Hundreds caught in Chaguanas traffic as Factory Road bridge begins to collapse

Hundreds of drivers were stuck in near-gridlock traffic in Chaguanas on Friday as authorities closed the bridge on Factory Road over the Caparo River as it began to collapse.

Large cracks formed on either end of the bridge on August 1, leading the Chaguanas Borough Corporation to close it to the public. By August 2, the bridge had separated from the road, dropping over a foot below where it once stood.

The route was popular for those hoping to enter the Chaguanas Main Road from the Perseverance Road or from the Southern Main Road. With the bridge impassable, drivers had to go onto the Southern Main Road, head north and turn onto Ramsaran Street.

The resulting detour led to near-gridlock traffic on surrounding roads including the Southern Main Road, reaching as far back as St Mary’s Junction, Freeport.

One driver, who identified herself as Sabita, said she had visited Mid Centre Mall to use the ATM, but: “Now it’s a horror story.

“If I had known it was like this I would have stayed home.”

Another driver, who said his name was Palo, said if the bridge were open there would not be as much traffic.

Visiting the site on Friday, Chaguanas deputy mayor Melissa Jadoonanan described the traffic as insufferable, as it took her over an hour to reach the site – a drive that would normally take her 15 minutes.

She said responsibility for the bridge lay with the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) but the Borough Corporation was giving support.

“We are doing just what we can do. We have lent our DMU units (disaster management units), our municipal police and whatever support roles we can play in this. But...this calls for the Ministry of Works’ swift intervention.”

Commenting on the traffic, Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram said there were concerns about the public being able to access critical services such as the health centre, and the impact on businesses.

But apart from the inconvenience, he said the collapsing structure poses other public risks. For instance, he said there was a 12-inch water main running across it which could leave the community without a supply if it is compromised by the falling bridge.

Additionally, he said, if it falls into the Caparo River, it could exacerbate flooding in the area.

“This is a critical situation. This is an emergency. I do not think there should be any delay in the response to what has occurred here.”

By midday on Friday Water and Sewerage Authority workers were seen cutting the water main to relocate it. MOWT teams were also on site assessing the situation.

Newsday was unable to reach Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan for comment, but Ratiram said they had a conversation earlier that morning and the minister was still awaiting an assessment from technical teams.

The MP believes the situation could have been avoided if proper preventative maintenance had been done.

“As you can see, the side walls, the foundation of this bridge, has been eroded by the water from the Caparo River. You could see the foundation. Behind the concrete, all the dirt has been removed by the flow of water, resulting in the cracking of the foundation, the failure of the foundation, causing the entire bridge to collapse.

“It is the same situation that has happened to the Roopsingh Road Bridge, it is the same situation that has happened to Randy Carter Bridge in Bridal Road as well.”

He said the MOWT teams were discussinginstalling a Bailey bridge as a temporary relief measure. While he welcomed it, he said it should not be treated as the ultimate solution.

“What we see happening in this country is temporary relief turn out to be a permanent fixture, and a quick fix that tends to be permanent.”