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Plank falls on labourer’s head, man hospitalised
Working on the Mackenzie Bridge is Gavin Liverpool (shirtless)
Gavin Liverpool, a 30-year-old resident of 32 Maxwell Alley, Section B Christianburg, Linden, and a worker attached to the Courtney Benn Contracting Services, which is effecting rehabilitation works on the Mackenzie/ Wismar Bridge, was yesterday rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, after a plank that was being hoisted by a crane slipped and fell on him.
According to reports the accident occurred shortly after 10:00hrs. Liverpool was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, and subsequently transferred to Georgetown, with suspected spinal injuries.
Only Monday morning a truck was stuck for nearly an hour after it encountered problems while crossing the bridge, severely impeding the flow of traffic, both for vehicles traversing the town and those bound for Georgetown.
That incident incurred the wrath of many commuters who expressed in no uncertain manner, their feelings on the issue of the bridge, which has been under repairs for more than a year.
Commuters are also calling on those in authority to engage the services of a pontoon, for the crossing of vehicles during the hours of closure, until works are completed.
Rehabilitation works are being carried out on the midsection of the bridge, to the tune of some $40M, bringing the total expenditure on the rehabilitative works to date to a grand total of $154M.
Initially rehabilitation was estimated at $114 M, but as work on some sections of the bridge progressed, it was observed that the midsection of the bridge had deteriorated significantly.
Work to this section of the bridge which commenced on Monday, has necessitated the closure of the facility from 9: 00 to 15: hrs daily, with a two hour opening between 15:00 hours to 17:00 hours to facilitate the crossing of school children and workers.
But although many people appreciate the rehabilitation works being undertaken on the bridge, many others are peeved, especially those coming from the interior, with lumber.
Two truck drivers, from the interior said that they were very disappointed, not to have been able to cross yesterday morning, even though they had arrived at the bridge, at least half an hour before the stipulated 9:00 closure.
According to the men, several vehicles which had arrived after them were allowed to cross, which they considered unfair.
“All they tell we is that they ain’t get time to weigh the truck. Now we got to wait till this afternoon when the bridge open again. This ain’t fair to we because we come till from 58 miles,’’ a driver named Curtis lamented.
Another cause for concern, according to the truck drivers, is the removable ‘decking’ which has been put in place to facilitate crossing, but which they think is too high, as already it has begun to damage the underside of vehicles.
Work on the bridge began in June 2008, and was scheduled for completion by the end of the same year.
However periodic breaks, saw the works ongoing way past June 2009, and commuters had voiced their frustrations, in no uncertain terms.
The facility had become a major cause of concern, not only for Lindeners, but for business persons from remote interior locations, most of whom are involved in the logging industry and are forced to use it daily, to get their lumber to Georgetown and other parts of the country.
Especially hard on them, was the 28-tonne mandatory weight limit, which became compulsory, because of the advanced corrosion on the mid section of the bridge.
The 28-tonne weight limit was later increased to 40 tonnes, after representation was made on the truckers/loggers behalf, touting the hardships they endured because of the stipulation.
After the present phase of works is completed the weight limit is expected to be increased by another 20 tonnes.
Chairman of the Linden Interim Management Committee, Orrin Gordon, had expressed his concern about the rehabilitative works being undertaken on the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge. Gordon had pointed out that his main concern was that the community receives work of the highest possible standard.
Gordon had earlier pointed out that initially, only the midsection of the bridge was earmarked for rehabilitation, but upon closer examination of the structure, it became evident that additional works would have to be done to other sections of the bridge, necessitating additional funding.
Works are expected to be completed in 24 weeks according to reports.
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