By Sue-Ann Wayow
FOR the current financial year, two major landslips are being repaired along the St Julien Road in Princes Town. It has a total of 16 landslips.
Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said historically, the road was never designed to handle large vehicles and advised that alternative routes be used by such vehicles.
Sinanan in answering an urgent question in the Senate on Tuesday extended condolences to the family members of the elderly couple Doodooman Sankar, 79, and Ramdaye Sankar, 84 who died by fire on Sunday in St Julien.
Relatives had complained that the members of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services took too long to reach the site since they had to take an alternative route due to landslips.
Opposition Senator Wade Mark asked, “Given that poor road conditions delayed first responders in the rescue of an elderly couple who perished in a fire at St. Julien Road, Princes Town, can the Minister state when access roads to the community will be improved?”
Sinanan said, “This is one of our historic roads which evolved with time and used to be a track and is located on the ridge without any major changes to its structure. It was not designed to carry any heavy axel loading and as such was not designed for the use of heavy trucks and ten-wheeler vehicles. Apart from such an evolution of this roadway, the history of this road provides evidence that the soil composition along this terrain is prone to landslips and failures.
“Over the years, the ministry has constantly conducted repairs to the roadway as a result of these challenges and has done over 40 landslips in an effort to keep this road passable. The ministry continues to be challenged by the soil movement and instability and to date there are 16 landslips.”
The minister said that as part of the ministry’s efforts to address the issue of ongoing landslips in Trinidad in this fiscal year, two of the critical landslips at St. Julien Road were being addressed.
There are two alternative routes to the St Julien Village which is maintained by the Ministry of Works and Transport. These alternative routes were in good condition and the travelling time to the community was the same, he said.
When further asked by Mark if there was a time frame for completion of roadworks in that area, Sinanan emphasised that the maintenance work was an ongoing process.
Sinanan in extending condolences to the couple’s family said, “It is very unfortunate to lose your parents this way having lost my both parents a short while ago and again the Ministry extends condolences to the family.”
