Molinere land slippage first fix under Western Main Road Project

by Linda Straker

• Vehicular traffic to resume in Moliniere area mid-2022
• Western Main Road Project funded by the UK through CDB
• 5 or more contractors will implement work on Western Corridor

Vehicular traffic is expected to resume in the Moliniere area of the Western Main Road between the second and third quarter of 2022. The land slippage in that area is of urgency under the Western Main Road Project that is funded by the UK through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

“When we did our analysis, it is important that we get the slippage repaired because that will aid in the implementation of the entire corridor in a more efficient and effective manner. Meaning that you will be able to traverse the corridor once the slippage is restored,” Infrastructure Minister Norland Cox said, disclosing that his ministry is looking forward to beginning construction work in early 2022.

The Molinere land slippage occurred after Government was allocated the grant funding from the UK. As a result, Government is funding a significant amount as counterpart funding for the entire project which will see work being done on the Western Main Road from the Green Bridge area in St George’s to the St Mark Secondary School.

After the Molinere area road is repaired and enhanced, work will then continue, but not in the traditional format where one contractor is responsible. Cox said more than one contractor will be engaged to speed up the completion of work. “The remaining construction works, meaning the entire corridor all the way to St Mark’s we have been looking at it, and to expedite it, for it to complete within the time frame that we have based on the allocation of the funds, the grant funds, that work will be divided into 5 or more packages.”

“Meaning that at any one point in time we will have 5 or more different contractors implementing the work on the Western Corridor. That we believe will bring benefits in doing that, meaning that more than one contractor will be engaged and the work will move faster than if we employ only one contractor. So that is the approach we will be taking,” he elaborated.

Cox said, “We are targeting December 2023 as final completion for the entire Western Corridor inclusive of Molinere,” as he disclosed that presently his ministry is going through the prequalification process for contractors. “We have some important deadlines that we are working towards…so we are prequalifying contractors, that will be done within the next two weeks.”