Antrim road alert

A section of the sinking road in Antrim
A section of the sinking road in Antrim

It is described as a disaster waiting to happen.

The main road in a section of Antrim is sinking in what one concerned citizen said at “a rapid” rate and he is now calling on the authorities to treat the matter as one of national emergency.

“It is a cause for concern for all Dominica,” Wayne James, a resident of Sylvainia, told Dominica News Online. “I think the authorities should step up, it should be a national priority at this time.”

Antrim is located in the Springfield Valley. The road going through the area connects the west coast of the island to the east and north east and is heavily utilized by commuters from the La Plaine to Marigot.

James said the affected area is located just a stone’s throw from the DOWASCO treatment plant if one is traveling east and said the road has been sinking for some time now but it has gotten so bad recently that something must be done urgently.

“Now I think it is really, really disastrous,” he told DNO.

James pointed out that over time when the road was previously sinking, the authorities had simply dumped tarish on it, something he said is a very bad idea. “When you put tarish on the road, it adds extra weight and this causes the road to sink further,” he pointed out.

James is also concerned that there are no proper signs warning motorists of the possible dangers that lie ahead. “For the seriousness of this, there should be proper signage there warning motorists of any danger,” he said.

He noted that if the road is not repaired soon it could have implications for the island’s tourism industry. “If the tourist season was in its peak now, I can guarantee you visitors will not want travel in that area,” he said.

Dominica News Online contacted the Office of Disaster Management on the matter and Acting National Disaster Coordinator, Don Corriette, said the office is aware of the situation. However, he said he was in a meeting in Barbados and was unable to give a more thorough response.

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69 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    July 21, 2013

    Antrim might be inneed of a well built wall. Reggie said on many occasions, moone paca mange’ wall. I must tell him now, moone paca tape’ mange’ horde pierce wall zor ca fer a trewl mane’.

    The college walls, Presidents palace walls to name couple. I must say this gov’t built a lot of walls. How many Dominicans eat from all the walls built?

  2. Anonymous
    July 21, 2013

    90% of those people commenting are people living over seas and doesn’t even come home .this road has been moving for a long time ,not since it was repaired .the problem is unique it will take some planing before doing anything.i live oversea also but I usually visit at lease twice a year .so I know ,I use that road very often when I am home

    • unknown
      July 22, 2013

      so hold up .. it happenin for years and up to now .. waitin for it to fall with u passin on it ? when it sink ppl will take it on .. u comin dere twice a year ?? really .. what about us that dere everyday ? twice a year u can see nothing that happenin in dominica ? is just like when ppl go NY on vacation they feelin nice but ppl that living NY checkin it ruff .. is always the person in the pot that feelin the heat . so hush and stay up where u are and stop commentin on what u dont know

  3. Just sayin'
    July 21, 2013

    This is not “a disaster waiting to happen” this is a disaster that has been happening for several years. It’s great that people are “studying and researching” maybe now would be a good time to fix it before more homes are lost (yes, this is a fact) Or maybe they can put more tarish and asphalt…like they have done many times…it could work this time????????

    • Engineer
      July 22, 2013

      While more tarish will help with the ride, it is not necessarily a good thing, because you are loading the slope even more when you do so – adding more load to the top of the slope makes it more unstable. While I will advise people to stop travelling that route, if government decide to backfill the depressed area and not close the road, they can make use of a light-weight backfill and a temporary measure, but in no way I am saying that this will stabilize the slippage – it is just better than heavier material. And as a general warning, please avoid this area especially after heavy rainfall.

  4. Engineer
    July 21, 2013

    It is absolutely wrong to say that nothing can be done. First very visible caution and warning signs should be in place. Secondly, there should be a high priority active study being performed on the area to see what is taking place. As a result of that study, there can a number of outcomes, including, repair, abandon the road, or do nothing to stabilize the slope, but put caution signs in place. This is a disaster waiting to happen. In face, the slide is already taking place slowly, but there is going to be a tipping point. At this time, what I can advise the authorities, is to take every measure to prevent water from getting into those cracks to saturate the slope even more. Further precaution such as limiting the weight of trucks traversing the area. Dominicans, this is my line of work – take this thing very seriously.

  5. Anonymous
    July 21, 2013

    Those of us who all contribute to the comments made on DNO must be patient and understanding to every commentator her. Quick to call others stupid. Quick to call others names that we feel does not suit us. Also, we are so quick to tell others they can never or will never.
    When some one is intelligent, they do not call others stupid, foolish or any other awful name.
    Step back you very bright one and look through out this beautiful Dominica and tell me who and the most successful men and women in this country? We all can at one point or the other. Look back at your own growth and development and tell me how much you got/received outside your own which placed you in the position you are today. Be smart, never exhault your position. There are others to come who will do much better than many of us during their time. Be patient and polite. (I am an insider)

  6. Yup
    July 20, 2013

    I don’t think the contractors for that road knew how to tackle a problem like that and just wasted the little money the country has. I don’t believe a proper assessment of this section of the road was done and therefore instead of making it better, the situation just got worse. It is unfortunate that the Government needs to spend more money on a road that so much money has gone into but it has to be done. If it means getting engineers that are even better skilled and seasoned than the ones that fixed the road well then so be it. The last thing that the country needs is a repeat of the disaster in pond casse. And in the interim, Cochrane road needs to be fixed. It is one of safest alternatives now for drivers

  7. Thinking
    July 20, 2013

    The scariest of it all, is the precipice below. Just imagine one of those huge tour bus becomes a casualty. What then will we say, oh these things happen all the time and everywhere. I know for sure, that a report will say that authorities knew of the impending doom and did nothing. Then people will be warned to avoid this island. Remember the woman who died in the boat accident which we made numerous excuses for, even when accidents of this nature was a bit too frequent. People we need to take preventative measure than wait until something bad happens. Prevention is better than cure.

  8. How I See It
    July 20, 2013

    The effects of climate change on a terrain such as Dominica’s will make us all poor. Any Government – be it DLP or UWP will have to forgo their dreams of fancy promises and continue to be burdened with road repairs, road construction, road reconstruction , construction of retaining walls and never get out of the mess until the idea of cutting through mountains to form tunnels and constructing flyovers to make the commute of citizens safer.

  9. wicked soul
    July 20, 2013

    Now I can say dat government doe care about its ppl..afta speakin about dat antrim road d minister of works send mr george nanthan up dr currently as I speakin now to dig d road an give it more tarish..dey hiddin d dafoe now..dat jus puttin more wieght on d road..mr blackmore cum better dan dat dis is serious business!!

  10. Pedro
    July 20, 2013

    The Labour Party government destroy the Public Works Department, and allowed the maintenance programme of our roads to deteriorate to the worst state in the countries history. Do not let the rehabilitation of the Portsmouth road fool you, this was done for the implementation of the Chinese settlement programme. What is being done for Dominicans?

  11. Justice and Truth
    July 20, 2013

    I heard about this some years ago. People also live in that area. What can be done to prevent this from continuing? If it is not fixed, worst will happen.
    Probably the road is unable to accommodate heavy and consistent traffic. It should be re-constructed.

  12. jeanmarie
    July 19, 2013

    this road has been like that for ever…is when a vehicle go down in it and claim lives government will want to do something about it……jah protect my family and every one travelling on
    this road

  13. July 19, 2013

    The roads are not properly built. Do they not inspect prior to completion? People’s lives are in jeopardy with these roads. Although there are bad roads all over, it seems that the roads in Dominica are getting worse by the minute. I guess equal work for equal pay, but the innocent citizens should not have to suffer because the income is minimum. No wonder people do not want to go back home, and visitors are equally scared. Roosevelt, DO SOMETHING.

  14. SANDRA WEAVER
    July 19, 2013

    well skerrit stop puting the cart before the horse fix antrim road you alreaDING TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU GOING TO SPEND FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE IN NOVEMBER THATS ELEXTION TRICK COME ON GET BUSY AND SPARE DOMINICAN LIVES THANK S FOR THE PICTURE DNO

  15. Vytamean
    July 19, 2013

    this government just LOVES disasters. They will never prevent any, they prefer for it to happen then they will go in then start granstanding. They will use the opportunity to give handouts to those affected and get high ratings for their ‘sympathetic’ action.

    A few years ago a storm was coming and govt. allowed the fishermen to leave their boats by the sea, which destroyed over 50% of the boat stock. Government came in and gave new boats and motors to all affected(and even those not affected). This gave them a high rating with the fishermen.

    • orchid
      July 21, 2013

      Government MUST TELL fishermen to remove their boats from the seaside when a hurricane approaches? Fishermen are intelligent, mature and experienced adults and KNOW that they MUST secure their property when a hurricane approaches. They are not that FOOLISH. They do not need to be driven like slaves to do the things they can think about for themselves. Try to be more sensible in what you post.

      • Vytamean
        July 22, 2013

        Whilst what u say may sound reasonable to you, it is seriously flawed. From what is read, you harbour some petty prejudices against the humble fishermen.

        Don’t you realise that if all the fishing boats get destroyed it will impact on the food security of the country? From your narrow standpoint you are convinced that is only the poor fisher folks who will suffer, so you care less.

        Don’t you realise that it is the responsibility of the National Weather and Disaster Planning institutions to inform and instruct citizens as to the course of proactive action necessary when their is an impending disaster?

        Did you not realise that the fishermen in the past pulled up their boats upon proper information?

        What you are in effect doing is defending governments practice of promoting incompetence, pettiness and mis-spending as a way of life

        Computers and the internet are wonderful inventions. Sadly it gives the false impression to a emotional and ill-informed minority that their views are intellectually worthy. Your paltry submission is a classic example of this misconception

      • unknown
        July 22, 2013

        orchid are u a fisherman ? do u have a fisherman brain ? so if a storm coming and government doh tell u nothing what would u do go work or stay home ?

  16. Pat
    July 19, 2013

    There is nothing the authorities can do at this time than to allow nature to take its course.

    Dominica does not have road x-ray equipment to see what is happening nor is there any helicopter available to look at the profile of the slope of the road.

    I am no road expert , but it may not be economically feasible to concrete the slope of that road. Persons may have to brace themselves for possible relocation and mortgage banks and credit unions may just cease lending for developments in that area until such time.

    • anonymous2
      July 19, 2013

      They have to build a bridge over that area.

    • no wes pay e may
      July 20, 2013

      @pat – so when the road finally sink resulting in death, it would be time to do something like offer the family money to bury their love ones and give the children of the dead scholarship.

      would the family not rather have their loved ones alive?

      why cant the government get help from some other island or country in terms of helicopter and x-ray equipment. it is people’s life ur talking about. WAKE UP!

    • Thinking
      July 20, 2013

      How about common sense and logic usage. IS that too much to ask? The road is sinking and there is a vast precipice below. IS that reason enough to sound the alarm, or should we join you and continue to make excuses.

    • Just sayin'
      July 21, 2013

      Maybe you should have stopped at the “I am no road expert”

  17. tiny
    July 19, 2013

    my gosh thats scary… this is another sinkhole waiting to happen!

  18. Jack
    July 19, 2013

    All part of the next level…. YAY!!!!! as 4 me I aint passing in that place so it don’t have to fix if my family pass there thry r wrong!

    • ......
      July 19, 2013

      and then if something serious happen to somebody you will be first to jump and say ‘oh that’s so sad’. and people wonder what’s happening to the youth…when most older influences have such terrible attitudes!

    • July 19, 2013

      What a COMPLIMENT.

  19. The facts…
    July 19, 2013

    This has nothing to do to an act of God, but it is entirely due to the folly of man!

    Millions of tons of clay spoil from Red Gully were dumped at Antrim three years ago. There was no environmental survey beforehand and those in control did not take heed of the sensitivity of the area. As a result, the natural underground drainage has been irreversibly compromised. What now happens; is the build up of water pressure from the huge hillside towards Cockrane causes the Antrim riverbank to collapse – most recently, a week ago – the land then slides and the road follows suit.

    There is no quick-fix solution. This will surely go down in history as one of the most serious blunders ever made on Dominica.

    • c
      July 20, 2013

      when anyone asks for an environmental impact assessment, they say u are anti-development and you hate skeritt etc etc. so I suppose that is the only way dominicans will learn, ie by suffering the consequences of their folly

    • LOL
      July 22, 2013

      The Facts…..You hit the nail on the head. They overloaded the area with the stuff from red gully and created that mess. It is a man-made disaster and I know one when I see it. They are also trying to cover it up. Tell them if they have a report bring it out…if they dont have one WHY??? since they had experts look at the area.

  20. Met Yo
    July 19, 2013

    IF anyone suffers as a result of inaction on this road it will open the govt up to Lawsuits and I am sure there are lawyers who would take that case with no downpayment

  21. Worried
    July 19, 2013

    What happen to the road from cochrane that putting you somewhere above the Springfield Guest House. can’t they use this road until something permanent can be done to the road in Antrim?

    • anonymous2
      July 19, 2013

      That is not really a 2 way road and not heavily traveled for good reason.

  22. Massacre
    July 19, 2013

    Seems like Dominicans blind, or they have a pillow case over their heads and won’t see the things that are directly affecting them.
    While all the money is being spent for ministers to go and sport in Paris and to send musical Bands to New York all you sucking salt and are left with bad roads to destroy all you vehicles.
    But still you all are not saying anything. Take your pain in silence my peole. But still I love you all.

  23. mmmm
    July 19, 2013

    there is a big piece of road missing on the road to campbell tooo….in all the rain it went down. its about 5 minute or less drive up from the credit union mahaut and trust me its a scary sight as well. thats DNO you guys should go up there and get some pics too…all they did was spray red paint there and put big stones.

  24. Richy
    July 19, 2013

    Antrim…Where is Antrim. Does one have to pass there on the way to Rosalie?

    • la plaine
      July 19, 2013

      yes u have to pass there to go to rosalie…if you travel through the canefield up to the springfield road

    • tiny
      July 19, 2013

      antrim is just past upper canefield, the road that you take to go to the airport through canefield.

    • Anon
      July 19, 2013

      YES.

    • July 19, 2013

      Go and find out.

    • watchit
      July 20, 2013

      antrim is after you pass Rogea, its before you get to the junction of the Cockrane and Springfield road

  25. Esprit
    July 19, 2013

    What have the People of Campbell and Despot done to Blackmoore and this government?

    The UWP started a very beneficial link road and they stopped it. Look the Antrim Valley is a Disaster waiting to happen and we have not alternative route. This childish behavior is destroying Dominica. UWP started something good, I see not problem in the DLP continuing it in the interest of the Dominica’s Advancement.

    I pray for the residents of Checkhall and the students and staff of the Pioneer and Massacre-Canefield Primary schools who are all below the Antrim Valley

    • Anonymous
      July 19, 2013

      It is their childish behavior mixed with politics and negativity that causing the country to fall.

    • Worried
      July 19, 2013

      It is their childish behavior including Politics and negativity that causing the down fall of the country . Those in the Government need to stop that and start thinking about the island and the people needs not their wants. Also they need to stop thinking bout themselves which also plays a major part in the falling of Dominica and come together as a family, put all minds and thoughts together, think together, work together and bring develop the country together as one… Thank You

    • Insider
      July 19, 2013

      I pray for the residents of Checkhall and the students and staff of the Pioneer and Massacre-Canefield Primary schools who are all below the Antrim Valley….do they use this road…

      Hector stop talking crap…uwp always started something but it was never finish.

      What else did you all start…The Atlantic Ocean?

      • My take
        July 20, 2013

        The point is that when the road falls that’s where it will land…at Checkhall, so there.

      • Woyyyyyhimserious
        July 20, 2013

        They Dont use this road but they are beneath that road and when it sinks God Forbid they will be affected …and your’re it was in progress after elections all UWP Projects Government halt

  26. no love
    July 19, 2013

    ya but skerro find funding of 5 million us to do vielle case road..guess that road in veille case way more important than the main road to get to the airport..smh..wake up dominicans

    • Worried
      July 19, 2013

      That’s the road or roads he uses when going to Vieille case so he don’t want his vehicle to destroy or to be buying bearings and shocks every time so he must do it

  27. Concerned Citizen
    July 19, 2013

    Come on people … stop behaving like Chicken Little with this “the sky is falling” story. This is not a new, or unattended problem. It has been here for many years now, and much, much money has been spent on studying the issue. I have personally witnessed a lot of research and studying of the problem by various international teams of experts. The solution is neither simple, nor clear-cut, as this is a bizarre geological phenomenon. We should get our facts straight and make this a place for learning and sharing , rather than just idle, uninformed chatter.

    • Shameless
      July 19, 2013

      If the studies conclude it is a seriously problem then divert the road. There is an old road right before the damaged area that can take you to Cockrane so utilize part of it and break off, joining the old road somewhere above the hotel right below Miranda. Something needs to be done and soon…..instead on building the state the malice this should have been addressed, But nooooooo, that would put Dcans to work and wean them off their begin status.

      Assertive, NOT Agressive!

      • Insider
        July 19, 2013

        You sound like a Blessings, when are you going to grow up and cut off thise conspiracy theory uwp crap.

    • kubuli
      July 19, 2013

      i couldn’t agree more with your comment. too many times people just make comments without knowing facts. hope they get what you are talking about.

    • Glanvillia Resident
      July 19, 2013

      That is where I have a problem with you political aristocrats. The matter is under research as you said but there is no information from the Government. It is time you all stop those nonsense and come clean.

  28. St. Joe Massive
    July 19, 2013

    NEXT LEVEL

  29. Anonymous
    July 19, 2013

    any day now disater.

  30. Anonymous
    July 19, 2013

    It is very diffuclt to fix as it is located near a fault so the road will move and crack will appear as the earth moves

    • Da
      July 19, 2013

      Well you are one of them that have not seen airports built on the sea, or highways on mountians.
      So you think is Dominican that have the most difficult terrain then.
      This small mentality is what holding back the ministers we have in Da, some of them even saying that other countries have more money that us and they have bad roads too. LOL

      • Anonymous
        July 20, 2013

        Look if you seem to know all the answers why dont you go out snd source the money needed to build a bridge or some other stucture that you seem to think is appropriate for the Dominica. Unfortunately everything is about money and there is not alot of that in dominica

  31. Insider
    July 19, 2013

    OMG, this is scary. This calls for immediate action and possible new road.

    But then again if a road is constructed again to repair this recently built road, maybe the Calypsonian migh say again

    “I can’t Eat Concrete”

  32. Google
    July 19, 2013

    What is important to this government is paying for votes and the people are actually buying stupidity according to Farakan.if this is not evidence that our country is in serious trouble then iam fully asleep. This section of the roadwa y has been showing sighs of serious yet our government is busy throwing money around to influence votes. What are our priorities. Is the $4.9 million on the Penville road better spent in Penville or is it much better sprnt on the Antrim road repair. This is not to say that the Penville Roadway does not need attention.
    Call me partisan but surely Dominicans need a new direction.

    • Insider
      July 19, 2013

      This is the most ignorant and most asinine statement cominig from DNO and it shows the stupidity of people with access to internet…Any fool will post anything

      So the Penville Road has been neglected for sometime and it is being given some TLC, but some pink kiss-me -a from some place uwp wanna be is and he has a proble with Penbville road being repaired.

      But this asinie is the sme one that was jumoing up on”we can’t eat concrete”….This Antrim road was recently built…there is earth movement.

      Jeeeeezzzzzeeee…how stupid can you be

      I tell you these are the reason why people like you wont be in government

  33. roger
    July 19, 2013

    Thanks DNO for these pictures the last time i passed there was about a week ago and i never saw anything like this,i intended to travel up there yesterday but with all the rain i changed my plans,well thank God i did not, everything happens for a reason,now that i know i will definitely think of an alternative,wow,wow,wow God is good to us here boy,HUMM.

  34. country man
    July 19, 2013

    I travellin on dat road dr every day an dats dangerous..I actually hearin ppl preparin wen we approachin dr in d mornings..dats nonesense d government needs to close d road an work on it immediately

  35. sweety pie
    July 19, 2013

    Mr.Blackmoore and all involved needs to close this road and create a diverted road. This is not safe, I wouldn’t want to pass there as a local, much less a foreigner…are we waiting for another “coach/player -like tragedy”

  36. Anonymous
    July 19, 2013

    Marpin had a comprehensive report on the news Thursday Night. This issue needs to be addressed

  37. Diasporan
    July 19, 2013

    I vidited home just under a year ago and I drove through his area and saw the condition of the roadway and I thought at the ime that this road needed urgent attention. After all this is a main connector. No sure how the system works but we seem to have our priorities upside down.

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