Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that works on a $6.5-million project on the E.C Loblack Bridge in Roseau are expected to be completed on December 15.
He made the announcement while addressing the media during a site visit of the E.C Loblack Bridge along with other government officials on Tuesday.
“This project cost $6.5-million and we expect it to be completed within time on December 15,” he revealed.
The bridge was severely affected by Hurricane Maria on September 18th, 2017 and Skerrit said the government is seeking to have some adaption done to that bridge that would eliminate the possibility of what happened during Maria to happen again.
He said he hopes that the contractors allow some pedestrian access sooner, “but certainly in terms of motorable access to the bridge we can expect, God willing, for there to be accessed on the 15th of December.”
He said further that the project is a major undertaking and it is on schedule.
Skerrit said that his government is also looking at retaining walls from the E.C Loblack Bridge, going towards the Windsor Park Bridge.
“We are also looking at the West Bridge bus stop where the Portsmouth buses usually assemble to go all the way past the KFC and the market, so as to address two vulnerable areas on the Roseau River currently,” Skerrit explained. “If we do not address this, with all the work that we have done on the River Bank we will run the risk of having the city flooded.”
When the bridge is completed it will look somewhat similar to the West Bridge, the Prime Minister explained.
“So we are actually mimicking the style of the West Bridge that was constructed sometime last year and which stood the forces of Maria…,” he stated.
Meantime, Project Manager of NSG Management and Technical Services, Ltd. Rich Harrington has said that weather is a major challenge.
“Hopefully we are lucky and we are at a time of year where I am really hopeful that we pass the worst of the storms and we can just move on,” he said.
Harrington revealed that a total of 28 people are presently working on the project and they come from different nations including; Colombia, Philippines, England, USA to name a few, and an entire labor force of Dominicans who have been with the company for years working on the West Bridge.
I am not an engineer but, how come bridges across the Roseau river are still constructed on piling footing built into the bed of the river? Would it not make more sense to have the bridge suspended under cables? a suspension bridge so that the bridge would be over the river. This bridge is just going to get washed away again, a waste of money.
Well it’s good to rebuild bridges of course (as long as they are built back better !), though it seems odd to put priority on this one, when there are three other bridges still standing in same area.
What about key bridges on the west side of island? Half the Layou bridge is gone, the other half not looking the best – next big storm may remove it. If that is lost, well, big, big problems, yet no sign of any repair effort on this.
If the pictures above is the state of the bridge today, it cannot be ready for December! And it should not be rushed to open in December. Better the job be done properly than quickly! What’s the rush?
What ever happened to that grand Roseau improvement and development master plan that was advertised some years ago with work soon to begin? Shouldn’t all of this be included in some comprehensive Roseau development plan? What ever happened to the Roseau Tourism Development Zone, and the Roseau Urban Development Plan? Do the Dominican journalists have any memory to ask the PM and his Ministers those questions? Is Dominica a joke country?
Here since 2006? https://www.caribbeanelections.com/eDocs/strategy/dm_strategy/dm_Tourism_Masterplan.pdf
Here since 2005 for 2020? http://physicalplanning.gov.dm/images/ROSRoseau%20Development%20Plan.pdf
All these plans need to be reviewed, revised and rewritten, because they were based on GDP and financial estimates before the hurricanes!
What are we hearing about this?
It turned out to be more pie in the sky. Who on earth is still believing a word this PM is saying?
Just a bunch of waste,just looking @ the steel that is being used,another disaster waiting to happen again.When will you people come to your senses?
‘Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that works on a $6.5-million project’…..Is there a Minister of Public Works to make that announcement ?—Well, well Skerrit definitely thinks of himself as the supreme leader – like Kim Jung Un—everything is by him; through him; because of him; so praise him……………..O my, how I weep for my Dominica.
Skerrit is looking for fame and publicity. His reputation has been destroyed and a disaster, worse than Maria. He needs to show his face in odd places at odd times. What a hopeless who lacks vision and reputation.
Skerrit and his corrupt government are the troubled political waters flowing under a damaged bridge over a corrupt Labour government.
Just now you will stop wasting our money. $6.5 million to repair less than 50 feet of a bridge?
The entire bridge has to be repaired..
So he going to call the buy votes aka election somewhere between Nov 20 to December 13? But tell him his Saturday has come and like Jason and the Laplane people taught him no amount of cash distribution or projects can buy us this time. We are ready like Freddie. I mean we the Dominican people are ready to reject him this time. I voted for him last election but not anymore.
So he going to call the buy votes aka election somewhere between Nov 20 to December 13? But tell him his Saturday has come and like Jason and the Laplane people taught him no amount of cash distribution or projects can buy us this time. We are ready like Freddie. I mean we the Dominican people are ready to reject him this time. I voted for him last election but not anymore.
Who is we? Who you speaking for? Speak for yourself alone pls.
Hear, hear let’s get him out together with his ministers. He has ruined our country beyond recognition. Let’s show him who’s in charge of Dominica! PEOPLE POWER!
I won’t be impressed until an arch style bridge is constructed. After all these years but of our rivers fulling up with debris and banks overflowing during hurricanes and storms, you’d think that they would build an arch bridge to allow for easy passage of water and debris, but, no. Smh
Skerrit posing as Minister of Communication and Works ..He is so scared the good Dominican people have said they will not vote for dimples and lies again .
Out you go this time,and you are feeling and smelling it.Good Riddance Mr incompetence ..
So you are not talking airport this time,?Wicked leader!!!
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now
Whaooo! Skerrit is really the Minister in all Ministries! Can we have any of the ministers to come out to give progress reports in their areas of responsibilities?
Do you blame the ministers when things go wrong?
Soon Skerrit will announce the rebuilding of the entire nation before election. Where is the minister for Communications and Works to announce this project? We have seen and heard these utterances by Skerroo and know that after previous elections all these promises went under the table, (Forgotten).
I want Skerroo to know that he has failed miserably as a P.M and we will never believe anything you say. Certainly will not vote for you again.