SANDY GULLY BRIDGE RE-OPENED

Transport and Works Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill re-opened the Sandy Gully Truss Bridge, Spanish Town Road on Friday, October 22, 2004.

The bridge was closed last year when during a routine inspection, the National Works Agency (NWA) identified failures to the approaches and the deterioration of bridge members. At that time, the Agency took the decision to close the bridge, thus preserving the safety of the motoring public along the corridor. Consequently, the Agency embarked on a $30M project to rehabilitate the Bridge.

The works included:

• The removal and replacement of old bridge deck and steel members
• Sandblasting and painting of corroded tension chords, joints and bolts
• The fabrication and replacement of other bridge members
• Repairs/replacement of guardrails and sidewalks and
• The re-surfacing of the bridge deck with asphaltic concrete

Speaking at the re-opening of the bridge, Minister Pickersgill said that he considered it a triumph to stand in front of the recently rehabilitated Sandy Gully Truss Bridge. Continuing, he said, ‘I say triumph because the Ministry of Transport and Works/National Works Agency encountered several challenges in completing the works. The most complicated being the constant threats to the contractor, Nakash Construction Ltd; by extortionists.’

With the re-opening of the bridge, motorists can now enjoy the benefits derived from the re-habilitative works done. This will go a long way in lessening vehicle operating costs.

The repairs to the Sandy Gully Bridge is part of a wider programme – the MTW/NWA Mabey and Johnson Priority Bridge Programme. Under this programme, the Ministry intends to spend just over 22 800 million pounds, to complete the rehabilitation of some 40 bridges islandwide. So far, 43 bridges have been identified for replacement and two for rehabilitation The routine inspection of bridges is not confined to the corporate area as the NWA has carried out inspections of over 700 bridges that span the 5,000 km of main roads across the island.

The repairs currently underway on the Black River Bridge in St. Elizabeth are part of the programme. The works which started in May are now 40% complete. The contarctors have removed the entire bridge deck, sandblasted, fabricated and replaced 90% of members above the bridge deck. Troufling Plates which are being sourced overseas are being awaited in order to complete the work.

And in response to various complaints concerning fords, two of these will be replaced by bridges under the Mabey and Johnson Priority Bridge Programme. These are the Queensborough and Cassia Park Fords. The designs for these are now complete and by January, 2005 tenders will be invited for their construction.