ROAD construction may be carried out around-the-clock in an effort to improve congestion, the Secretary for Works James Blake, said.
A report on the feasibility of doing so would be ready next month.
Independent Emily Lau Wai-hing backed the suggestion, saying it would prevent congestion and workers and drivers competing for roads.
Mr Blake said $1.3 billion would be spent on road reconstruction projects to help ease traffic problems at junctions between urban areas and satellite towns.
The projects include improvements to the congested Lung Cheung and Ching Cheung roads, and the reconstruction of seven sections of roads in Kennedy Town, Kwun Tong, Shau Kei Wan and Castle Peak.
Legislators called for contingency plans to prevent worse congestion during construction, but Director of Highway Kwong Hon-sang said that was not practical. ''Some affected regions are very large in area. Therefore it is not efficient to recover the damage road sections every night after work.'' However, the Government would proceed with construction in non-peak hours wherever possible.
