Latest update January 7th, 2025 4:10 AM
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Residents condemn drainage works in Cedar Street
Residents of Cedar Street, Mackenzie, were all elated when works to rehabilitate the street commenced a few months ago.
According to a few long standing householders, no rehabilitative road or drainage works had been carried out in over three decades.
“So it was like finally we gon get a good road with proper drainage, so we were all very happy”, one resident pointed out.
However their elation was short-lived, after it became apparent that the new drains that were being done, instead of alleviating water logging, was doing the exact opposite.
Constructed only a few weeks ago, this drain along
Cedar Street has already started deteriorating.
“These drains were constructed higher than the drains in our yards, so the water couldn’t run off. The sides of the drains were actually blocking the free flow of water. And you know when work first got started, the old drains were dug out with backhoe, and the depth was good, but then instead of doing the drains to that level, sand was used to raise the level, and then the drains were concreted to bring it to the current level. We believe that that was done to cut cost, because the shallower the drains, the less cement would be required. But now we suffering because of that, because all the water stagnating in the drains and creating a mosquito nuisance, and is people septic tank water and everything that building up in the yards, so this is not at all healthy, “another resident declared.
Those sentiments were echoed by other residents, who also said that they now dread the rainy season, because there is sure to be flooding.
According to the concerned residents, they voiced their concerns with the contractor, who tried boring holes in the sides of the main drains in order for the water to flow out of their drains, but that strategy is not working.
“As it is right now, my septic tank water is not flowing out, and after I complained, the contractor had some six inch pipes installed next to the drains, but that will not stand up to the volume of water when it rains, and in any case it only benefitting two households,” one of the residents explained.
It was also pointed out that residents were told that their properties were too low, and therefore needed building up.
“But we ain’t teking duh. The people in Mora Street and Greenheart didn’t build up de yards when the drains and streets get rehabilitated there, and we all on the same level, and all the drains had the same depth, but de didn’t decrease the depths there, so why de do it in this street?”
It is only at the intersection of Cedar Street and Damon Avenue that the depth of the drains was increased.
According to residents, if that was not done, the entire project would have been “screwed up”, as the water coming from Damon Avenue would have overflowed the shallower Cedar Street drains.
However, the increased depth at this junction only facilitates proper drainage for two households in a street of almost two dozen households.
And already sections of the poorly constructed drains are falling apart.
Bridges
Complaints were also made of residents’ bridges which were dismantled to facilitate the drainage works, and then rebuilt with no regard to the original designs or specifications.
“Most of these bridges were poorly rebuilt. This is not fair to people. How can you come and damage people’s property, and then give them this type of substandard work?” a peeved homeowner queried.
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