Supplementary works begin on South Leeward Highway

Although pavement works on the South Leeward Highway have not started, other supplementary works have been taking place in several areas along the main roadway.

Alistair Campbell, the deputy chief engineer in the Ministry of Transport and Works spoke to SEARCHLIGHT {{more}}on Tuesday and gave an update on the project.

The main roadway in the Montrose area is one of the places that have been receiving a facelift.

“They started doing some drain work in raising the curb part of that drain above the road. They haven’t done any pavement work yet, but they were doing some work to the curb of those drains. There is some work planned for lower down. Originally, there was something at the hospital, but we are now investigating a change to it, which may involve a drain at a higher location instead of the one down at the hospital,” Campbell said.

He added that there are no plans to widen the drains in that area.

Work has also begun in the Campden Park and Questelles areas, where a bank is being excavated in order to widen the road network there.

Some commuters have already voiced complaints about the length of time spent in traffic on mornings, while big trucks remove debris from the site. Campbell explained that ways of minimizing the time spent in traffic are being considered.

“We are not opposed to doing work at night for that very same reason, to reduce the impact on the community and the users of the road there, so minimizing the time taken for that work to be done. But it’s something that we have to work with the contractor on, in terms of the time that people have to wait before they can pass,” the deputy chief engineer said.

Meanwhile, he outlined the stipulation that allows traffic flow in that area, on the main highway to be one-way for road users travelling from north to south.

Persons travelling from south to north – from Kingstown – will use the traffic diversion provided through the Campden Park Industrial Estate and Clare Valley roads.

Campbell urged persons to recognize that in order for the road to be improved, some difficulty will be faced during that period.

He also noted the purpose of community liaison officer on the project Marlon Stevenson and stated: “If we understand fully how they (community members) are being impacted by the road being done, then if the possibility exists for us to make changes that could positively impact how they are affected, we intend to do that.”

In April 2014, a contract was signed between the Ministry of Transport and Works and contracting company, Dipcon Engineering, which signalled the beginning of the $25.14 million rehabilitation project of the South Leeward Highway.

The project is expected to run over a 21-month period and will see the main road network between Kingstown and Layou being significantly improved. Physical works on the highway officially began at the end of August.(BK)