THE sea defence works under way at Mosquito Hall/Lancaster, Mahaica, with staff from the Ministry’s Force Account Unit, were scheduled to be completed last evening.

Meanwhile, the contractor – M&B Construction – hired to rehabilitate a section of the earthen embankment and slope, has begun stockpiling materials [rocks and clay] to begin capping the undermined area. It is expected that within another two weeks work in that area will be completed.

As was reported previously, two major contracts involving the rehabilitation of concrete river defences at Mosquito Hall/Lancaster were executed during the period 2011 to 2012. These works addressed problematic sections of sea defences which were undermined and frequently overtopped during spring tides.
In addition to concrete works, a total of 700m of eroded earthen embankment was rehabilitated and adjacent façade drains constructed for the storage and conveyance of overtopping discharge in order to reinforce the flood defence system.
The ministry notes that major reconstruction works have also been scheduled for Mosquito Hall/Lancaster under its 2014 Capital Programme for certain critical sections. Designs are currently being finalised for projects involving the reconstruction of river defences in the area which will be advertised for public tendering during January 2014.
Furthermore, the Mahaica area was recently included in a list of vulnerable coastal/riverine communities specifically mentioned in the ministry’s monthly spring tide advisory published in the local print media.
And it must be noted that there were no reports of flooding at the Mosquito Hall/Lancaster area during the recent spring tides period.