Falling rocks a threat in Bog Walk gorge

Paul H. Williams, Gleaner Writer

BOG WALK, St Catherine:

THE SCENIC Bog Walk gorge can be a dangerous place especially when the Rio Cobre that runs through it is in spate. But, this illustrious river is not the only thing that puts vehicular and pedestrian traffic in clear and present danger. Beware of fallen rocks, some of which travel with great velocity from way above.

Any user is at risk of being hit or killed. Donald White and his wife had a narrow escape, recently.

On Tuesday, April 26, White, from the parish of St Catherine, was driving to Kingston, as he does almost daily. Upon reaching a certain spot, in the gorge, something jolted his Nissan AD Wagon. The impact was accompanied by a loud noise. He and his wife were stunned as the car shook. "Mi feel like mi wen a goh dead. All the woman, she frighten, she frighten," White told The Gleaner.

When they alighted, they saw that it was a big rock from the hillside. It left an impression on the car's left backdoor. His shock turned to anger, because he knew he had no money to repair the damage. He spoke with a police officer who told him it was an act of God. Now, from his own pocket or from his insurance he will have to raise the funds. He also told the story of another vehicle, a Honda, that was affected recently. The driver drove over a fallen rock, which damaged his crankcase, causing an oil-spill.

But, while it might be difficult to control the rocks that are way above in the thickets and partially embedded in the cliffs, there is a section of loosed and partially loosed rocks that needs to be addressed. The rocks became dislodged after road upgrade a few years ago. A retaining wall was built sometime after to contain the rocks. Yet, they still are in a precarious situation, a disaster or two waiting to happen.

Photos by Paul Williams