Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 10, 2014 News
– Lindeners alarmed
Erosion, caused by the relentless Demerara River and compounded by poor revetment works, is now threatening to split the Katabulli bridge in half, if urgent remedial works are not undertaken to correct the damage.
This has caused residents of Christianburg and other Lindeners who are forced to traverse the Bridge, which spans the Katabulli creek at Christianburg, to become increasingly alarmed, as the erosion threatens the very core of the bridge’s foundation.
The bridge is along the main thoroughfare leading to the Christianburg cemetery. It spans the historic Katabulli Creek, which is famous for having harnessed the nearby waterwheel that supplied electricity to the old Patterson sawmill, before bauxite was discovered in the mining town.
At present, only one side of the bridge is traversable because of the huge hole, which was caused by the battering by the river, against revetment works that residents had long touted as inadequate. The hole has now extended to almost the centre of the bridge, and resident have stuck a piece of plank in it to warn motorists of impending danger.
This bridge has been a bone of contention among residents for several years, after what had started out as rehabilitation works had later resulted in the bridge’s removal from its original location, and the Katabulli creek being diverted through a man-made canal.
Both residents of the community and major stakeholders within the Town had questioned the wisdom of diverting the creek and removing the bridge from its original location.
Some G$14 million was allocated for the reconstruction of the Bridge.
The present bridge was constructed a few feet away from the old one.
In an earlier interview regarding the issue, Orin Gordon, Chairman of the IMC, was most vocal in his condemnation of the relocation of the bridge and the diversion of the creek.
“Why build a bridge a couple of feet away from an existing one, which entails breaking the road to erect the new bridge, then having to fill the cavity where the old bridge was (over the creek) then diverting the natural course of the creek to flow under the new bridge? What sense does that make?” he had questioned
The major concern was the fact that works had commenced as a rehabilitation project, but somehow had later developed into something that residents felt was totally uncalled for.
According to Gordon, diverting the Katabulli Creek from its natural course, through a man-made canal, would have posed major problems, primarily, erosion.
Gordon had further pointed out that the original concrete revetments were removed from the first bridge, which would make the new structure susceptible to erosion.
Both Gordon and former Regional Chairman, Mortimer Mingo had opined that the sustainability of the infrastructure was highly questionable, as the constant battering of water on both sides of the structure, was a recipe for disaster.
Less than a decade later, the effects of that battering is clearly visible, and residents are now calling on those in authority to rehabilitate this important piece of infrastructure, before a major catastrophe results. (Enid Joaquin)
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