On Friday 7th February, 2020, Senator the Honourable Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport, and technical personnel from the Ministry’s Programme for Upgrading Roads Efficiency Unit visited the North Coast Road 11.5km mark Slope Stabilization Works Project to oversee its successful completion.
.jpeg.aspx?width=1000&height=750 "After-(2).jpeg")
Over a two day period of heavy rainfall in September, 2018 accelerated slope failure caused the westbound lane to collapse. A Bailey bridge was then installed within two days to bring temporary relief to villagers and commuters traversing along the North Coast Road.
.jpg.aspx?width=1000&height=486 "Before-(2).jpg")
The crib lock retaining wall system has been used on the North Coast Road approximately eighteen years ago and this therefore not new to Trinidad.
It is anticipated that the North Coast Road Slope Stabilization project will improve connectivity to the villages of Santa Cruz and Maraval to Maracas, Las Cuevas and Blanchisseuse. It also provides vehicular access to the Maracas and Las Cuevas Beaches.
The team also visited the La Fillette to Blanchisseuse Road Rehabilitation Works which is 50% Complete. North Coast Road Rehabilitation Works project, which spans 2.4km from La Fillette to Blanchisseuse, will facilitate improved access to the La Fillette Sports ground/Playground and the newly reconstructed Yara Bridge in the district of St. George East. On February 4th 2020, the PURE Division commenced cold milling of the existing asphalt within these unpaved sections with paving and ancillary works scheduled to be completed by Monday 10th February 2020.
The Ministry of Works and Transport remains committed to the rehabilitation of the roadways that facilitate improved access to citizens and tourists accessing the popular tourist sites in the north.
This project included:
* Construction of a thirty five (35) metre long crib lock retaining wall.
* Construction of a hundred and ninety four (194) metre long open box drain.
* The installation of a turf reinforcement mat to protect slopes from erosion caused by surface run-off.
* Construction of forty (40) metre long box drain.
* Construction of eighty five (85) metres of kerb and slipper.
* Installation of Jersey Barriers
Project Benefits
* This project will mitigate further damage to surrounding structures.
* Reinstatement of the roadway.
* Provides a safe and secured roadway to the Maracas Beach
* Improvement to the drainage in the area.
* More cost effective than a traditional retaining wall and a Mechanical Stabilized Earth (MSE) Wall.
Project Commencement Date: 30th July, 2019
Project Completion Date: 10th February, 2020