The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will continue rehabilitation works on the Barr and Sussex Street bridge located in the Albouystown community during the course of this week.
The current state of the Sussex-Barr Street bridge
This was announced by Town Clerk Royston King in a statement on Tuesday. According to King, the Sussex-Barr Street bridge has been out of operation for several months now and the Council is preparing to recommence work.
“We have organised our team. Work had started on the bridge, but had slowed. We, however, expect rehabilitation work to recommence before the week is out,” he noted.
The Town Clerk added that the bridge was expected to cost some $16 million to repair. The works entail allied drainage work that will increase the flow of water and clear the drainage system.
The Sussex Canal is the main drainage outlet for Albouystown and nearby communities.
King posited that the Council noticed that during previous clean-up campaigns that the Canal was heavily silted with a large deposit of garbage and other waste including old fridges and stoves.
The deterioration of the Barr Street bridge, he added, brought great attention to the failing outflow system. Hence, the Council is poised to repair drainage pipes and other auxiliary features to improve the community’s drainage system.
In the meantime, the Town Clerk outlined that the Alexander and South Road bridge, which was under repair has been completed. The bridge would have cost just under $3 million to repair. That bridge had deteriorated significantly and was in need of immediate repairs.
Additionally, King pointed out that he has observed that several bridges in the city are in need of repairs. “We are examining a number of bridges in the city, some of which have reached deplorable stages and urgently require work,” he stated.
He continued that many of the bridges identified are located in small communities, many in South Georgetown.
The M&CC reminds motorists and pedestrians that the Sussex-Barr Street bridge is currently impassable and encourages persons to use alternate thoroughfares. The Council also reminds citizens to observe their civic duty by paying their relevant taxes to ensure the availability of monies to properly manage and care for the city.
