Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:13 hours 26 min ago
Distress in north-east...
Chaos as Balandra bridge collapses
Published: 23 Aug 2009
People cross on the crane which caused the collapse of the Balandra bridge, yesterday. Photo: Andre Alexander
Balandra bridge has collapsed, causing distress to nine communities along Trinidad’s north-east coast. The bridge—which provides access to areas such as Toco, Rampanalgas and far-flung Matelot—collapsed around 12.45 pm yesterday. Terry Rondon, councillor for the area, said the old bridge collapsed and the crane which was being driven on it fell into the river. The crane was being operated on the new bridge nearby. No one was injured, however residents and visitors were forced to abandon their vehicles on either side of the bridge and make the trek in mud, along loose, wooden planks used as a makeshift bridge.
Most of them wore forlorn expressions as they expressed concerns about the security of their vehicles. Last August, the Caroni Bailey bridge collapsed, causing the death of one man and injuring others. Yesterday mothers wrapped their children in their arms and walked cautiously over the makeshift bridge in the rain. Sookdeo Narine, of Curepe, and Nigel Umaid, of Chaguanas, were on an excursion in Toco with 13 other people. They all crossed over the broken bridge with no more than the clothes on their backs, complaining that they had to call for transportation.
“What about our unattended vehicles?” Narine asked.
Young men from the area came out to assist the women, especially the elderly, who experienced difficulty making their way across the makeshift bridge. Those who were on the beaches and bathing in the rivers cut short their activities on hearing the news, but still found themselves stranded at the broken bridge. Both Indra Sinanan Ojah-Maharaj, MP for Toco/Sangre Grande, and Rondon were working feverishly to get people to their homes. Around 3 pm, Rondon said he was told that engineers were on their way with a Bailey bridge. However, at 6.20 pm, the bridge had not yet arrived. Maxis were on either side of the road, waiting to shuttle people to their homes.
I would like to personally
I would like to personally praise Blah-Blah Colm Imbert for this excellent job!!! The photo speaks for itself on why this man is in the position he is in..
But on the flip side an unemployed bridge beaver has won the tender to guard the make shift bridge until repairs are done. This is the government's first step to ensure all woodland creatures find a place in society..
Expect the press release later today...
Should the Government of T&T
Should the Government of T&T consider stopping the PTSC tv ad, seeing as now might just be the wrong time?
Its a lovely ad but with this bridge being mashed up, incessant rains and flooding it just seen to be a waste of money.
I'd like to suggest that it be used by the Tourism Ministry to advertise us abroad.
Ah well!! Were there any
Ah well!! Were there any safety checks done on this bridge recently? Was there a maximum weight warning sign posted on this bridge and was it ignored? Instead of spending hundreds of millions on luxury helicopters,maybe some could be spent on new bridges, road improvements, flood prevention measures, better health care facilities,efective anti-crime measures etc, etc. Apart from the commuter chaos, interruption in the flow of goods & services & psychological trauma for those affected, the picture shows what looks like a broken water main. Assuming that water used to flow through it, many would be deprived of this basic essential. Were power lines also pulled down by this incident?
I agree with the comment
I agree with the comment above which refers to the safe maximum weight limit. Was there a sign posted on the bridge with regards to this limit? If there was and the bridge still fell with a weight under the supposed max limit, who is responsible? If the weight of the crane was above the maximum limit, who is responsible? Accountability is what we need in this country. Thank god no one was hurt. At the same time, the Ministry of Works should set things in place to minimize the possibility of a similar incident happening again.
Rudy Chato Paul, Sr. To the
Rudy Chato Paul, Sr.
To the man with the Napoleon complex, Im butt. I am going to say this: If one cannot say anything good....
Ah guess they 'doing the best they can.' That, ladies and gentlemen, is their best (again). Many more will collapse. As stated elsewhere, that collapse is symbolic of the collapse of the government. The make shift bridge (Bailey) is also symbolic of the make shift projects (CEPEP, Helos, Summits, Jets, Cuban Docs,et. al.) to look like something is really happening; an illusion. I can't wait for the bailey in macoya to collapse. Perhaps we can then bring in a bailey government. HA.
SO TRUE SIR. But it seems to
SO TRUE SIR.
But it seems to that Vision 2020 was casted in concrete for only certain parts of Port of Spain.
If my memory serves me
If my memory serves me correctly a ministry in the government had stated they were going to inspect all the bridges in the country after an incident with the bridge on the Mosquito Creek. Also in this country we must not only focus on the consequences of accidents such as the who,what,where,but also on why (root causes). There could have been fatalities as on the Mosquito Creek so let us not be casual of this accident because there was no fatalities.
In this country priority in Safety and Health is given to the industries and manufacturing sector, there is a lack of creditable concern for public safety and health. Safety,Health and Environment laws/regulations must be included in the new Local Government Legislations to protect citizens from at risks acts in public,their neighbours, public service companies, from incompetent contractors and the like.
Like you all did not read
Like you all did not read the poll, we like it so.
Ryan4Party
that just not safe.the crane
that just not safe.the crane boom is resting on an instable piece of broken bridge.please people get of the boom!!!this part of the bridge could easily collaspe, and then more pain and troubles.so to anyone out there who could talk to these people,that would be rigth on.