EROSION of culverts caused by onset of the current rainy season with its concomitant flash flooding has caused sections of the vital Linden/Lethem Road to collapse, resulting in considerable traffic buildup.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI), upon learning of this situation, immediately dispatched a team of engineers to address the collapse and bring relief to commuters. Those engineers are presently creating temporary bypasses, especially at Miles 1 and 12 of the road from Annai heading towards Lethem, where the greatest collapses have occurred.

Newly appointed Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, has requested engineers to carry out a full assessment of the affected areas to determine permanent procedures that would prevent any recurrence of road collapse in the future.

“A team of engineers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was immediately dispatched to assess the area and to formulate corrective short- and long-term measures to remedy the situation”, the ministry stated.

Naeem Mohamed, the MPI Hinterland Engineer, has said six 3”x12” planks have been placed at the eroded section at Mile 1, making it traversable for light motor vehicles; and that V. Dalip Enterprise is currently constructing a bypass culvert at Mile 12 to facilitate vehicles carrying loads not exceeding five tonnes. That bypass/culvert is scheduled to be completed by May 23, 2015.

Mr. Mohamed explained that the erosion occurred as a result of the high-intensity torrential rainfall experienced over the past few weeks. It must be noted that this area was experiencing a drought during the period August 2014 to end of April 2015.