The Molinere road is expected to re-open to the public any time from now, according to Minister for Mobilisation Implementation and Transformation (MIT) Andy Williams.
Speaking to THE NEW TODAY over the weekend, the Minister said the road “is drivable now – everything is connected” and that “all they (the Contractor and work crew) are doing now is the little final touches.”
The senior government minister stated that the only reason why the two year old National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has not officially opened the road yet is due to the fact that “we have some fine tuning to do.”
The work to be completed, he said included sidewalk and the laying of a little bit of asphalt work.
Minister Williams indicated that if there is an emergency in the area an ambulance will be allowed to use the road right now.
In addition, he said anyone can park their vehicle at the entrance of the road and walk on it without any hindrance.
Asked about a specific date for the re-opening of the road for public use, Minister Williams said the government had always maintained that it will be open to the public “in the third quarter of this year.”
The Molinere land slippage started under the 2018-22 former New National Party (NNP) government of Keith Mitchell who is the Member of Parliament for the area.
After years of delay, the Congress government of Dickon Mitchell was able to kick start the project with the contractor from St Lucia with significant changes being made to the design and scope of work.
The government also had to find an additional EC$12 million to complete the project due to the fact that the former regime did not take into consideration a number of factors including the work that was needed at the top of the hill on the Mt Moritz side where there was a gravel heap.
During a sitting of Parliament earlier in the year, Dr. Keith Mitchell in his capacity as Opposition Leader submitted a number of questions to Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell on the progress of work on the Molinere project.
The Grenadian leader told Dr. Mitchell that significant changes had to be made to the original design of the project that was done under the NNP regime.
“The movement of the material at the upper slope has required the upper bank to be stabilised. This will be done via a geomembrane that will be placed on the surface that will reduce the impact of the elements, as well as provide support to the soil. To re-establish the roadway, additional piling will be done to create a stable foundation for the elevated road deck which will be supported by a reinforced concrete structure. This will negate the effects of any debris that may potentially have an impact on the proper functioning of the road after it is reopened. Also, works to stabilise the area downslope of the road will take place with a similar solution to that of the upslope,” said PM Dickon Mitchell.
The problem with the road in Molinere started in 2021 forcing the public to use the hilly Mt Moritz terrain to move along the Western corridor of the island.
The Trinidad-based Beston Consulting Limited has been performing the task of project Consultants.