General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Marcelene Merchant yesterday announced the reopening of the Leguan Stelling, following its closure on Monday to facilitate emergency repairs.
A section of the stelling collapsed on Monday afternoon and emergency works commenced on Tuesday morning.
Speaking to Stabroek News via phone yesterday, Merchant explained that the stelling is back in operation and boats have been docking since noon.
She also noted that the contractor, S. Maraj Contracting Service, has returned to executing works according to its contract.
Meanwhile, Junior Minister of Public of Infrastructure Jaipaul Sharma, in a Facebook post, said that emergency works that were carried out on the collapsed section of the stelling were completed on Thursday afternoon.
Stabroek News understands that a supporting beam and decking boards had to be replaced.
Sharma, during a visit to the stelling following the collapse, had requested that a thorough rehabilitation be done to ensure that when traffic reopens the stelling is able to withstand the usual weight.
Additionally, the ministry in a statement on Tuesday night said 156 timber piles will be driven and a special concrete mould will be placed to guard against water damage.
Another section of the stelling had recently collapsed, resulting in residents calling on authorities to look into 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 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 sections were in a deplorable condition.
