Hole patching programme kicks into high gear

TEAMS from the Ministry of Transport and Works were out in their numbers yesterday continuing its Pothole Patching programme.

 

The media caught up with Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashely and other senior technical officials in Goodland St. Michael where he revealed that $1 million has been earmarked for the patching programme and an additional $4 million for its Mill and Pave programme which includes longer stretches of road.

 

This he explained, started with Thorpes in St. James, White Park Road, Ocean City, St. Catherines. He said work will also move into St. John, Lower Greys and the stretch along Ball’s Christ Church as well as areas along the highway.

 

Minster Lashley noted that the patching programme started back in November because of heavy rainfall but had to be put on pause because the contractor from which the MTW sources its hot asphalt mix went on vacation and returned this week. 

 

He said Ministry officials met with staff from various depots yesterday morning so that they can fully understand the way forward. He noted that a new approach will include wider use of machinery.

 

In addition to the work being carried out in Fairfield and Goodland, he revealed that private contractor C O Williams was also carrying out work in Porters and Seaview.

 

“We have had a lot of potholes already years ago, it’s nothing new, but we are responsible for the highways and we will do what we are required to do.”

 

He said if all goes according to plan the work should be completed in six weeks.“I want to assure the Barbadian public – It will be fixed. I have built a number of houses, I don’t see why I cannot repair potholes,” he said.

 

While the officials were on site, they pointed to one of the challenges facing some of the island’s roads. Domestic water coming from surrounding homes, has in some instances skipped the concrete curb, some of which have been broken because of other work carried out and made its way onto the road, seeping under the asphalt and creating potholes, some filled with murky water.

 

Workmen could be seen digging up the wet asphalt, before the repaving could be started.

 

Officials assured that the concrete curbs will be replaced after the repaving was complete, noting that greater collaboration will be needed with other agencies that dig up the roads. While not apportioning blame, he said residents would be encouraged to be more cautious about their domestic water disposal and the impact it was having on the roads.

 

Winston Herbert section leader St. Philip Depot who has four decades of experience in the Ministry explained that there are some instances when a simple patch and go would work for potholes, but there are other considerations including tell-tale “crocodile cracks” in the road as well as the size of the problem area, that a simple fill-in would be pointless. (JH)