by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service
Agreement being signed
On Monday, December 1, 2008 the Government of Dominica ensured that as of January 19, 2009, work will commence on the Fond St. Jean Sea-Defence and Roadwork Project. The Government signed contracts with Ace Engineering, a local company which will undertake the project.
The project which is expected to cost EC 2.3 million dollars (XCD$2,333,366.67) will comprise the rehabilitation of two hundred and forty (240) metres of road and the construction of approximately two hundred and ninety (290) metres of retaining wall. The carriageway will be 6.5 metres wide with slipper drains on both sides and a 1.5 metre wide sidewalk. The average height of the retaining wall will be four (4) metres.
Part of the Fond St. Jean Road
The works will span from the Fond St. Jean Bridge to the bend near the Fisheries facility at the beginning of the village.
The project was designed by the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructural Development and is expected to be completed within twenty-six (26) weeks.
Project engineer, attached to the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructural Development, Emile Lancelot, explained at Monday’s contract signing ceremony the reason behind this project.
“This project was born out of the need to minimise the rise of the village of Fond St. Jean from being cut off from neighbouring villages and the rest of Dominica by extension in the event of heavy sea action on its coastline. During recent severe weather conditions such as Hurricane Dean and Omar, the safety of this road has been greatly compromised.”
This project forms part of Government’s ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable communities along Dominica’s coastline through the construction of sea-defence walls. |
