Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

A workman walks past material that will be used to construct the Yallahs Bridge, in St. Thomas, yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

SOME OF the materials to be used in the construction of a bridge at the Yallahs Ford in St. Thomas are being trucked to the site even though the National Works Agency (NWA) said no contract had been awarded for erecting the structure.

The Gleaner counted 23 pieces of huge metals on a property close to the site of the Yallahs Ford yesterday.

Stephen Shaw, communications manager at the NWA, said the materials are being supplied under the English-based Mabey and Johnson Programme, but could not say when construction would begin.

"There is a supplier-contractor, but there is no contractor in place for the construction of the bridge," Mr. Shaw said.

"Construction of the new bridge will begin as soon as all the engineering and contractual details are completed. We are awaiting a proposal from the suppliers of the bridge in this regard," added Mr. Shaw.

Some residents of Yallahs with whom The Gleaner spoke expressed optimism about the bridge's construction, but did not hide their feelings that it may be an election trick.

"Wi glad fi si di start, but mi know seh all when mi a 36 da bridge yah nuh go up and mi nuh 30 yet," a young man told The Gleaner.

Political ball game?

James Robertson, the Member of Parliament for West St. Thomas, said that from his understanding, construction work was expected to begin in January of next year. He, however, declined to comment on whether the dropping of the material could be a part of a political ball game as suggested by some residents.

"I don't want to say. I remain optimistic," Mr. Robertson said. He added that his constituents "want to see not only the bridge built, but they want to see the river training that will go alongside the building of the bridge".

The Yallahs Ford has been a painstaking issue for many St. Thomas residents, who often suffer the inconvenience of having to use the long, narrow and winding alternative of the Easington to Yallahs main road whenever the Yallahs River is in spate.

The Ford has been a major concern for the residents since October 2002 when rains associated with Hurricane Lili washed away the original bridge. A 240-foot Bailey bridge was subsequently constructed, but it was washed to sea in 2003 after heavy rains pelted the island. Since then motorists have had to drive on a makeshift bridge situated in the river bed and use the long alternative whenever it rains.

Cabinet last July approved $470 million for the building of the bridge.