The section of road along Highway 1 from Porters to Trents in St. James will reopen tonight.
Word of this has come from Project Manager with the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification’s Project Management Co-ordination Unit, Ricardo Marshall, during a press briefing at the construction site this morning.
The road was closed from August 25, to allow for the installation of flood alleviation structures (culverts, trenches, grass swales), as part of the Adaptation Measures to Counter the Effects of Climate Change (AMCECC) Project, also known as the ‘Ridge to Reef’ Project.
The aim of the project is to improve drainage and alleviate flooding in certain areas in St. James.
Workmen have finished installing the culvert at the Porters/Trents section of the project, which will allow motorists to once again travel along the area.
Mr. Marshall said the reopening would help ease traffic congestion, with the start of the new school term.
He pointed out that workmen from INFRA Inc. had been working under some challenging conditions – battling rainfall, ground water and storm water influx and fluctuating tides to install culverts at the various points where the project was being carried out.
“We fought very hard to try and get the roads along Highway 1 reinstated, even though we have not finished all of the work we have to do…. We are trying to alleviate not just the flooding and drainage issues in the area, but also to improve the general conditions.
“We would’ve had the sections in Sunset Crest open from Monday morning, and we’ve already seen an ease there and a very positive response from the residents, the business community and people who work in the area. They have been very supportive of the work we have been doing and they understand we’ve had challenges with drainage and flooding,” Mr. Marshall stated.
He noted that the construction in front of the gas station in Holetown is expected to be completed by the end of September.