NWA Moves to Protect the Shoreline in St. Thomas

Date Published: 
27 Sep 2012

The National Works Agency (NWA) has begun a new phase of its sea defence work along the Roselle main road in St. Thomas. Through this the second phase of the work, the NWA will be spending just over 200 million dollars to undertake approximately 700 metres of revetment along the coastline.

Community Relations Officer for the NWA’s North-eastern Region, Natalee Bloomfield says the current phase of work which started on Monday September 24 is being financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and will be completed by the end of March 2013.

The Roselle main road is hugged by the Caribbean Sea for approximately 1.94 kilometres. Since 2007, the Government has been giving particular focus to the area. Through the IDB the NWA in 2007 spent approximately 242 million dollars at the location. This sum targeted 1.2 kilometres of the 1.94 kilometres which had failed and in need of critical work.
Under the current phase, the NWA will be placing some 1,100m3 of secondary boulders, 7,000m3 of primary boulders and 12,000m3 of river shingle along the targeted zone.

Ms. Bloomfield explains that the materials for this major undertaking are being sourced at Yallahs in the parish. Motorists are therefore being advised to exercise caution in travelling between Roselle and Yallahs, as an increased number of heavy trucks will be traversing the corridor.

She advises that particular care should be exercised in the vicinity of the revetment works, where the heavy units have been in operation.

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