Road in Melville Hall under review

The sea has been invading the road in the area in recent times
The sea has been invading the road in the area in recent times

Public Works Minister, Ian Pinard has revealed that the government is currently reviewing a section of the Marigot to Londonderry road in Melville Hall to ease the problem for those plying that route.

The situation is that the sea has been breaching the seawall in the area for quite some time and the situation has worsened since the passage of Tropical Storm Erika. The situation has gotten so bad that on many occasions bus drivers have refused to use the road saying the area pose a threat to commuters and vehicles alike.

But Pinard told Dominica News Online on Monday that the matter is being addressed and plans are in place to construct a drain in the area to prevent the sea water from reaching the road.

“We are aware of the situation with the sea overtopping the wall coming on the road and right now we are reviewing in terms of the road from Marigot to Londonderry, with a review to angle the road, so as soon as the water hits over the wall and comes on the road that the water will go directly to the drains,” he said.

According to Pinard, this is being discussed with contractor, Emile Gaddarkhan et Fils Ltd, a French construction company.

“We are now discussing it with Gaddarkhan in terms of angling the road so that it (the sea water) goes to the drain, widening the drain so that the water wouldn’t stay on the road,” Pinard explained. “When the buses are passing they wouldn’t able to drive in a pool of water.”

Furthermore, he stated that the installation of wave breakers is also being considered.

“We are also looking at the wave breakers and we have an estimate there for over $25-million in terms of wave breakers but since Tropical Storm Erika it has actually worsened,” he noted. “We now have to look at the situation again, review it and access it and see exactly how we can work with it, so we are now putting that in place so we can have a design as to how we install the wave breakers.”

He indicated also that $1-million have already been budgeted in the financially year for the area, “so we will be using some of that money in terms of putting some sort of design to actually get that thing done.

“But in the interim we will be angling the road and also making the drain bigger so that as soon as the water comes on the road it will go in the drain,” Pinard said.

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40 Comments

  1. EVALUATE
    February 4, 2016

    I believe that Gadharkan looking to make 25 million dollars of something that could easily be remedied by what the Japanese did at the Fisheries Complex at Marigot. Government leaders are not Engineers, niether are we so lets get our top Engineers in Dominica to assess the situation and address the people then the Minister will make his reports based on the final report of the Engineers.

  2. Crab and Manicou Hunter
    February 3, 2016

    This is another black eye on us. We can’t solve anything, except for passport selling. I will stay in my lane and continue hunting my crab and manicou.

  3. Robin
    February 3, 2016

    I had to replace the slide pin on my rear brake caliper this week due to the fact that it broke from exposure to the salt water. This is becoming a serious financial stress to people in this part of the nation and has nothing to do with partisan politics. My vehicle registration fee went up by $100.00 this year yet the conditions at the Marigot sea defence wall remains unchanged for all these years. I say this is unacceptable! All of these expensive suggestions put forward by the minister in my humble opinion will not solve the problem. Simple solution. Divert the roadway. Go above the airstrip.

  4. Nana
    February 3, 2016

    What is there to review? The problem is crystal clear. Solve it before it worsens.
    Why not use the same solution the Japanese did at Marigot?

    Is there are connection between Gardakan and the government?

  5. UDOHREADYET
    February 3, 2016

    Solution: why is this even an issue. Get/rent/lease the services of a barge from Martinique. Have barge workers/equipment transport stones/rocks from Petitie Savanne and all the other places affected by Erica. There are humongous amounts of rocks and debris in those areas. Move the rocks/debris via barge to reinforce… expand behind the wall where the ocean breakwater is crashing into. They may not even need to go far because there’s debris in that area from flooding. this is not a costly project nor complex, it simply demands good logistics and hard work aimed at a long-term solution.
    The cost for the Barge and labor to move the rocks is all that is needed.

  6. klewis
    February 3, 2016

    I really don’t think a drain would solve the problem you guys should come up with a better solution
    to this problem the water should not be allowed to reach the road at all cost possible as it would still cause damage to vehicles if the salt from the water remains on the road wet or dry.

  7. observer
    February 3, 2016

    My brother caliper bolts and nuts completely corroded in that water. He could not get the parts in DA, and then he had to pay to take the parts from custom. Such wickedness. Vehicles and care of vehicles are so expensive in Dominica. The government should give those people whose vehicles have been compromise as a result of that seawater a break on parts they order to repair.

  8. Peter Karam
    February 2, 2016

    the idea is NOT to allow the sea wave action to breach the wall at all, not to break over the wal att all, or build the bloody tunnel, why the hell, we cannot get the Americans involved ,

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      February 3, 2016

      Peter a Tunnel would be too expensive, in any event it would have to be tunneled under also and extended back to a section of the north to broad at the end of Londonderry Estate.

      There is already a path laid out, they considered it in the late 1950’s when they decided to build Melville Hall
      Airport. If you tunnel under, soil erosion caused by under water current, by the same sixty, and seventy braking wave might still get into the tunnel

    • THE TRUTH
      February 3, 2016

      Peter ypu know that will never happen under this regime….The blind leading the blind…..

  9. Peter Karam
    February 2, 2016

    Brother Minister Ian Pinard !! did I hear u say $25 million for wave breakers, !!!! oh jesus in the name of de fader an de sun an de oile Ghoss, help us please,,,, The Japanese just put wave breakers next door at the marigot fisheries, why de hell u will not ask the Japanese to do this free of charge for us, why everything is Gardakan why why why,,, oh jesus why. Please Minister stay away from this blatant theft please. I mean do those people have a heart , a conscience at all with such astronomical blatant abusive costings. and our Govt falls for such nasty billings.

  10. kaiso
    February 2, 2016

    This has nothing to do with TS Ericka. Man u are lying. The sea comes over any time its rough. Not a patat Ericka. Drains cant do shit for that area. Get breakers like what’s on the marigot bayside and things will be fine. Put tax payers and other monies donated to the country to flipping use. Stop pocket the money and say it don’t have. A bunch of zaccheus is all we see.

  11. DRASTIC
    February 2, 2016

    Jokers….That wall will collapse before any remedial work is ever done. ALL bus drivers
    should refuse to cross that area whenever the waves are falling on the road

  12. February 2, 2016

    Hiw many of us would prefer the truth?. But in Dominica today the politicians are fully aware that truth does not matter. The minister can’t even get the story straight simply because in the back of his mind he is aware that during the demonstration at the same location he gave a totally different story and that he is also aware that according to his promise a solution should have been in process.
    Tell a lie for the team. Everyone even those preaching on religious pulpit and those giving out communion all telling blatant and obvious lies.

  13. Tenzing Norgay
    February 2, 2016

    What no one is addressing is the rust and corrosion that the vehicle owners will have to deal with in a year or two. Salt water is dangerously corrosive. I hope that the road users in the North East get their vehicles undercoated to help abate the rust.

  14. tru d bino q la
    February 2, 2016

    Here is an opportunity for the minister of education to educate his fellow public works minister who must have been sleeping during geography class___that the winds that fan the island of Dominica almost invariably come from the east. The east coast of the island is also bathed by the Atlantic ocean. The area in focus is almost below sea level and to top it all up, the steady rise in sea level world wide should suggest a progression of the problem.
    Having purged myself of the stupidity of the powers that be to stay the course, may I now submit my proposal (gratis): Change COURSE!
    ___

  15. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 2, 2016

    “The situation is that the sea has been breaching the seawall in the area for quite some time and the situation has worsened since the passage of Tropical Storm Erika. (Pinard).

    Boy Pinard that in the quote above I submit to you is a damn lie!

    You are either a liar, or you do not know the history of the country, regarding such areas. So, I must informed you that particular part of the country has been like that for thousands of years; for as long as Dominica been in existence; that particular area between Wesley and Marigot has always been like that!

    No amount of back-wall (seawall) as you term it can ever be built to avoid the ravages of the sea around there at certain time of year; some time the waves are smaller, but it has always been like that! Know what you are talking about before you use your fifteen minuets of fame to talk crap, because that is not new to Wesley, and Marigot people.

  16. Shaka Zulu
    February 2, 2016

    You need wave breakers that extend well beyond the edge of the road into the sea. Based on the wave energy there these need to be huge concrete structures that are tall enough. That’s your best bet. Don’t mess with hydraulic force and constant pounding. Like the garbage collection issue causing a stink in town this Government is showing its lack of foresight and creates more problems than solutions. The materials used to build the extension was too small in first place. When some of us speak some people think we have something against Gov. Any idiot would have done study on tide and wave energy at location and would use right material and wave breakers based on study results. From day one I could tell the extension was not properly engineered based on the materials used. Marigot forever have high energy waves. Erika taking blame again.

  17. Darky
    February 2, 2016

    yall dominicans feel allu know better, give the man a damn REST

    • February 2, 2016

      Yall? You can’t even be yourself how on earth can you even think for yourself

    • Shaka Zulu
      February 2, 2016

      There are many Dominicans who know better. The only thing I give PM plus for is he using his psychology degree. That’s about it. At borough square in possi there is a big campaign sign with Skeritt and a whole bunch of leaders. It tells alot. Real country booki kind of vibes. That is what a pm using to impress, feel good about himself and stay in power. Some of us are professional engineers, scientist, and more. Bajans were advisors and Venezuelans are our engineers. Smart man is the one going around telling people Dominicans foolish. Any highschool student who has any knowledge in coastal erosion could see this was going to happen sooner or later. The only option that will work right now is wave breakers . it has to be huge and account for storm waves since we on Atlantic side. Without wave breakers nothing else put there will last.

    • Shameless
      February 2, 2016

      Dear Darky, yes we know a lot better! So STOP supporting nonsense and call a spade a spade!

      Pre-schoolers know that the minister is talking karkar but you seem to be perfectly fine with this kind of nonsense happening in Ma Dominique. Just a reminder to the DLP Cabal that every dog has its day and the people of Wesley, Marigot shall never forget. Mark my words

      Always Assertive! :twisted:

  18. dissident
    February 2, 2016

    that’s stale news !
    you guys ben talking about dat review for months now with NO ACTION.
    I must remind the Dominican public that it was the self same Gardakhan who did the work at the airport.
    More money for de boys and dem.
    Discussions have been ongoing about that problem area ever since the bypass road leading straight unto the melvillehall bridge was being constructed way back in 2011/2012.
    Estimates were done for proposed work.
    $25million??????
    de people qualified to know knows better.
    they right among us…i am in a position to know better too!!!
    Bogus! Bogus! Bogus!
    When you done with dat go finish de rock armor at Pointe Michel Mr Minister.
    How much Millions will dat cost??

  19. February 2, 2016

    mr minister you do not make any sense come better than that labour pa sa twavie

  20. Secret
    February 2, 2016

    Hahahahaha lol smh these politicians no easy on their mouth.

  21. Facts
    February 2, 2016

    Larger drains? Unless they can build drains in mid air I don’t see it solving any problems. Look at the picture for the article… I mean when u vehicle under the wave is drain u want to hear about. Man find ways to prevent the water from reaching the road at full strength at the very least. Wave breakers now theres a solution a pre schooler could give you. I don’t get why there weren’t placed behind that wall from the get go.

  22. Sakwe Gas
    February 2, 2016

    So this was a problem pre-Erika. It is now 6 months past Erika and you are NOW sitting to DISCUSS the issue? SO we can expect action circa 2025?! I think all gov’t ministers should be censored moving forward. Your words are beyond useless!

  23. Puzzled
    February 2, 2016

    Ha,Ha,HaWe heared all this the last time.in JANUARY 2015 WORD FOR WORD

  24. Ras B
    February 2, 2016

    Why do politicians speak with such reduced clarity. I find it particularly difficult to understand what he is saying he uses so many words but his explanation seems so dull that one is left with no choice but to wonder whether he understands what he is talking about!! Lord help us!!
    :cry:

  25. Jaime JnoBaptiste
    February 2, 2016

    Well Mr. Vince Henderson recently stated that approximately 124 million has been collected from the citizenship by investment program. Now that we have money, no excuse at all. We can take care of some much needed road repairs.

  26. Channel 1
    February 2, 2016

    Wait nuh, dem fellas currently reviewing the road? So what type of review were they doing before when this issue first raised it head?

    Had the review back then gone from current to stagnated to then ignored?

    All dat backward government is about is employing delaying tactics. Bunch of backward, incompetent jokers all you fellas and women in dat government are.

  27. Jack
    February 2, 2016

    Man relocated the Damn airport!

    • 4cars
      February 2, 2016

      Or move the sea to the other side.

      • Shameless
        February 2, 2016

        :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

        Always Assertive! :twisted:

      • gallofino
        February 2, 2016

        just let the road cross the airstrip.its being done all around the world nothing new

  28. Floridian diaspora
    February 2, 2016

    A perfect example of money that was badly spent. After an ineffective seawall now you want to spend another $25 million on wave breakers. Hmmm wave breakers won’t do . When nature decides to take its course nothing can stop it. This guy brain needs to be inspected for sawdust. Another planned $25 million going down the gutter. Instead of constantly wasting $$$ repairing a car why not just buy a new one? Like someone suggested the other day, “an underground tunnel would be best for this situation.” Out Labor geniuses can’t seem to figure this out. I suspect this was a curse from the almighty after Patricia Baroness told us to go suck salt. Now nature is beating us with salty water in our commute every day promising to rotten our vehicles. Bad planning, bad spending; labor Party at their best

    • HA!
      February 2, 2016

      I was thinking the same thing about the tunnel. but for the tall trucks, its a good idea.

    • silver fox
      February 2, 2016

      Boy Boy some of you people could talk rubbish oh my God and those are the ones that is calling every one stupid uneducated so on, How could anyone build an underground tunnel next to the sea it is not done OK Dominica for a start have lots of rain and underground water we will need big pumps to get the water out who is going to pay for it you lord Linton and supporters like hell, the trouble with this island Dominica too many smart asses and all shit for brains Linton and supporters haters.

  29. derp
    February 2, 2016

    $25mil to put a couple of boulders on the shore interesting

  30. mampo
    February 2, 2016

    Pure bulls talk, who does he think he is fooling? At least he is not speaking to the people who live in the area because he knows that is shit talk.
    The waves goes right over the wall and road,its not just over the wall they fall right over the wall.

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