Lindeners can repair all bridges between Linden and Lethem for far less than estimated

Oct 31, 2013 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Your editorial of Sunday October 27, 2013 “penny wise pound foolish” hits at the core of what constitutes management of many sectors of our economy. Sometimes one wonders if we do not plan and envisage these pitfalls and take the corrective action.
You spoke correctly of the Linden-Soesdyke highway – it is the epitome of ‘stupidness’.
The editorial notes that the previous government got the CDB to approve about US$16M to do a complete rehabilitation of the road. That road has lived up and surpassed expectations. It lasted for more than 35 years with minimum maintenance, but it was evident with the stress caused by increased payloads – with trucks fetching lumber et al from around 1987 – that work was needed.
In came the new government, and as was noted, the money was deemed excessive and so this road maintenance cost was reduced to US$9-10M.  We all thought they knew what they were doing with the lean, mean and clean mantra.
Initially Howell (Yellow man) Hinds, a noted contractor of Linden was given the contract to repair the bridge at Madewini. By the time he was finished and was looking out for more bridges to rehabilitate, Seereeram of Trinidad apparently won the road contract and ultimately the other bridges. ‘Yellow man’ Hinds said he got G$19M for his job but the new contracts were priced at G$30M and he got none, since he had to be prequalified. Everyone observed that all the other bridges had problems with elevation. The one Mr. Hinds did was excellent and level. It was easily the best.
To our dismay we saw work done at certain bad spots which included the turn at Kuru-Kururu, Dora, Moblissa and the general approaches from Linden and Soesdyke ends.
By then I observed what was happening and knew that trouble lay ahead. One interesting episode was the work at Dora. The contractor began excavation and when they realized how deep and solid the foundation and asphaltic works were, they quickly stopped and re-laid the surface.
Dora not long after returned to its roller coaster state. One need not be a rocket scientist to summarize the reasons for the bucket nature of the road – where it keeps water instead of having it run off. Up to 1994, the water was running off easily. Within six years the collecting effect had begun and with poor maintenance, the situation gets worse.
Look at how often the ascent and turn at Kuru-Kururu have to be maintained. The left hand carriageway from Linden has taken the pounding from these vehicles fetching lumber, sand, bauxite, Laterite et al, and the maintenance now required would have superseded the initial repair cost back in the 1990.
Another factor on the road is the huge cracks and crevices which are evident in our tropical environment. Prime Minister Hinds was advised that slurry sealing would solve the problem. We accepted and the cracks have grown larger. There is need for complete resealing of the entire highway.
Driving on the highway on rainy days is dangerous because the hydro planning phenomenon is very prevalent. Only recently, we lost a benefactor to the educational development of Linden, Dr Walter Kyte, among other citizens in an accident at Kairuni. A few years ago we lost a prominent boxer and promoter at the same area arising from the same cause.
Those who drove on the highway before the maintenance in 1990’s and after would have said to you that the balance in the turns were obliterated. All the turns on the highway were constructed so that deceleration was not necessary (we call those speed turns) In fact, one could have closed his eyes and held his steering wheel as the curve allowed for the vehicle to move unimpeded. Well, the slopes and bumps in the turns mean that you have to take extra care.
So what do we have after the reduced contract cost?
–    A road having huge puddles that do not run off when it rains.
–    Large cracks in the roadway that will turn holes/depressions soon.
–    Regular patchwork at various points to correct deficiencies thus increasing costs
–    A very bumpy ride with even the best shock absorbing vehicles.
–   Negative correlation between sand mining and road quality. Madewini, Kuru-Kururu and Amelia’s Ward are stark examples.
Let me remind all that the 300-feet buffer zone on the highway is now not rigidly enforced and so all sorts of activities are encroaching. This too will add to the pressure on the road.
If I can be facetious, I wrote and spoke with Prime Minister on the need to have a local metal fabricator construct one 30’x16’ reinforced concrete & steel bridge on the Linden –Lethem route to replace the wooden ones that float away during rainstorms. We were trying to demonstrate to the Brazilians that we are serious. The cost, a mere G$20M, compared with the Pirara Bridge valued at G$270M using timber. Our offer was rejected politely.
We boast that (we) Lindeners can repair all 50 bridges between Linden and Lethem for G$1 billion versus G$12B being the values calculated and estimated by our Works Services Group. Would this be penny wise or pound foolish? Or will we await the coming of the Brazilians?
Orrin Gordon

 

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