Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
RESIDENTS OF various communities in the Upper Rio Grande Valley, Portland, have expressed concern over the state of the Alligator Church Bridge, which is decaying rapidly and could crumble at any time.
State Minister in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, along with officers from the National Works Agency (NWA) - toured the badly battered bridge last Friday, and expressed alarm at the poor state of its structure.
"The NWA will have to take on the responsibility of carrying out work on the Alligator Church bridge," said Dr. Ferguson. "Given the recent flooding and other problems, I will take the decision to have our technical officers visit the bridge to see what level of work can be done in the short term, even as we contemplate a permanent bridge".
NEW BRIDGE
The State Minister said a new bridge will be built under the Mabey Johnson Programme out of United Kingdom, but this will be done in the long term.
"Natash Construction Company did some strengthening work on the bridge, last year, which allowed for the resumption of vehicular traffic on it", Dr. Ferguson added.
Last year, the bridge was ordered close by the NWA after it started falling apart, and the structure was considered unsafe to motorists. This sparked protests from farmers and other residents. Shortly after Natash Construction was contracted to effect repairs to the bridge, which upon its completion allowed usage by vehicles weighing less than 12 tonnes.
The Alligator Church Bridge serves more than seven adjoining communities in the Rio Grande Valley, including Moore Town, Comfort Castle, Bellview, and Mill Bank. It is also the only access in and out of these communities.
And fears expressed by residents have since intensified, as the loss of the bridge would mean a permanent cut off from the rest of the parish.
