THE OLD Alligator Church Bridge in Seaman's Valley, Portland, is to be replaced by a new Bailey bridge to facilitate easier access for residents of the upper and lower Rio Grande Valley areas of the parish.
Work will commence on March 6 and construction should be completed in eight months. The $13.3 million contract has been awarded to Mitchell's Construction Company.
The bridge will be installed as a permanent structure, decked with steel and having a length of 73 metres (80 yards).
At a meeting with the residents recently, Member of Parliament for Eastern Portland, Dr. Donald Rhodd, noted that the installation of the new bridge would enable the communities to push ahead with developmental activities.
He emphasised that the bridge was of critical importance because of the gateway it provided for a number of communities in the Rio Grande Valley, a major agricultural area of Portland.
Dr. Rhodd exhorted the contractor to make every effort to ensure that the project was completed on time and within the budget. He also encouraged the people of the area to give their full support to the project.
The Member of Parliament commended the government for taking the decision to replace the bridge.
Also addressing the residents was National Works Agency (NWA) Regional Manager, Richard McHargh, who assured them that the agency would work closely with the contractor to ensure that the work was carried out as efficiently as possible.
