Regional Chairman warns of lurking catastrophe…Linden /Soesdyke Highway under threat from erosion

Mar 26, 2018 News

By Enid Joaquin

The erosion and undermining of the Linden/Soesdyke Highway near the Moblissa Bridge is a catastrophe waiting to happen, Chairman of Region Ten Rennis Morian warned Friday.
The Regional Chairman made this pronouncement while inspecting a severely eroded section of the Highway, after a few days of heavy rainfall.
A section of the barranca has broken away, and the relentless rainfall had washed away the sand and other aggregate which make up the foundation of the structure, leaving the area susceptible to collapse.
“Any of these big trucks that traverse here in the night if they only drive too close to the edge is this whole section would cave in…this is a catastrophe waiting to happen, and it calls for urgent attention. Right now we have to get the police to erect something to warn motorists, “Morian said.
Morian yesterday revealed that engineers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure visited the area yesterday and that rehabilitative works are expected to start soon. He also said that ranks from E Division have been notified about the situation.

Erosion in the vicinity of the Moblissa Bridge

On Friday, the Regional Chairman also observed that the curb wall which is made of bitumen has become brittle and so breaks easily with the onslaught of water that washes across the Highway during heavy rainfall.
He was accompanied by Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph and RDC Councillor Charles Sampson, who both reiterated that the erosion is threatening the integrity of the structure, which would collapse if urgent action is not taken.
Councillor Sampson said that the area needs wide revetments and this should be done urgently.
“What we’re seeing here is a serious rupture, and if this is not fixed urgently this entire section would break away, and we might have to shut down the highway, because this poses serious danger to commuters “Sampson stated. “Right now this is very crucial, we have to do revetments from here straight to the bridge. This is a real emergency, what we need to do almost immediately is put some indicators to let people know what lies ahead.”
Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph noted that the erosion has “eaten” about three feet or more under the Highway thus severely impacting the integrity of the structure. Adolph reiterated the call for immediate action to address the situation.
Morian said that the breakage was observed during a routine check after the recent heavy rainfall.
He related that he had already contacted his counterparts in Region Four and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to look at the situation.

Rehabilitation
The Highway is slated for rehabilitation this year, according to Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland. The Mayor made this pronouncement during a press briefing last year.
Holland said that some $40M would be allocated for its rehabilitation and lighting.
Residents of Linden and Region Ten have long been clamouring for a general rehabilitation of this important thoroughfare, which has greatly deteriorated over the years.
Many say that the uneven surface is a contributing factor to several fatal accidents that have occurred, leaving countless families in anguish