Chief Technical Officer in the Ministry of Public Works, Emile Lancelot has explained the type of repairs works to be done on the Macoucherie Bailey bridge saying the works are expected to begin soon.
The bridge was affected by flood waters from a trough system which dumped heavy rains on the island last week and there were concerns that it might be unsafe for use by motorists.
However, during a visit to the area on Monday, officials from the Public Works Ministry said the bridge was safe for use and Lancelot gave an idea of the type of works that is to be done.
“Firstly to make the adjustments on the north-eastern abutment of the bridge so as to restore the bridge to the level of the approach pavement and get rid of that hump we are experiencing presently,” he said. “The second course of action that we intend to take is to underpin the support structure of the bridge so as to minimize the risk of undermining in the future.”
Thirdly he stated that the government intends to look at the river channel to identify the areas in which it went off its normal course, “so as to as best as possible reduce the chances of flooding to the area…”
Lancelot explained that there was some movement of the ground underneath the support to the bridge during the passage of the trough system which resulted in is a bit of undermining.
Therefore, he said there was a slight difference in settlement from one side to the other, “so what you see is on the north-eastern corner of the structure there was a drop of approximately 5 inches.”
“The south-western corner did not move as much as the north-eastern corner, therefore you have this sought of slight twist,” Lancelot added.
how can one hundred million dollars be spend on this so called high way and today we are where we are
more like 5million was used the balance went to so people pocket.
What are the plans for a permanent structure to be built? Bailey bridges are temporary structures.
All the smart people have left Dominica.
Why fix this dilapidated structure? It has no foundation! It seems like you all want people to pass on this dangerous bridge for the next 10 years!?
Does a PHD graduate have to tell you all that it will save more money to build a new bridge in the old location?
Where are the brains in Dominica? Too much nonsense going on in my land.
Idiot it is a detour bridge until the west coast road repairs are done. You making it sound like it’s a permanent bridge. Duminicans for you boy…
My 2 Cents,
U see it’s not the man fault and I don’t think he is an Idiot either,
The Govt. of D/ca have a habit of saying that things a being don temporarily and next thing it is there until God knows when, so base on what he is seeing he make his point and I think it is valid
5″ of differential settlement in a bridge structure is a slight settlement? Are you kidding me? The normal tolerance for differential settlement is 1/2″. I think the first two points are doable, but that third point of government looking at river to reduce likelihood of flooding seems a little ambitious for what I have seen in DA so far. I guess bridge will be jack up to bring it back to level of approach roadway, and concrete pumped under pressure in the foundation to stop the undermining and seal the foundation. Some rip rap (big stones) can be placed in front the foundation if there is enough room where it will not constrict the channel too much at the structure. It is the quickest method to effectively reduce the erosion before the underpinning starts.
It seems to me you have some knowledge engineering where it pertains to building, bridges, but I must add the differential settlement applies bridge, and roadway which typically results in an abrupt change causing driver discomfort and impairing driver and passenger safety exerting a potential excessive impact traffic loading on the abutment.
I may add here Bridge approach slabs are used to keep the effects of this differential settlement within tolerable limits. Do the people who builds such junks in Dominica and call them bridges utilize any slabs in the process. Anything goes in Dominica. In building a bridge is not simply what we see in the picture, there are certain mathematical engineering formulas utilized in building bridges, I doubt that thing was built within any specification.
I think you know what you are talking about, hence, I wish you would celebrate a bit more in regards to shifting. As for the idiots who stood and look on with no engineering skills and…
Differential settlement can apply to any structure, houses, retaining walls, bridges, etc. As the name suggest differential settlement results when one area of the structure settles more than another. The level of tolerance is based on the structure, the material used to build the structure etc etc. Engineers prefer uniform settlement because differential settlement introduces additional stress in the structural members. The 1/2″ differential settlement is just a typical value. 5″ on a roadway is just totally unacceptable. You typically see differential settlement at the transition to the bridge structure because bridges foundation are typically placed on rigid foundation and as a result the bridge is typically higher that the approach roadway. It is the opposite in the cased of this failed structure. In regards to your comments, all bridges do not have an approach slab. There is a difference between approach slab, and approach roadway. Frequent inspection of this bridge…
As for the idiots who stood and look on with no engineering skills and declare that rat trap is safe, should be looked up in jail! They are what Dominica people call “sot. I do not see any trigonometry used in that thing! I do not know much about the subject, but your comments arouse my curiosity.
Idiot!!! What do you not understand about the word ‘temporary’