Albouystown lauds Works Ministry for $15.9M Hogg Street bridge

The dilapidated bridge at Hogg and Sussex Streets on December 4, 2020

Residents and commuters who traverse through Albouystown, Georgetown are lauding the Ministry of Public Works for the construction of a new, $15.9million concrete bridge at Hogg and Sussex streets.

The eight-week contract which was executed by Devcon Construction, is complete and the bridge would soon be reopened to vehicular traffic.

Ms. Carol La Rose, a pensioner who hails from West Ruimveldt, told DPI that the new bridge is already making the daily commute on her bicycle much easier.

“I used to gah push the bike over the bridge, couldn’t ride like how I ride just now. So, I can ride now. I thank God for that.

Pensioner, Ms. Carol La Rose

The bridge was terribly bad and then now I could ride through it yesterday, and I come through it today. I enjoy the riding up and down,” she said.

On Hogg Street, Mr. Trevor Beepat, a mechanic of 20 years says his business relies on access to the bridge. However, over the past few months, his customers had been forced to use alternative routes to access his services due to the derelict bridge.

“For the past five months the bridge break down and I … thought he woulda do before Christmas, but he never. Now I see they start. It nice. It very good,” he said.

Mr. Beepat is also optimistic that the new bridge would reduce the traffic in the area as commuters often use Hogg Street during rush hour to avoid the traffic snarl on nearby Saffon Street.

Mechanic, Mr. Trevor Beepat

Minister Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill first indicated that steps would be taken to fix the bridge during an outreach to the area on December 4. During that site visit, he chided the Georgetown Mayor and City Council for dereliction of duty since the bridge falls within its purview.

“Monies for the fixing of this bridge should have come from the Mayor and City Council … The Mayor and the City Council are not doing their work. The people are suffering. These residents require better,”Minister Edghill had said.

The Minister then directed his officers to assemble a competent team of engineers who specialise in building bridges, to bid for the works through a restricted tendering process.

Minister Edghill is expected to commission the new bridge in approximately two weeks.