The bridge linking the Vigie Highways to the tarmac at Arnos Vale is at risk of collapsing if trucks continue to ignore the tonnage limitation, says Transport and Works Minister, Montgomery Daniel.
Daniel said on NBC Radio that the structural integrity has been compromised for some time.
He said that the Office of the Chief Engineer, together with the police, decided to protect the public by posting a sign saying that trucks heavier than two tons were barred from using the bridge.
However, in June, as the Cricket World Cup came to St. Vincent, the police took further actions by placing a metal bar across the road at the height of nine feet, indicating that vehicles beyond a certain weight and height should not enter the bridge.
“… just over one week, that bar was torn down by a 10-tonne truck,” Daniel said, adding that the police caught the culprit, who decided to replace the bar.
“Just a few days ago, the bar was replaced, and in a matter of days again, another truck came through and tore that bar down again.”
Daniel said that when he inquired, the police told him that the driver, who was in custody, had said that he did not see the bar.
“Well, if that is the case, the police need to ensure that vision is part of the driving test for all of us, on a yearly basis,” Daniel said.
“… when these things happen, it is of concern to all of us. And so, as the minister responsible, I’m appealing to the traveling public to take the necessary precaution for the safety of yourself and others who use the road because the signs are there for use and protection of all of us as road users.”
He said there have been traffic problems at Arnos Vale, particularly on mornings and evenings, hence the decision to allow traffic to traverse the tarmac of the decommissioned ET Joshua Airport, relieving congestion at the roundabout.
“The bridge can still be used, but with light traffic,” Daniel said, adding that heavy trucks will not be allowed across the overpass.
“… to close that bridge, to close that access, and to put all the traffic on the main road coming around the roundabout, there is going to be a nightmare,” the transport minister said.
He said he spent an hour in traffic from the Calliaqua Police Station to the gas station in Villa on Independence Day, when the tarmac bypass was closed because of a function there.
“And so, one could see the difficulty one would have if you actually closed off that road.”
Daniel said discussions started two years ago at the Ministry of Transport about funding
rehabilitation of the bridge.
He said talks were held with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
“But of course, you know, the process of CDB is quite a lengthy process,” he said, adding that funding was yet to be approved.
“But two years ago, I had discussions with the National Road Rehabilitation Project (NRPP) as to how we can fund this project.”
Daniel said he tried to get the rehabilitation of the bridge under the first phase of the project.
“Unfortunately, we did not get it in because the NRRP thought that there were much more important roads to be done across St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said.
He said the bridge is among roads to be done under phase 2 of the NRRP as part of an overall improvement of roads in the area, in light of the construction of the Acute Referral Hospital at the tarmac.
And so, the discussions continued and so for this year, on the second phase of the NRRP programme, this project has been accepted, and this is one of the number of different roads that have been identified for works to be done.
“And so, the road where the bridge is part of … is now considered under the NRRP to be done to facilitate access in and across the tarmac area, and to facilitate the developments that will be taking place when it becomes there on the tarmac.”
Daniel said the NRRP Unit has said that work on the bridge is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2025.
“So, I am asking the police to step up on your work at the entrance to ensure that heavy vehicles do not cross the bridge area,” Daniel said.
“If the bridge collapses, it is going to be a nightmare for all of us as the traveling public. And so, I’m urging the police to step up your work so that at the end of the day we all do not fall victims to what can be a tragedy for us.”
The infrastructure in svg is in a very bad state of repairs most roads and bridges were not constructed to take fifty ton tructs , it was never envisage ( with the exception of most of back street ) , with the type of roads that exist in svg most roads and bridges outside of kingstown are in fact footpaths that were covered to take a few cars and vans ,i am not sure who if anyone can be blamed for this but that particular bridge should have been repaired/replaced many years ago as it is intensively used by many types of vehicles and a lot of water flows under it when it rains too , the longer we wait with upgrading our infrastructure the more expensive it will get eventually and could cost lives as well
Well, one thing we know for sure is that if the bridge does manage to collapse due to recklessness, incompetence, lawlessness and poor planning, it won’t take years to be restored as did the Sharpes bridge and the Golden Grove roadway in Chateaubelair. All hands will come on deck briskly to soak up the adrenaline and salvage an otherwise humdrum life. This is one bright side and in it, there is comfort.
Whenever they build, it is some flimsy something that doesn’t last. It is build according to no code, no building specs. It is not built to last at least 20 years. Twenty years in power and every thing is falling down. Poor we!