The deteriorating Easington Bridge in St. Thomas has now become the alternative route for motorists travelling from Kingston to eastern parishes following the destruction of the $16 million Bailey bridge over the Yallahs River by flood waters on the weekend. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer CABINET YESTERDAY approved $76 million to carry out emergency work in the flood-ravaged parishes of St. Thomas and Portland the areas most seriously affected by flood rains on the weekend.
Also, according to Minister of Land and Environment Dean Peart, a technical team has been assigned to look at whether it will be more financially prudent to construct a new Bailey bridge over the Yallahs River, or to build a permanent bridge to replace the structure which was destroyed by the flood last Saturday.
Heavy rains, last Friday night and Saturday, dislocated scores of persons in St. Thomas and Portland who battled landslides, downed cable wires and flood waters through yesterday.
WORST AFFECTED
Flooding and landslides were reported throughout Breastworks, Fellowship, Donkeyman's Corner, Boundbrook, the Rio Grande Valley and other communities of Port Antonio the worst affected area of Portland. Reports that two houses were washed away in Breastworks could not be confirmed.
And while life returned to some semblance of normality, with drivers of National Works Agency (NWA) trucks feverishly clearing blocked roads, other
roads remained impassable and, in at least one case, half of an entire community was cut off by a landslide leaving over 100 people stranded.
Substantial destruction of crops occurred in both heavily-hit parishes but figures were not available yesterday on the extent of the damage.
"There was substantial damage to the bridge in Yallahs... the abutment was washed out... the bridge collapsed and was totally smashed," Mr. Peart told reporters at yesterday's post-Cabinet press conference at Jamaica House. "We are having a dialogue to see exactly what we can do."
The Bailey bridge, which stretched over the Yallahs River in St. Thomas, was opened last October and built at a cost of $16 million.
Asked whether there were technical deficiencies with the construction of the bridge why it was unable to withstand the weekend flood, Mr. Peart said, "We are waiting for a report on Monday, after our technical people complete their investigations... we will be looking at everything."
Mr. Peart said that Cabinet also has said that his Ministry should meet with the Ministry of Local Government, Sport and Community Development to look at drainage across the island. "Before you asked this question, Cabinet had approved $300 million from last year... money which was approve for Parish Council roads," he continued. "We have been allocated some of this money for the cleaning of drains in Portmore and other areas. The Minister of Finance said he will try to get us a portion of this money as quickly as possible."
Minister of Information Burchell Whiteman noted that there was a direct connection with clogged drains and areas that are prone to flooding. "This is something we have to address," he said.
