Paving resumes on east coast roadway

Despite delays caused by recent rains, road repair work on the Ermie Bourne Highway in St Andrew is continuing and the road should be ready for a return to two-way traffic in a week.

Infra Inc., which was contracted to restore the popular stretch of road, had begun to mill the section from Barclay’s Park to near Belleplaine last November.

The unfavourable climatic conditions led to work being held up for several days. However, when a Barbados TODAY team visited the area on Friday employees were busy on the project.

A supervisor at the work site explained that progress was being made despite the setback.

He said that at least 1 000 feet of a section of the road was excavated and backfilled and by next week the road would be fully accessible to two-way traffic.

“We are excavating all the old material, taking it to the dump and backfilling with marl and compacting it. Then we will do another layer, roll it and compact it before we can start to prepare to put down the asphalt,” he said. “We prepared one side of the road so people can get access so they don’t have to drive on the bad road any more. Presently we are excavating the opposite side so by the end of the week the road should be accessible to two-way traffic.”

General manager of the construction company Sean Cox had previously said the work would be completed by April.

“We have no control over the weather. If we have good weather we will finish faster but if there is rain there is nothing we can do about that,” the supervisor said on Friday.

While they are glad that the road network in the area is being improved, some St Andrew residents who live near East Coast Road said the dust could be a nuisance and they wanted the work completed as soon as possible.

“Everyday it is killing us. People can’t put clothes on the line. We would just like the road to be done. It is overbearing now. I am very pleased to see something happening in St Andrew but I want it done as soon as possible,” said a resident of Corbin’s Village who gave his name as Cheese”.

“Mr Herbert” who lives in Brucevale but regularly frequents a canteen and shop along the Ermie Bourne Highway, said that while he was glad this road was being addressed, the dust for the past two months was bothersome.

Although the shop’s proprietor agreed regarding the challenge with the dust, he added: “Nothing wasn’t really wrong with the road, our main issue is we want the bridges done and not this.” (SZB)