Engineers, sea defence officials examine collapsed revetment at Burnham Drive
Officials of the Sea and River Defence Division (SRDD) of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, along with several engineers, were recently summoned to examine the latest emergent collapse of revetment works to a section of the Burnham Drive road in Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Regional officials had expressed grave concern over the issue, which threatened a total collapse of the said road. So far, a number of studies have been conducted of the Burnham Drive road, considered the main thoroughfare at Wismar, which is also located in close proximity to the Demerara River and the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge. As such, officials had called for urgent and immediate intervention.
“The engineer is here as it relates to Burnham Drive and I don’t think we need more study. We had almost all and sundry coming and look at Burnham Drive, from the Sea Defence, everybody. So they would have done all their reports, but I’m happy that the Engineer is here.
Collapsed revetment at Burnham Drive examined by officials
The Engineer that came, he is the emergency manager. So I’m hoping, just like the highway, that they treat what is happening here as an emergency,” Regional Chairman Renis Morian stated.
The situation had also led to flooding on the opposite side of the road where numerous residents reside, whenever there is a heavy downpour. Residents there had pointed out that the collapse was a result of faulty work by the contractor.
“The guy who did the work didn’t take no advice; he didn’t listen. So, this is what ended up happening…This is the major structure at Burnham Drive, but this structure was not done properly; that’s why it collapsed. The entire Canvas City, coming down to a part of West Watooka experience flooding when the rain falls,” the resident stated.
The Burnham Drive stretch, which falls under the remit of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, is no stranger to structural faults. A section of the road had collapsed last year. Shortly after repairs were conducted to the collapsed section of the road, other structural faults were detected.
The Regional Chairman had intimated that the increase in vehicular traffic at the location and the rise in high tides were all major contributors to the situation. He said other issues have been detected in areas such as Tar Road; the Palm Tree Cinema area, where he said there is a depression about six inches deep; and Katapulli, Christiansburg.
