Bridge collapses at Macoucherie

The bridge on Saturday morning

Motorists traveling along the west coast should exercise extreme caution as the Bailey bridge in Macoucherie has collapsed.

The collapse occurred as  heavy rain affects Dominica on Saturday.

The original bridge at Macoucherie was washed away during Tropical Storm Erika in 2015 and was replaced by a Bailey bridge.

That bridge was affected by flood waters from a trough system which dumped heavy rains on the island in December last year but authorities declared it safe after repair works were done on it.

There are reports of floodings across several sections of the island.

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74 Comments

  1. Daniel J Tanner
    March 14, 2017

    Some people write, “Why does god let this happen in Dominica?.

    Possible answers are that god is angry at Dominicans, or that it’s only nature and there’s no such thing as god.

    The second is correct.

  2. Dominican
    March 13, 2017

    I feel for my people on the island that are suffering due to bad planning. We must focus on what is important re-building our island with wisdom. I am tired of things not getting done and having unnecessary things being build. You must have a solid foundation before you can take up these projects. What is the point of building a new hotel if the roads are bad or don’t even exist. How ill the tourist get to the hotel. How will people get to the new hospitals. WE need proper and safe roads and bridges. If its not the airport issues it is the road or hospital. oh gosh. This is why i prefer the ferry i cah deal with Dominica and its issues. I just want to visit my family and feel safe on the rods. I always pray NEVER TO GET SICK IN DOMINICA. I declare divine health on all travelers to Dominica.

  3. televangelists are false prophets
    March 13, 2017

    Just use some Duct tape and Plywood to prap it, and it. then sprinkle some tarrish on top and pack it down so it lookin good as new. quick fix and we good to go. so we like it. but seriously, when will jobs be done holistically, and properly. We give contracts to build roads, that all we allow them to do, build a road, without sidewalks, guttering, drainage, safety railings, lighting. not to mention after the job is done that is when dowasco remembers they need to pay a pipe, so the road must be dug. Same thing with this bridge. the engineers assured us it was sound. not look at this. almost 2 years after erica why are we still using temporary bypasses? they have now become permanent. this one goes through the macoucherie estate. im sure the state has had to pay the owner for use of his property.

  4. 1979 is forever....
    March 13, 2017

    No rest for the wicked

  5. ATKINSON
    March 13, 2017

    :-P Nice to see how well this upside down, backwards, operating, socialist DLP government. plan and fix things. The Evil “DR SUPREMO” will have one of his many ministers and supports declaring the bridge is safe for foot traffic. Or its the UWP/Linton cause the bridge to fall. But i am sure we have and will use the CBI money the build another bridge, that will fall down again. Welcome to the next level :mrgreen: Boi you could not make this crap up

    • televangelists are false prophets
      March 15, 2017

      The new one they building in Roseau is already too low.

  6. Long Lost Dominica
    March 12, 2017

    Here goes our popular CBI money lol! its ashame i cant even tell people am from Dominica cuz all we represent is shit starting from Skerrit and the people he use to wipe his *** with..

  7. Lang Mama
    March 12, 2017

    All the government has to do is take some plywood and creat a ramp from the section of the bridge sitting on the river bed to the section at grade level. Problem solved cause we Dominicans havecsetyled fir cochoni and smoke screens.
    Two years the government has been paying $8000 a month to allow traffic thru private property in Macoushri. A simple by election which they would have won anyway they blew $3 Milliion. $150000 for Baroness Scotland party; The main communication and commercial route connecting the North to the South is somewhat a death trap with crumbling abutments supporting temporary but permanent Bailey bridges.
    Dominica is in a duldrum sorrounded by deceit, greed, convinient blindness and cold hearted fools

    • anonymous2
      March 13, 2017

      One mess after the next.

  8. Deeder
    March 12, 2017

    Dominica cursed wee papa the curse not gonna go till prime minister curse us lifted so he need to leave before Dominica beyond help….

  9. GOD is waiting to heal our land when those who are called by his name that
    Will humble themselves and pray seek his face and turn from their wicked ways it is not a church thing it is not a pastor thing. It is those who are called by his name then he will heal our land God is no respector of persons

  10. Dasheen
    March 12, 2017

    They are temporary bridges after all so if a plan is not in place to replace them we will continue to have this issue. The hurricane season is 2 months away. What is the action plan?

  11. Red's
    March 12, 2017

    See how ppl them rejoicing..It’s Allu country like no other party never built nothing without​ bad management…As I will say again the politicians are not the problem in Dominica,the problem is the people….

    • %
      March 13, 2017

      There is a difference between speaking the truth and rejoicing..To say that the Skerrit led government is evil,is not rejoicing..IT IS A GANG OF EVIL PEOPLE!

    • televangelists are false prophets
      March 13, 2017

      I think the engineers, regardless of what their political affiliation have to be held responsible also. everybody uses these bridges, red blue yellow, green everyone.

  12. Who cares?
    March 12, 2017

    Skerritt’s interest is in Selling our PASSPORTS for CASH. All kinds of foreigners are making millions from the sales of our passports. The citizens of Dominica are left to beg for crumbs, while big jobs are created for those foreigners with our passports. Scams. Ponzi Schemes. Criminals, crooks, possess our passports, not to invest in Dominica, but they use our passports to try to evade the Law. Dominicans have been forewarned, but helas, awa, fooled again and again and again.
    Passports-For-Cash schemes is a new kind of Slavery phenomenon that some of the islands leaders have embraced and placed their populations under. That scheme plays right into the hands of criminals and crooks, as many examples of arrests, jail, court cases show all over the World. These leaders have hijacked the sovereignty of the islands in question. It is immoral, unethical a downright shame.

    http://www.masinthecemetery.com/2017/03/nightmare-on-8-copthall-roseau-valley.html?m=1

  13. AWAKENEND
    March 12, 2017

    December 6th 2016 10 : 42 am. Macouchrie Bailey Bridge safe . Authorities claim lol

  14. MR. PROLIFIC
    March 12, 2017

    A bridge collapsed and no one gets hurt. look the comments, It appears that’ ‘this is the only place you can relieve your stress. May be in need to be investigated.

  15. committed
    March 12, 2017

    The evil that men do lives with them. As long as Skerit and his gestapos are in charge Dominica will suffer. No two ways about it.

  16. colorless
    March 12, 2017

    :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

    The bridge was deemed safe three months ago by learned engineers. Yet my ordinary eyes could see that those slabs under it would be no match for a heavy downpour

    :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D etc.

    An old bridge that is almost 100 years old is our bailing us out now. Built with cast iron. Just look at the eastern side of the bridge by the stadium, it is already eating up. Again I said that bridge was too low…right now it is only a matter of time. I know it took some beating yesterday when that Roseau river swell up.

    :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

    I must laugh because after all of this you still have people who will see color before country…

  17. Eat Rocks.
    March 12, 2017

    So where will the concrete trucks that carry the concrete to build the new hotel in Tan Tan area pass Now? Think Dominicans , Think! Maybe a good excuse for another half finish?

  18. Massacre
    March 12, 2017

    For the people who are blaming the rain , you are very foolish, \”news flash to you\”, rain is nothing new in Dominica. It is time you put the blame where it belongs, and that is at the foot of this incompetent DLP and its leaders. They have millions to fund all swinging stars jams, pay for and host foreign entertainers , hire planes to bring people to vote , share money like fishermen by the bay , but still the country looks the same as it was in the 1990s.
    All these guys travel overseas every week , so don\’t they want Dominica to look as good or if not better than the places they go to for entertainment? So is Da they don\’t like?
    It is time we kick Skerrit and his bunch of no -goods out .
    I love Dominica . Do You?

  19. Tamar
    March 12, 2017

    It was just earlier this year I was in Da and drove from possie to Roseau and was so afraid to drive over the bridges in Point Round , Batalie and this now defunct Macouchrie Bridge. I was asking myself , how are Dominicans so comfortable with this dangerous crossings ? I hope the other ones are replaced before the same thing happens.
    I would also like to know , where is it that Labor is working?

  20. Just Passing Through
    March 12, 2017

    Dominicans want to fight with Nature now? All it takes is a strong hurricane type winds for your own house to collapse. So give some thanks and praises to the Almighty that no vehicle was on the bridge when it collapsed.

  21. Shameless
    March 11, 2017

    \”The original bridge at Macoucherie was washed away during Tropical Storm Erika in 2015 and was replaced by a Bailey bridge. That bridge was affected by flood waters from a trough system which dumped heavy rains on the island in December last year but authorities declared it safe after repair works were done on it.\”

    Now IF I was Skerro I would fire Meriam and the technical advisors for making me believe all was well with that bridge when any idiot could tell that bridge was about to collapse\”. I have said and will continue to say, building the new Roseau bridge while ignoring to build replacement bridges in places like Macousherie, Boetica, Point Round etc was a very very very bad decision. We had sufficient access to Roseau from the northern side if one bridge collapsed. We continue to waste resources because there are too many square pegs in round holes.

    Assertive and pissed! :twisted:

  22. March 11, 2017

    Dominicans cursing Dominica this is the effect. If they don’t start appreciating and thanking god there will be more to come. Stop the politics and start uniting .skerrit. Linton and all members if cabinet can run at any time of notice most of you just have to stay at home.

    • FORKIT
      March 12, 2017

      you are one of many who brought the curse on dominica. you never spoke out when the prime minister spend 18 million on one bridge in a location that had four functional bridges, 18 million could have built the three small bridges on the west coast. yet you continue to run up the steps of the financial center to beg even in a time when he said we are in financial trouble….

    • Anonymous
      March 12, 2017

      You idiot. All this is happeninbg under Skerrit! He must go to save our nation.

  23. Brent
    March 11, 2017

    Oh my god. Lord thank you for not doing any harm happen :cry:

  24. Dan is de man in de Van
    March 11, 2017

    December 6th 2016 10 : 42 am. Macouchrie Bailey Bridge safe . Authorities claim

    Go back to this news release from Lancelot of the Ministry of Communications and works, all of you need to be imprisoned for putting innocent lives at risks, shame on you all…. 2017 the bridge has collapsed.. what a bloody joke, but I ain’t laughing. …..

    • %
      March 12, 2017

      We live in a very backward country..Skerrit will promise something nice,and the people who stand to lose the most will quickly forget that..Thats why i constantly refer to Skerrit and his gang in the DLP as evil..

  25. Signs of DEFEAT
    March 11, 2017

    The question that MUST be asked at this time, almost 11/2 months after we were promised an early Christmas gift by the Chinese, according to Skerrit., “This is a grant; it’s not a loan, it’s a grant, it’s a gift to us in response to the storm,” https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/china-promises-to-repair-west-coast-road-to-assist-in-relocation-after-erika/comment-page-1/. Skerrit where is the grant? Where have the Chinese gone to? Were you tricked again? Yes, we saw two black Chinese company from Portsmouth, doing some Chines type work in terms of quality, on the west coast road but bridges were not addressed and the EO Leblanc road continues to remain a major national disaster at a time when you are taking our passport money to buy votes in the name of pit toilet eradication? If this is not another reason why you should be fired I sure don’t know what is. Skerrit is a major national disaster and therefore he must go or get pushed out!

  26. Dominican with southern roots
    March 11, 2017

    OMG… Here goes the Bailey. If only they had rebuilt the bridge. After all it’s almost 2 years :cry: :cry: :cry:

  27. Africo
    March 11, 2017

    The ‘original’ Macoucherie of 1920 is still standing. It is the 1960s bridge that washed away in 2015. Let people know that you can still cross on the ‘old’ ‘original’ 1920 cast concrete bridge.

  28. concern citizen
    March 11, 2017

    Now that these things are happening I hope Dominicans are be gaining to understand
    The CBI money can build many, many Bridges for D/ca, so stop using it for your selves and put the money to the right use

    • Eidolon
      March 12, 2017

      Ignoramus!!!!

  29. CRIME STOPPERZ
    March 11, 2017

    18 MILLION COULD BUILD THREE WEST COAST BRIDGES… AND STILL HAVE CHANGE….

  30. March 11, 2017

    Shame on Skerrit administration, shame on the minister of public works/communications and works, shame, shame, shame, I have been hearing the cries of the people, the farmers for better road access to their farms and elsewhere for years, instead of the government doing so, the farmers and other citizens were bombarded with tear gas and live ammunition fired at them, you hearimg of village councils receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars to share for labour rats, hearing of skerrit building toilets, giving my family ten thousand dollars in 2014 to vote for his party, hearing of projects in Labour constituencies, lighting of park/playing field in Grand Bay, bridge in good condition demolished to give jobs to Chinese, families of ministers with projests and this is what becoming of our roads, neglected and negligence on the part of skerrit, the minister of Public Works etc, what a disgrace, shame on you Skerrit and all your cronies must go, for what you guys are doing to Dominica

  31. ttesa n
    March 11, 2017

    Weak fab. Next colarpse is de labor party.

  32. Alice
    March 11, 2017

    #Skerrit must Go for Dominica too Grow!

  33. March 11, 2017

    Lord bless our country.

  34. beautiful lady
    March 11, 2017

    When will things get better in our lovely Dominica

    • Shameless
      March 11, 2017

      Good question! But the answer is simple….SKERRIT and his syndicate MUST GO for that to happen.

      Always Assertive! :twisted: :twisted:

    • FORKIT
      March 12, 2017

      when those criminals go

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      March 12, 2017

      When the politics stop and the UWP stops all this nonsense

      • Look It
        March 13, 2017

        you mean to tell me KID ON THE BLOCK as a Labourite your response to this question isn’t, Dominica does not need to get better we are in the next level, Dominica is doing great, Dominica is progressing and that was a dumb question to ask…hmmm

  35. BEB
    March 11, 2017

    They will have to unbolt the bridge to get it repaired, or have a huge crane to lift it up and build some concrete under it to have it mobilize again.Another set back for the western and northern commuters.

  36. D/can to de Bone (F)
    March 11, 2017

    Why gment have not sort out a proper bridge.I
    This is a main highway. That should be long time prioritise things

    • FORKIT
      March 12, 2017

      they hiding the cbi money in all sorts of banks hoping one day when they are out of power it will remain for them

  37. Pioneer
    March 11, 2017

    One of the problems with Dominica is that people do not get fired for incompetence. The other day the bridge was sinking and the engineers assured the public they were fine, look now they collapsed; heads should roll period!!!
    This is a main artery way in Dominica, almost two years since Erica and still no permanent solid bridge built there yet, Dominicans’ expectations are too low.

    • Has it come to this?
      March 11, 2017

      This is one time I will support MPWEP Engineers given my knowledge of the pressure these guys are under to push the politicians mandate. First, I only blame them for knowing better, and not standing up to the government or worse case scenario ask to be transferred instead than ok the bridge safety a few months ago. I watch the comments made by the top MPWEP Engineers who clearly were trying to appease the government from a political backlash. As a technical person, I would prefer loose my job in protest than risk someone life that I cannot replace. This is what I expect them to do, but I sense fear and apprehension in a lot of the Technical staff to act decisively. What we need to do now support the Technical staff who are facing layer of interference in their jobs, by ministers who cannot run their ministry effectively, sounding like Engineers to score political points. The government needs to allow the Technical staff to function independently and support their decision policy wise.

    • lmckoy
      March 12, 2017

      Remember that many, for their own reasons, falsely call themselves engineers – don’t depend on their advice.

    • FORKIT
      March 12, 2017

      no engineer of any doctor can fight with GOD FORCES….. remember that……. don’t blame them, blame the government for not constructing a proper bridge after almost two years.
      REMEMBER AFRICA. CORRUPTION KILLS

    • Not a herd follower
      March 13, 2017

      Pioneer, the incompetent gets promoted in Dominica once they sign a particular tune.

  38. papa
    March 11, 2017

    Labour working we dominican open our eyes next election pm must go

  39. Creation Rebel
    March 11, 2017

    This further brings the 18MIL bridge that is currently being finished in Roseau a town which has 3 other bridges for acesss back into the light…all this while numerous villages around the island are just a heavy rain away from being cut off from the rest of the island

  40. Est
    March 11, 2017

    Dear God…. Elas… whoever / whichever company, put that bridge up should be put in jail… I’m sorry to say that but enough is enough…

    • Shameless
      March 11, 2017

      Blame your government, Minister Blanchard and their paid technical experts who say things to make Skerro look good while crippling the country. The technicians were quick to say all is well recently when any kindergarden child could see the bridge was \”ahpeeyaying\”/ bending and ready to fall anytime. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

      Assertive and pissed! :twisted:

  41. Zandoli
    March 11, 2017

    We just can’t catch a break.

    • lmckoy
      March 12, 2017

      How many could have been injured or even killed from the collapse? That’s a big break!

  42. Larry Grell
    March 11, 2017

    I pray that no one got injured. The Minister will remind us what was the rush and mad dash to build a bridge in Roseau(giving some baJan’s our CBI money) instead of getting those along this very important highway replaced.
    It is almost two years since Erica.

  43. Dominican
    March 11, 2017

    “Macoucherie Bridge safe Authorities”. that was the headline on DNO as recent as 6 Dec. 2016 and it went on to say” authorities assure the public that the Bailey bridge in Macoucherie is safe and poses no danger” and that “the bridge is going nowhere fast”. Famous last words!. And please, don’t come with excuses like Act of God! this time it was only heavy rainfall but imagine we have a real storm next hurricane season. I shudder to think what may happen. Does our government have its priorities right. Surely reconstruction of a proper bridge in this location is more urgent than the expensive replacement of a functioning one in Roseau. There is a difference between need and want you know.

  44. March 11, 2017

    Didn’t that pathetic and incompetent engineer from the Ministry assured us in December that the bridge was safe. anyone with any since looking at the picture from Dec could see that the bridge was not safe as the supporting elements under the bridge were not level. They should fire Mr, where he got his degree from? China or Cuba I bet

    • ATKINSON
      March 13, 2017

      :mrgreen: They got their degree from “LOVELY” university, just as the evil “DR Supremo” did

  45. Ł3Ø
    March 11, 2017

    Smh…..Da not d same bridge the minister said dt was stable When people spoke about it last year after some heavy rains compromised the foundation? ???

  46. puss
    March 11, 2017

    Those bridges were suppose to be temporary. Take the CBI money and build new bridges.

  47. Floridian Diaspora
    March 11, 2017

    Unlike the road that leads farms of Salisbury farmers, the Dominica lazy party must fix that one because this time it is not only Salisbury people that need it. Jean dublance, Portsmouth, and those on the north coast need it to come to town too. Let’s see how fast the lazy people work

  48. Floridian Diaspora
    March 11, 2017

    A fine example of just how well labor ka travay. I always knew that they would try to leave these so called temporary bridges to become permanent fixtures and not bother building new ones while the cbi moneys is being pulled up in the banks ir rather social security motherly insurance these days rather; sorry. Now look at what happen. Boy that is development!!! This same bridge was sinking a few months ago; wasn’t that a warning sign? Wasn’t a stitch in time suppose to save nine? Now there is great inconvenience for many. This has been a trademark of this wicked Dominica lazy party. Even if they notice that there’s a problem with something they wait for something bad to happen before they fix it. Keep on gambling with people’s lives, those wicked son of a mother …… with no banks to hide cbi moneys, I am hoping that some of it will be spent on necessities like these

    • Me
      March 13, 2017

      Just like the post office that is rotting away. The entrance to that building is now a hazardand someone will get injure there soon. Maybe selling passports at the Shangrila in Dubai is more important?

  49. Rocky Hills
    March 11, 2017

    haha looking good Dominicans eh? but we still love it eh? haha

  50. %
    March 11, 2017

    The works of evil men will always be destroyed by GOD! This government is evil.

  51. Me
    March 11, 2017

    We need to arrange another $140,000 plus cocktail reception for Baroness Scotland at the State House, like we did soon after Erika! No further comment.

  52. rasta
    March 11, 2017

    Another technical disaster! skerrit spend 18 millions to breakdown an existing bridge in Roseau, spend another 8 million to break down another existing bridge in Layou valley area. During the protest in Salisbury the big guns like Nassief cried foul because his lost money since access was restricted. I wonder what he says now? How on gods earth would a man give priority to a bridge in layou where vehicles hardly traverse, a bridge in roseau where there are so many alternative routes and deny the building of a bridge which services the entire north! The blind party hacks call it prudent financial management, the wise call it mismanagement of state limited resource. Is time we forget colour, and think country first! God bless the wise among us!!

  53. KKKKKKay
    March 11, 2017

    “The bridge is stable” they said. Lol

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