The Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources (MTWWR) has refuted claims by the President of the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE) Trevor Browne, that Government’s $15.3 million Highway 1 project was being carried out without the engagement of professional engineers.
In fact, the ministry, through a statement from Public Relations Officer for the Highway 1 project Antoine Williams, defended the qualifications of those involved in the development, saying it was being undertaken by registered professional engineers in the ministry.
“The Chief Technical Officer has over 30 years as a professional engineer. The Project Manager also has 34 years’ experience in the design and construction of roads and bridges throughout the island. The advisor for the project is a past Chief Technical Officer with over 40 years’ experience with this type of operation; this, in addition to ancillary civil engineers within the ministry who are assisting with the smooth running of the project,” said Williams.
Last week Thursday, Browne accused the MTWWR of engaging in a “flawed implementation strategy” without the involvement of a consulting engineering firm to advise and assist with the preparations and contracts that identify and pre-plan “for the many challenges/conflicts to be encountered between existing and new utilities to be installed”.
Under the 6.5 kilometre rehabilitation of Highway 1, which runs from the Frank Walcott Roundabout to Seaview Road, St James, it is expected that officials will install 12-inch and six-inch water mains; a gas main; Flow and Barbados Light & Power ducts with approximately 150 manholes; replace six drainage culverts with larger ones, install concrete sidewalks and mill and pave an asphalt road surface.
Browne questioned how contracts were issued, stating that these should have some specifications including the legal responsibilities of the employer/contractor, define the work scope, project schedule and the cost of each work activity.
The BAPE president also criticised the timing of the project and predicted that there would be cost overruns and he questioned whether the ministry would be able to execute the project “without utilising the appropriate engineering expertise” to ensure satisfactory pre-planning and the effective cost control of the works during construction.
However, in a rebuke, Williams said Browne appeared to be insulting the professionalism of the ministry’s legal Principal Crown Counsel by assuming that they needed to be aware of the employment particulars.
“The article also suggests that a consulting engineering firm should have been hired with the preparation of detailed plans. It should be noted that the aforementioned engineers at the Ministry prepared the detailed plans and specifications and all plans were submitted to the contractors about four weeks prior to the start of the project.
“Estimates for this phase of the works were completed and this provided the basis for the contracts to be awarded and signed. This was done about three weeks ago which is contrary to what has been stated in the press,” added Williams.
In response to concerns about whether the Government could afford to execute this project without utilising the appropriate engineering expertise, Williams said “History has shown that the ministry has done this in the past using its cadre of professional engineers and we can continue to do it for this highway project.”
He said ministry officials were cognisant of that fact that works to be done by the various utility companies had to be coordinated and it was for this reason that it continued to have weekly meetings with all the utility companies to “iron out” any possible challenges.
“These meetings were first started six months ago. Assistance has also been provided by the Ministry of the Environment which has been able to identify all the underground utility services using ground penetrating radar equipment,” Williams informed.
As it relates to inconvenience due to traffic, he said each of the contractors had submitted traffic plans for their respective areas and although there will be some slowdown in traffic going through the area, it is anticipated that there will be minimum disruption.
He also pointed out that residents who live in the area were made aware of the possible issues at two town hall meetings hosted by the ministry.
