Some two months after the Dennis Street Project in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was scheduled to be completed, the Public Infrastructure Ministry is now looking to accelerate works to meet a deadline set for July 27.
Sophia residents blocking the incomplete Dennis Street
This decision was taken by the Ministry on Tuesday following a meeting with residents of the community, who were protesting the dust pollution caused by the incomplete works to the access road.
Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson, met with the residents on Tuesday morning as they were protesting along Dennis Street. During the meeting, residents expressed their concerns over the dust pollution in the area due to passing vehicles traversing on the crusher run currently in place on the roadway.
Following these complaints, a team from the Ministry immediately soaked the road to alleviate the effects of the dust. Minister Ferguson also committed to having the road soaked every day until the completion of the construction works.
Additionally, the residents, who included Councillors from the Sophia representative group, also indicated their willingness to have the road closed from C Field to D Field, to facilitate its construction. It was agreed that the closure of this stretch would minimise interruption and facilitate accelerated road works.
The project was initially scheduled to be completed in mid-May, following the completion of approximately 300 metres of timber revetment. However, during the deep patching and scarifying phase, it was discovered that there were extensive foundation issues, and as such the works were held back.
Also included in the construction works was the installation of steel tie-rods and “dead man” structures.
Other than the Sophia area, the Ministry will be undertaking other major infrastructural works in Pattensen and Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, as part of its Urban Areas Development Plan for 2016.
