Bridge collapse investigations almost complete
Staff Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Structure of the bridge after collapsing
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS-THREE weeks after the tragic collapse of a bridge at the West Basseterre Bypass Project that left one man dead and two others injured, Oaklyn Peets, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Posts, informed SKNVibes.com that investigations into the incident remain “on-going,” but the results are expected “any day now.”
The report, which is being compiled by the Public Works Department and the project’s appointed engineering firm, Halcrow Ltd. out of St. Lucia, is expected to reveal the exact cause or causes of the accident.
“At this time, the Public Works Department cannot make a definitive statement about cause of the incident, but we will continue to do all we can and be as transparent as possible during this process,” said Peets.
The Permanent Secretary stated that the collapse was being taken very seriously by Public Works and should also be seen by the construction industry “as wake-up call” and “lesson to contractors that all precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of their workers”.
SKNVibes.com was also told that Professional Technologies (Anguilla) will likely continue as the contracted firm for the site once work continues. ~~Adz:Right~~
While construction on the West Basseterre Bypass Project was initially slated to be completed in August of 2008, the unfortunate accident has already caused more than a three-week delay however Peets gave no specific extension dates for when the project would resume.
On May 14th, Allick Toney, a native of St. Vincent and the Grenadines was killed when he fell approximately twenty-five feet after concrete that was being poured to form the bridge caused supports on the structure to give way.
Also critically injured in the accident were Mortland Watterton and Ian ‘Shatta’ Warde, both of Guyana. All three men were employees of WIN Aggregate Ltd.
