More delays in Lambeau River Bridge project

THA Secretary of Infrastructure Kwesi Des Vignes on Saturday declined to comment on the status of works on the $18.6 million Lambeau River Bridge, ahead of a month-end deadline for completion of a dual carriageway and pedestrian ramps.

“We still have a few more days but I am not in a position to comment at this time,” Des Vignes said when contacted for information.

Last month, on April 24, Des Vignes said he expected the bridge to be completed at the end of May. He said while motorists were using the bridge, several aspects of the project still needed to be completed, including reinforcement of the river banks.

Work on the bridge began in February 2017 and was originally scheduled to be finished in 12 months. Des Vignes had told Newsday Tobago that in February, the contractor, Trinidad Contractors, had requested an additional two months to complete the project.

Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles also commented on the delay previously, noting that s the Tobago House of Assembly was likely to generate savings on the project.

“We have instructed the project managers to apply the terms in the contract, which means that to the extent there are additional expenses, the operator or the contractor will bear those expenses.

“We are likely to come in way below budget, which is significant because it sends the signal that we are moving to increase our levels of efficiency and are conserving or husbanding our resources in a particular way,” Charles said.

Note: An earlier version of this story identified NIPDEC as the project managers for this project. This was inaccurate and the article has been updated to reflect this change.