| KINGSTON, July 7 (JIS): |
| Come
December 2006, motorists going into St. Thomas and Eastern Portland
should no longer have to traverse the Yallahs river bed, but should
have a modern bridge on which to travel. Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Dr. Fenton Ferguson has said that the National Works Agency (NWA) was now finalizing the topographical surveys to determine the final bridge geometry and hydraulic opening requirements of the bridge, which would span the Yallahs River at Poor Man’s Corner in St. Thomas. Dr. Ferguson, who is also Member of Parliament for Eastern St. Thomas, was making his contribution to the 2004/05 Sectoral Debate in the House yesterday (July 6). The State Minister pointed out that the design works for the structure, estimated to cost some $470 million, would begin immediately and would last for some six months, followed by the tender and construction period of about 24 months. Dr. Ferguson also informed that the NWA had already undertaken its first review meeting with Mabey and Johnson, to produce a draft technical guideline, including the bridge length, the bridge loading, the preferred span and the logistics of shipping transportation and erection. Furthermore, he said the NWA had drafted preliminary procurement and construction programmes. In addition, there are plans for the NWA’s communication and customer services department to conduct a series of town meetings in the immediate communities to ensure the residents full participation in the project. |
