Minister of Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill recently answered questions posed by MP for Western St. Thomas, James Robertson, about the Yallahs Bailey bridge. The following are the questions and answers.
QUESTION: IS the Minister of Transport and Works aware of the collapse of the recently constructed Bailey bridge over the Yallahs River in St. Thomas?
Answer: Yes. The Bailey bridge at Yallahs collapsed on Saturday, May 24, 2003 after a prolonged period of intense rain.
Can the Minister give us the replacement cost of the Bailey bridge that was washed away?
Answer:The replacement cost of the Bailey bridge is approximately J$41 million. This estimate includes material, engineering and labour costs.
Can the Minister state if the construction of the Bailey bridge was signed off as completed by the NWA engineers?
Answer: Yes, the construction of the Bailey bridge was signed off as completed by the NWA.
Is the Minister aware that the necessary work to secure the abutments was not completed?
Answer: I am aware that supplementary works to the construction of the Bailey bridge were to have been implemented shortly after the erection of the bridge. These works were not completed at the time of the heavy, unprecedented rains in May, due to cash flow constraints. The bridge that existed prior to may 24 was fit to accommodate traffic, and could withstand wind velocity up to 50 miles an hour. The additional works that were scheduled to be implemented at the bridge prior to its collapse included cables called "tie downs", that would have expanded the bridge's capacity to resist winds of even higher velocity.
Will the Minister state if a new temporary Bailey bridge will be constructed and when, if so, will it commence?
Answer: There are no plans to construct a temporary bridge at Yallahs.
Can the Minister state when construction of the new permanent bridge spanning the Yallahs fording will commence?
Answer: This matter is under consideration, and a final decision will be made by Cabinet shortly.
Is the Minister aware that I called for immediate repair work to be done on the bridge at Easington over eight months ago?
Answer: No.
Is the Minister aware that no work was done?
Answer:I am aware that no work was done. No such work is necessary, as subsequent to the collapse of the Bailey bridge at Yallahs river, the National Works Agency's engineers tested the Easington bridge and determined that its condition is acceptable. at that time, the engineers also determined that due to the age and design of the bridge, it should bear no greater load than 12 tonne. This means that no tricks or trailers are to use the bridge, and signs stating this have already been erected. At this time, gabion protective works are being carried out at the eastern abutment of the Easington Bridge, at a cost of J$4 million. Trucks and trailers are to be driven over the temporary fording that has already been erected at Yallahs River.
Is the Minister aware that the following districts and towns are threatened with total devastation whenever heavy rainfall occurs? Hillside, Davis M
Mount, Mount Vernon, Moffatt, Mount Lebanus, Sommerset, New Monklands, Cedar Valley, Grove/Cedar Valley, Trinityville, Hagley Gap, Penlyne, Castle York, Seaforth?
Answer: No. While I am aware that these districts are at risk of some flooding in the event of heavy, prolonged rain, our investigations in relation to the question have revealed that none of these districts is "threatened with total devastation" whenever heavy rainfall occurs.
Will the Minister state when river training work, repairs to the fordings and repairs to the damaged structures on the following rivers will begin?
Banana River
Negro River
Morgan's River
Johnson River
Yallahs River
(i) Mahogany Vale
(ii) Poormans Corner
Answer: We are currently carrying out river training works on approximately 900 feet of the Morant/Johnson/ Bamboo river system, to protect the district of Bamboo. We have also constructed a temporary fording across the Yallahs River, at a cost of J$9 million. No works are scheduled to commence at this time at the other locations identified.
Will the Minister state the cost of the work referred to at question 109?
Answer: The designs for these works have not been completed, so no estimates are available at this time.
Will the Minister state how much funding, if any, has been approved for work referred to at question ten?
Answer: Please see answer to Question 11. Question 13
What types of river training methods and structures are being contemplated?
Answer: The river training methods to be employed are those of bund formation and protection, and placement of gabion baskets. These are standard river training methods and devices.
Where there is sufficient material and width in the river, equipment is used to push up the material to form berms or bunds. These are then protected by matting the slopes with wires, and also by planting vegetation.
The construction of gabion baskets involves placing wire baskets at strategic points along and in the river, framing, lacing and filling them with stones of various sizes.
Is the Minister aware that the main road to the Moyhall factory has been destroyed?
Answer: No. I am aware that the main road to the Moyhall factory is badly damaged, but can, at this time, facilitate the passage of large vehicles, rather than small ones.
Will the Minister state when repairs will begin on the Moyhall main road?
Answer: There is no schedule for repairs to the above-mentioned main road at this time.
