE.
HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT DESPITE THE CAREFUL PLANNING AND PRECAUTIONS TAKEN TO SAFEGUARD SERVICE INSTALLATIONS IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT WITH THE CONCENTRATION, COMPLEXITY AND SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS REQUIRED TO DEVELOP THE RAILWAY SYSTEM IN AREAS WITH A VERY HIGH CONCENTRATION OF UNDERGROUND DUCTS, PIPES, CABLES AND DRAINS, SOME ERRORS WOULD OCCUR RESULTING IN DISRUPTION OF SERVICES.
+TO DATE ONLY THREE SUCH DISRUPTIONS, WHICH COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS BEING OF MORE THAN A MINOR NATURE, HAVE OCCURRED AND THIS I SUGGEST REFLECTS FAVOURABLY, ON THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE UTILITIES CO-ORDINATING GROUP,+ SAID MR. MCDONALD.
/22