— garbage build-up caused some delays, says LINMINE general manager

Linden Mining Enterprise’s (LINMINE) General Manager, Emmet Alves, has reported that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) will be spearheading emergency rehabilitation works to the Wismar Bridge.

Alves stated that the structure was last repaired in 2005 and scheduled maintenance was hindered due to “massive and continuous pile up of garbage” close to the bridge.
“The last time we did any repairs to this bridge was in 2005, but it was not to this magnitude and, as we continue to repair, we are discovering that there are more repairs at various sections that are needed,” he noted.

Among repair works will be the replacement of the vertical supports and horizontal beams under the carriageway which are in very bad shape due to age and the vagaries of the weather.
“The two sections we recognised had to change as the vertical sector by the western side has now been completed and we are presently working on the eastern section,” Alves explained.

He added that there were several other sections of the bridge which contractors identified and are currently working on.

“We found, however, that as we move to various sections of the bridge, we have been finding various damage and [we] are working on rectifying those, but so far with the review and evaluation that we have done, we found that these repairs were emergency and, as such, had to be done immediately,” Alves said.

Given the deterioration over time and the abuse by residents who continue to dump garbage in its environment, Alves suggested that the structure could no longer bear the daily stress.

“As a result of the enormous amounts of garbage that are being thrown…by residents, it has been preventing us from doing proper inspection and maintenance to the bridge,” he said.

This prevented thorough inspection and repairs to the bridge in the past and restricted repairs to the upper section of the structure only.

“The reality is that even if you were to go there now, you would find a lot of garbage dumped there and this continues to be a major challenge for us, but we continue to work as we must complete these repairs,” he stressed.