BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOR many years motorists and other individuals who have to traverse the Old Road Bay area have complained about the danger of doing so, especially since the road is lined by the ocean on one side and the rocky and hilly terrain on the other side.
It is known that in the past, on a number of occasions, rocks or boulders have descended from the hillside and caused damage to vehicles travelling along the winding road.
SKNVibes understands that an individual even lost their life as a result.
The concerns were renewed when this morning (Jul. 9), following an evening of showers of rain, motorists travelled along the said road found that the hillside was ridding itself of a large quantity of dirt.
SKNVibes spoke with an individual who explained that they were driving along the same road when they realised what was taking place.
“I was petrified when I saw what was happening, because yesterday I had to dodge a rock which came down in the same area. I said I am terrified to drive there because I don’t know what to expect…and to know that this morning I saw all that dirt come down before my eyes.
“I was approaching Old Road Bay heading into Basseterre and I could have seen it from a distance.”
Over the past several months, SKNVibes had received a number of complaints indicating that rocks had fallen from the hillside and onto the road in the pathway of approaching traffic. It was reported to this publication that, thankfully, there was no injury to limb or life but damage to vehicles.
Calls were then made for the issue to be rectified.
SKNVibes made contact with Director of the Public Works Department Cromwell Williams about the Old Road Bay situation and he explained that decisions about addressing it would have to be made soon.
“I can’t say we have any immediate plans. This is something that we are mindful of and we are going to have to make some decisions pretty soon. We have begun discussing it, the way forward…We have always looked at it and looked at what possible options are there for us to attack it, but I can’t say that we have made any firm decision as to which solution we would take or the timeframe.”
He said consultations were previously had with other entities outside of the Public Works Department on what action could be taken, and the proposed options are being weighed.
“We have in the past consulted with persons outside of our own internal resource at Public Works. I would say that as soon as within the next year, but there is no commitment at this stage financial wise for major work. But in the meantime we would have to deal with this as situations arise…”
Williams advised that motorists exercise caution when using the Old Road Bay thoroughfare.
