Emergency works to repair a collapsed section of the Leguan Stelling commenced yesterday morning and the contractor is aiming to complete the rehabilitation to reopen the facility to the public by Friday, General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Marcelene Merchant said yesterday.
Merchant told Stabroek News that the contractor, S. Maraj Contracting Services, will shift his attention from the original scope of works to execute emergency repairs.
She noted that subsequent to the completion of the works, vehicular traffic will be able to utilise the stelling once more.
On Monday afternoon, residents reported that a section of the stelling collapsed.
Meanwhile, Junior Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Jaipaul Sharma visited the stelling yesterday to assess the works.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Sharma said that he was not surprised by the collapse given the dire state of the stelling. However, he has recommended that provisions be put in place to monitor traffic management and weight restrictions in future.
“This wharf was constructed some 15 to 16 years ago. You can see the force of the tide and in addition to that the deteriorated condition of the beams and piles caused by the salt water and barnacles. These conditions were overwhelmed when a canter that was overladen with paddy traversed the section. It actually drove on the side that was the weakest and that caused the collapse. In collapsing, it broke a number of the beams, as a matter of fact all of the beams were broken…,” Sharma was quoted as saying.
Sharma noted that as a result of the collapse the contractor was forced to neglect his works and focus on the section that required immediate attention.
“We had initially said we were going to open up two grids, so if you notice there, those three rows of piles is the grid and two grids [are] going to be six piles. The extent of the damage is even wider than we thought so we are now going to open the deckings to have access to the two other grids,” the minister said.
The statement added that the contractor was hoping to wrap up works on that section of the stelling by Thursday to resume operations but after removing the deck the damage observed was beyond what was expected.
During the visit, Sharma requested that a thorough rehabilitation be done to ensure that when traffic reopens the stelling is able to withstand the weight.
Additionally, the ministry said 156 timber piles will be driven and a special concrete mould will be placed to guard against damage from the tides and waves.
Residents who took to Facebook to vent after the collapse on Monday noted that businesspersons would be the most affected as they utilise the stelling for the transport goods on and off the island.
One person expressed concern that if the stelling is not fixed, it would be difficult to transport fuel to the power plant on the island, resulting in power outages.
Just last week, a section of the stelling collapsed, resulting in residents calling on authorities to look at the situation.
Earlier this year also, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was forced to mobilise for emergency repair works after piles from the stelling’s low ramp broke, resulting in it being inaccessible to passengers.
The long planned rehabilitation works, which are being carried at a cost of $413.2 million, commenced last Friday with the contractor beginning a pile driving exercise.
Residents of the island have complained bitterly and called on authorities to fix the stelling, which they had described as a “death trap.”
Numerous piles supporting the boardwalk of the stelling were rotting and almost falling off and other parts were in a deplorable condition.
The contract for the rehabilitation of the stelling was awarded in September last year, two months after bids were opened.
