According to the National Works Agency (NWA), the deterioration of a section of the multi-billion dollar Southern Coastal Highway in St. Thomas is due to “poor quality materials,” which the contractor is now fixing at no cost to taxpayers.
Construction Minister Robert Morgan has ordered that the repairs be carried out by the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), the NWA said in a statement on Saturday.
The repairs are being carried out on a section of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project between Yallahs Ponds and Pamphret. Motorists should expect delays, the agency said.
The NWA says sections of the roughly one-mile stretch have deteriorated in recent weeks, with rains associated with Hurricane Beryl’s passage in July making the situation even worse.
It says the minister approved the repairs after inspecting the corridor on Friday.
“Based on the technical investigations carried out, it was determined that the cause of the problem was the poor quality of materials,” the NWA said. “Minister Morgan has ordered that the poor quality materials be removed and the road repaired at no cost to the government. The matter will be treated as a defect under the construction contract, which the China Harbour Engineering Company contractors will be required to remedy.”
The cost of the repairs was not disclosed.
According to NWA, CHEC began mobilization on Saturday and the work will be completed in the next three weeks.
Motorists are advised that delays may occur along the Salt Pond to Pamphret corridor. The road will be narrowed to a single lane at times and motorists are asked to reduce their speed and obey warning signs and traffic officers’ instructions.
The section of the project from Harbour View to Yallahs Bridge was officially opened in February.
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