George Henry, Gleaner Writer
SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
USERS OF the Frankfield to Trout Hall main road in Clarendon are calling on the National Works Agency to immediately carry out repair work on a section of that thoroughfare to ensure motoring safety.
According to the road users, the road has been damaged for almost 12 years. Furthermore, not much attention has been given to this road to prevent it from worsening. The road, they said, got worse following the passage of hurricanes Ivan, Dennis (in 2004) and Emily (in 2005).
They said with next month's start of the hurricane season, something must be done to prevent a cut off from the rest of the parish.
Michael Stern, who is the JLP caretaker for the area, told The Gleaner that he is worried that the Trout Hall breakaway has not been attended to since the recent heavy rains and especially since the new hurricane season is almost on us.
"It is almost 12 years now since that road has broken away and continued breaking away since hurricanes Ivan, Dennis and Emily passed. There is no retaining wall holding the bridge which is close to the large breakaway and that is putting pressure on the road. I am afraid that the road will collapse at any moment," said Michael Stern.
He stated that efforts have been made in the past by the Clarendon Parish Council to have rails erected near the breakaway, but that they were only temporary.
Mr. Stern stated that access across the river is only by way of the nearby bridge. However, according to him, if the roadway is not repaired swiftly before the hurricane season, those persons could be cut off from the rest of the parish should the bridge collapse.
He stated that he and the Opposition Leader Bruce Golding toured the area recently for the Mr. Golding to get a first-hand view of the situation and report to Parliament, so that the relevant ministry personnel can be made fully aware of the urgent need for repairs.
That was done according to Mr. Stern, but to date no work has started on the damaged roadway. However, he said out of the report made by the Opposition Leader has come some repair work on another damaged section of roadway at Grantham in the constituency, which was badly damaged during the heavy rains associated with Dennis and Emily last year.
SAVED BY SEATBELT
"The road is so dangerous. One car went over there in April with three occupants. God had it that they had on their seatbelts so they only came out with minor injuries. The car went straight down in the precipice and over the last year that has been the second vehicle to go over there," said Stern.
When State Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Works, Richard Azan, who is also the Member of Parliament for the area, was contacted, he said work on the breakaway is to start soon.
Mr. Azan said work to correct damaged sections of roadway in the constituency has already started at Grantham and that Trout Hall will receive attention shortly. He was unable to say how much money is being spent to carry out the works, but stated that the budget for them was still being compiled.
The State Minister said, however, that it is expected that the works will be completed before the hurricane season intensifies.
