Works Minister Rohan Sinanan is assuring that the collapsed part of the South Trunk Road in La Romaine, which caved in following a bush fire on Thursday night, will be repaired in the quickest possible time.
Speaking to reporters hours after the road collapsed near the St Mary’s Interchange, Sinanan said yesterday that the Director of Highways had visited the site and rehabilitation works began immediately.
Traffic was diverted through Berridge Trace, South Oropouche and Woodland as teams worked throughout yesterday’s Good Friday holiday to reclaim the road.
But there was a heavy traffic pileup for most of the day yesterday as motorists tried to get to their favourite beach spots in South Trinidad using the alternative routes.
Also visiting the site were Dennis Harricharan, NIDCO’s project manager for the Solomon Hochoy Highway and Franchesque Manickchand, civil engineer one for St Patrick district.
In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Harricharan said the collapse occurred around 9 pm on Thursday.
“There was a bush fire in the area and the culvert, which is incomplete, became susceptible to damage. This impacted the culvert and there was collapse of the roadway. The road is closed to traffic and there is a diversion in place,” Harricharan said.
He added, “It is our intention to have the road restored at least by the end of today (yesterday). We are now organising resources. We have evaluated the extent of the work needed and hopefully we should get it completed.”
Harricharan said a 1.2 metre wide cylinder which was part of the drainage system was burnt in the fire.
“The highway is incomplete so draining system is not fully completed. It is our intention to complete it soon, but in the meantime we have to continue to protect against pouring water, but in this case fire,” Harricharan added.
Asked when the highway construction will resume, Harricharan said, “The intention is to complete the work as soon as possible. I believe within the next month or two months we should have work started back on this section of the highway.”
He also advised motorists to stay away from the affected area until the road is fully restored.