Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill yesterday acknowledged that the widening of Cemetery Road should have been completed already.
In a statement, the Minister said: “It is clear that the contractor has not done what he said he would do – and I make no apologies for saying that.” Avinash Contracting is doing the roadworks.
Edghill said: “Following a frank conversation this morning, the decision was taken that the contractor should submit a revised work programme to show that he can complete the work by the end of (this) March, which is the date he committed to. Should the work not be completed by that time, the contractor will be terminated and removed from the project site, and the Ministry of Public Works will make alternative arrangements to complete the project”.
The project has been behind schedule and on January 3rd this year, Minister in the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar visited it and urged that the works be completed as agreed.
Following a walkthrough of the project, alongside the contractor and engineers from the Ministry of Public Works, significant gaps were discovered that led to delays in the works.
A release from the ministry then said that GTT was flagged for its failure to splice its fibre cable in the project zone, which led to a delay in the civil works on the concrete bridge at the head of Princes Street.
A number of tasks were identified on January 3rd by the Ministry of Public Works to be done on the project. These included:
Princes Street to Sussex Street
-Completion of the southern bridge abutment to facilitate the diversion of traffic to the western lane that was recently completed.
-Removal of all reinforcement not in use from the work site.
-Completion of the medians and general cleaning of the work site.
-Commencement of the construction of the eastern lane from January 4, 2024. This includes a full-depth reconstruction of the shoulders.
-To facilitate the widening of the existing culverts at the Sussex Street intersection.
-Outlined various methodologies to enhance the speedy completion of this project. (Acquiring and stockpiling of materials, ways, and means to progress at various phases).
