Kingston Harbour bridge years away

Bart Chan, Gleaner Writer

Engineering consultant Dr Seshadri Srinivasen says "it may take generations" before a bridge is built across Kingston Harbour in Jamaica, linking Breezy Castle with the Norman Manley International Airport.

Srinivasen was one of many engineers who gathered for a Caribbean engineering conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston yesterday, held to inform engineers and investors on new and potential projects being organised in the region.

Cowell Lyn, a consulting engineer, presented the history, plans, and designs of the bridge, which was originally proposed back in 1972 by the London-based Srinivasen.

Lyn said there were significant benefits to be gained from building the bridge.

"It would save an eight-mile journey around the harbour," he explained. "Fuel could be transported directly to the airport through a pipeline, reducing the risk of environmental hazards."

Lyn told The Gleaner the proposed bridge, at its cheapest, would cost "between US$100 million and $120 million."

He was doubtful about when the project would be possible and said the Government had been "overspending" on the Palisades, making funds for the bridge project unavailable.

Lyn added that, before the bridge can be seriously considered, road and ship traffic surveys need to be completed. Also, "the bridge cannot be over 45 metres (148 feet) without affecting the airports runway," said Lyn.

Srinivasen informed The Gleaner that the project did not get off the ground 38 years ago because the "priorities of the project were never established".

The engineering consultant added, "the bridge would have cost around £6 million at the time". Srinivasen believes the bridge "will have to eventually come if the airport remains there" as "it would be necessary in the long term".

Transport Minister Mike Henry addressed the conference but did not speak specifically to the issue of a bridge spanning Kingston Harbour.

Bridge more beneficial

According to Lyn, while Government priorities have been in improving the Palisades, the bridge alternative would be a more beneficial investment in the long-term.

This is not the first time in recent history that plans for the bridge have won support. In 2005, president of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), Earl Richards, backed proposals for a new bridge. The AAJ chief said the addition of such infrastructure would aid time-sensitive services and provide an alternative route for power and fuel supplies.

After the conference, Henry was unavailable for comment on the bridge proposal.