Palisadoes in jeopardy - Huge cost overruns threaten completion schedule
Published:Sunday | April 3, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Truckers and quarry operators working on the elaborate four-lane Palisadoes strip leading to the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston appear to be on a collision course with the major contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company, that is threatening to throw the construction schedule out of kilter.
Concerns are mounting that overruns from the delays could drive up the cost to more than US$100 million for the project that was initially paraded as a US$65-million development. It comprises a two-lane roadway with two soft shoulders as is required by the National Works Agency's arterial road design.
There are also fears that the hurricane season, which starts in two months, could be another devastating factor if the programme continues to be hampered.
Minister of Transport and Works Mike Henry insists, however, that it is full speed ahead for his ambitious Palisadoes programme that has attracted some criticism. He conceds that the process has been "slightly delayed", but expresses confidence that the obstacles threatening to derail the programme will be cleared.
The minister has also dismissed claims that his ministry has blamed the delays on "non-performance" by the contractor.
"No, it's not unless you factor in the fact there was a delay in the availability of funds from the national Budget," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
He added: "The funds from the Budget (under the IMF arrangements) should have been disbursed in June or July 2010, but were not made available until November," argued Henry.
The minister broke ground for the Palisadoes Shoreline Rehabilitation and Protection Project on August 20 last year.
The project is being undertaken by China Harbour through a loan from the China ExIm Bank, and is scheduled for completion within 18 months.
The work will include construction of 2.65 kilometres of rock revetments along the shoreline, on the side of the Caribbean Sea, and 3.6 kilometres on the harbour side, from Harbour View to the vicinity of Gunboat Beach.
Henry also dismissed claims that the delays were as long as three months. "It can't be more than four weeks," he countered. "Whatever time frame (delays) in the contract will be made up."
He said he was fully aware of the issues and problems that would have to be addressed.
"I have had meetings this (last) week with the National Works Agency, the contractor, and their subcontractor," he added.
Henry predicted that the thorny issues should be resolved and obstacles cleared by the end of April.
"By month-end, we will be able to resolve the issues and catch up with the delays," promised Henry. "I am not worried about the hurricane season, or the revetment being done in time for the hurricane season," he asserted.
The original work programme showed that the revetment was scheduled to be completed by June 2010.
Henry said China Harbour signalled to him in "frequent meetings" that they were on top of things. "They are moving to resolve the problems with the truckers," the minister asserted.
Henry suggested that a major aspect in resolving the problem is bringing on additional trucks to haul boulders.
The transport minister blamed some of the delays on the inadequacy of trucks to transport boulders from St Thomas to the Palisadoes site.
"This matter is being addressed as we speak," he said. "The closure of some of the roads has not helped," Henry said.
The minister said the necessary installation of weight-enforcement regulations has helped to create additional delays.