Purcell Ghut design had potential for more flooding – PWD head
Earlier today, Friday November 18, 2011, Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool announced that Phase three of the project had stopped and that the PWD is now in control of the project.
Dr. Glasgow told Virgin Islands News Online that his department found some inconsistencies in the designs, but refused to elaborate what the inconsistencies were.
However, he did add that the consultancy firm hired by the previous Government was informed of the inconsistencies when the PWD was privy to the initial drawings.
Furthermore, the PWD Director informed this news agency that based on his team’s calculations and modelling, the pipes installed for Phase three “are inadequate to accommodate the flow of water”.
In January of this year, the then Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Omar Hodge had stated that phase three of the project included raising approximately 12 inches of the road from its current level to accommodate the installation of drainage pipes in an effort to alleviate the surface water that collects and runs on the main road during heavy rainfall.
PWD’s agendaThe PWD head disclosed that his department has a workable design that will be fine-tuned in the coming week.
“Now we have full project management, we have started to study the flow in the area [of water] coming from the water shed, and we have come up with a channel that would take the amount to flow,” Dr. Glasgow told VINO.
He further stated that his survey engineering team will have to ascertain the structure that has been built so far, and to get exact on-site characteristics.
“They will do the modelling of the area and use studies of the pasts...we will use all that information so whatever is constructed can accommodate Phases one and two,” the director added.
Less than 150K spent on Phase threeHon. Vanterpool told VINO that fortunately the expenditure so far for phase three is less than $150,000.
“Therefore we believe we can do corrective measures and do it properly,” he stressed.
Cognizant of the fact that it would be an inconvenience for residents living in the area, the Works Minister said he has already instructed to have the road fixed until the project resumes.
“I am hoping before Christmas that it will be accessible for motorists,” the Minister stated.
And when asked how much the project will cost now, Hon. Vanterpool replied, “That figure will be known when the Public Works Department submits its proposal.”
Residents pleased with decisionAt least four residents this news agency spoke with gsve the Minister high praises for stopping the project.
“It’s about time,” one business owner declared. “From all observations you could have seen that the way Omar [Hodge] wanted to get it done would have been a disaster.”
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that she wished there was a law to hold the former Government official accountable for the “major screw up”.“If only he had listened,” she added.
It is the opinion of many that Hodge, the former Minister for Natural Resources and Labour and 6th district representative, lost the district over the ghut.
History of the ghutThe Johnson/Purcell Ghut Development Project was implemented to improve drainage, prevent flooding and ease traffic congestion in the Johnson’s Ghut and Purcell Estate areas. Its execution has been implemented in various phases since its inception in 2008.
Phase one consisted of the encasement and covering of the Ghut from Brewley’s Superette to the area across from upper Johnson’s Ghut with reinforced concrete.
The covered ghut provided additional space needed to execute phase two, which consisted of the road widening to accommodate two lanes of traffic, the re-fencing of private property affected during phase one of the works and sidewalk development from upper Johnson’s Ghut to the vicinity of Brewley’s Superette.
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