Ford bridges not open for another academic year

Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Yet another school year has begun and the bridges at the fords in Queensborough and Cassia Park, St Andrew, have not been completed.

In October 2010 it was reported that the National Works Agency (NWA) would begin construction within a month. In 2011, then Minister of Transport and Works Mike Henry noted that with the inflation of construction costs and an added contingent in both contracts, there would have been a ballooning in the construction costs.

In 2005, the minister noted, engineer estimates put the Cassia Park bridge construction cost at $52.44 million, but by 2010 the cost was estimated at $183 million. The bridge at Queensborough was estimated to cost $45.52 million in 2005, that figure skyrocketing to $154 million in 2010.

The Queensborough bridge was slated for completion in April 2011, while the Cassia Park bridge's deadline was August. Both bridges had then been planned for opening last September, in time for the new academic year. The deadlines were later revised for completion before the start of the 2012/2013 academic year.

Since June of this year, it was reported that work was to resume on the construction of both bridges, after being suspended in January with the change of government. In July The Gleaner reported that work was scheduled to resume on Monday, July 16.

The National Works Agency has reported that the delays in the opening of both bridges are due to issues between the main and sub-contractors, which the agency is now working to resolve. This disagreement had also been reported in The Gleaner since early July and until a new work schedule has been provided by the contractors, a date for completion cannot be provided.

The NWA also notes that they are not anticipating any further increases in the construction costs.