Exposed steel under VG jetty to be ‘treated’- Hon Vanterpool
The photos, taken at the time the jetty was undergoing repairs to the surface, raised concerns about the stability and safety of the jetty with the many noticeable cracks and steels exposed on the underside.
The article drew much reaction from the public, especially on social media, who criticised the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government for ignoring the underside of the jetty for repairs.
Exposed steel to be treated
However, in an answer to a question posed by Leader of the Opposition Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) as to whether there would be additional works on the St Thomas Bay jetty on June 13, 2017 in the House of Assembly, Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) said it is intended that additional works to be carried out on the dock will include bulk heading of the cargo facility adjacent to the current location, the separation and inclusion of an access drive-way at the rear of the building.
Regarding the underside of the jetty, Hon Vanterpool said the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) is currently “exploring the use of a Fosroc Surface Repair System, which, when applied to the under surface, is expected to treat the exposed steel, thereby significantly reducing the rate of deterioration from the elements and increasing the dock’s life span.”
It is, however, without an engineer’s input, not clear to this news site if this proposed remedy would be effective and for how long as one of the concerns was that the exposed steel would expand and could damage the integrity of the jetty.
A defined timeline for these additional works, according to the Minister, has “not been set as yet.”
Engineering report for jetty was submitted
Meanwhile, Hon Fahie also wanted to know if the Minister received engineering reports regarding the structural integrity of the jetty given the reported degradation of the steel works at the under-side.
“Madam Speaker, Yes! I am in receipt of a copy of the engineering report for the St Thomas Bay Jetty, Hon Vanterpool replied, stating that the report was not used for the works recently executed.
It should be noted that Honourable Vanterpool had stated early last month that a study was conducted by engineers on the jetty, which showed that it was intact, but the concrete slab is where the issue lies.
"I want to let them (public) know that the construction of the dock on Virgin Gorda is not a cosmetic job...The study we had done by engineers suggests that the piles and support under the dock is still very good, strong. The issue is the actual concrete slab that has been deteriorating," the Minister explained.
Repairs went over budget
It was also revealed that the total rehabilitation cost expended to date on the St Thomas Bay jetty was Three Hundred Fifty-Nine Thousand Five Hundred Seventy-Four Thousand Dollars and Seventy-Eight Cents ($359,574.78).
A development budget for the jetty in the amount of Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000) was submitted and approved by the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA) during its 2017 budget exercises; however, the BVI Ports Authority requested some additional works, after awarding the contract, in the amount of $52,365.88.
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19 Responses to “Exposed steel under VG jetty to be ‘treated’- Hon Vanterpool”
What did the engineer's report say about the reinforcement in the concrete, especially the exposed steel on the under side of the wharf? Did the spalling affect the strength and structural integrity of the concrete? Can the effects of spalling be fixed by mere covering over the exposed steel supposedly to slow down the deterioration? Did the spalling reduce the cross section of the steel, reducing the strength? Will just covering the steel present a false sense of security that present a public health and safety hazard? Life/safety first.
h(I am no expert but I took a few years well for that jetty to reach that condition)...fahie and his other political coligues had more than enought years in public office to fix the same jetty( talk that because when you tiard talk to must stop)
VI history, that facts are all there stop take political gimmicks so personal:
engineering went into the support beams holding up the slabs. The nerves to tell the people the engineering report was not used is mind boggling.
Even I could have tell you the underside is poor and needs addressing first, free of cost. Not paying some so call engineer, ignore his report and them do it last.