I refer to the letter headlined 'Roadworks nightmare' (South China Morning Post, January 22) concerning the progress of roadworks on Victoria Road.

This improvement project to Victoria Road is a complex roadworks project. Other than reconstructing the carriageway pavement, it also involves extensive slope works and retaining walls for accommodating the improved width and alignment of the road. In addition, opportunity has been taken to replace, upgrade and add new utility services under the road along the full length of the project. The programming of all these works were further complicated by the need to maintain the existing traffic in a satisfactory condition. These resulted in all the works having to be carried out sequentially and in sections.

We are now aiming to complete the remaining carriageway works, apart from one small section, by the end of March.