Design for Reconstruction of Yallahs Bridge Completed

The design for the reconstruction of the 157-metre Yallahs Bridge, which was severely damaged during Hurricane Dennis in July 2005, has been completed, said Stephen Shaw, Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the National Works Agency (NWA).
He told JIS News that the design was done by the Agency’s Technical Services Department.
With the completion of the design work, Mr. Shaw said, competitive bidding should begin next month, among companies interested in constructing the structure. The aim is to begin work in September with the project to be completed in April 2008.
“We are now in the process of putting the rates together and inviting tenders. We are also expecting the delivery of parts for the bridge next month,” he informed.
State Minister for Housing, Transport Water and Works, Fenton Ferguson told JIS News in September of last year that reconstruction of the bridge was projected to cost the government some $500 million, but the figure would increase after rehabilitative work was undertaken on lands adjacent to the site to ensure the longevity of the bridge.
Mr. Ferguson said that while the Ministry was looking at a tender or turnkey approach to the rebuilding of the bridge, the tendering process was the surest means of completing the bridge within the 18-month timeline.