CONTRACTS SIGNED FOR DOC’S PASS BRIDGE

Signing the contract are from left to right: Mr. Elvin Duncan of Sean D. Construction Ltd; Permanent Secretary, Dr. Alwin Hales; State Minister, Hon. Joseph Hibbert; Transport and Works Minister, Hon. Mike Henry; MP, Hon. Michael Stern and Senior Director, Policy Planning and Evaluation, Mrs. Elsa-May Binns. Standing in the background is Mrs. Julia Moncrieffe-Wiggan, Executive Assistant to the PS.

A contract amounting to $11.9M was signed for the construction of the Doc’s Pass Bridge in Clarendon on Monday, January 20, 2008. The contract was signed at the Corporate Office of the Ministry of Transport and Works at 138H Maxfield Avenue.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Works Minister, Mike Henry noted that he was very pleased to be a part of development concerning the rural areas, and in particular Clarendon. He said that the construction of the bridge was another demonstration that the Ministry took the development of the infrastructure seriously. “Indeed, in recent times we have embarked upon a concerted effort to improve our road network and attendant infrastructure,” he said.

The contract for the construction of the bridge has been awarded to Sean. D Construction Company Ltd. The Bridge is a 33 metre long Compact 200 Modular Single Lane one.

Scope of works for the Bridge include:

• The installation of 33 metal deck units
• The installation of 44 load carrying panel units
• The construction of approximately 70 metres of approach roads over topped with DSD asphalt surfacing and
• The installation of guard rails and rock armor (boulder) protection to the existing abutments and approach roads.

Sean D. Construction was awarded the contract, among other things based on their good work on the Appleton Bridge in St. Elizabeth which required the same scope of works.

Also speaking at the signing ceremony was Minister of State, Hon. Joseph Hibbert who noted that the construction of the bridge was part of the overall bridge programme of the Ministry of Transport and Works. He asked that the contractor work assiduously to have the project completed on time and within budget.

For his part, MP for the area in which the bridge falls, Hon. Michael Stern said he was pleased to see that the bridge was going to be constructed. He said that its presence will go a far way in alleviating the difficulties residents of the area had, especially when it rained.

The Project is expected to be completed in four months.