Bridge in Castle Comfort to be operational in “next few days”

Ongoing construction at the site

Project Manager of NSG Management and Technical Services, Ltd (NSG) in Dominica, Ritch Errington, has promised that a Bailey bridge being built in Castle Comfort will be operational within the next few days.

The bridge will be replacing a culvert which was compromised by Hurricane Maria.

“So what we’ve done is taking it out and we are widening the river itself, adding new walls to the sides, reinforcement, and we are adding a new two-lane reinforced bridge that will make traffic flow freely and more importantly when the water comes down it will flow right through instead of over the bridge,” Errington said on Kairi FM.

Normally the river that flows through the area, known locally as Larivyè Kanawi, is a small stream but during the passage of Maria, it turned into a raging monster of water and tons of debris.

“The thing with heavy storms is that the little creeks turn into raging rivers and the problem is the trees and other debris,” Errington said, adding that NSG’s goal is to build bridges which are bigger and wider so water can flow freely.

NSG has already built a Bailey bridge in Fond Baron and the one in Castle Comfort is the second one of nine more to come, Errington stated.

“So we are on our way around the country building bridges,” he said.

He explained that although Bailey bridges are normally called temporary bridges, they are good for up to 40 years.

“I call them a permanent structure,” he remarked. “It is certainly not as permanent as the West Bridge (NSG was the main contractor for that bridge in Roseau) with all the concrete and steel but this is certainly permanent, I would say for the next 30 to 40 years.”

He noted that the bridge will be in action within the next few days.

“People ask if it is going to be a few weeks, no, it is going to be a few days,” Errington said.

Debris dumped in the area during Hurricane Maria

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7 Comments

  1. Shameless
    November 9, 2017

    I am always baffled when people who know better continue to sing the song of the authorities simply to get more business. NSG knows that bailey bridges though resilient and easy to repair cannot be considered permanent structures because they are not. Again from an engineering point of view they are NOT and there are reasons for that position. We understand the need for them now but creating the impression that these are somewhat permanent structures is a flawed concept aimed at giving credence to the PM’s position while justifying why bailey bridges installed after Erika are still in place when 18million plus was spent on the new Roseau bridge. We speak of resilience on one side of our mouth and blatantly lie on the other side. What a shame! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

    Assertive as LL! :twisted: :twisted:

  2. High school teacher.
    November 8, 2017

    Really? If Bailey bridges are so great and permanent, why the he__ did you guys spend $18 million on a bridge in Roseau. And did you find a name for this bridge?

  3. Quotar
    November 8, 2017

    This guy’s aRe crazy? A bailey bridge is permanent?? U building a resilient Dominica with bailey bridges..all over the country is bailey Bridges. . This country is doomed ..

    • really
      November 8, 2017

      Before you talk , please research bailey bridges in the world . They are safe and easy to repair . If they fall they can be fixed . They have a lot of advantages and can be seen all over the world as permanent bridges . There is one in Canada . Please research before you talk

    • really
      November 8, 2017

      One up north fell and they put it back up . If it was an ordinary bridge you think you could put it back up after falling ?

    • Herbert Volney
      January 24, 2018

      Put your hand in your pocket and help
      Pay for what you want b

  4. Illuminator
    November 7, 2017

    Mr. Errington, if God forbid Hurricane Maria were to pass by what chance do you give this Bailey bridge of not being destroyed. Am asking this against your case of it’s permanence and the newly pronounced strategy of building a more resilient Dominica and infrastructure.

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