Hello Barbados Underground:
When will we see the Impact and Environment studies as promised for the Flyovers, or will we continue to see digging up barber green to correct mistakes. This is Frankology, the highwayman. The residents of the St. Barnabas/Mount Friendship/Wildey area of the highway received a correspondence from the Public Works and Transport Project Office pertaining to pedestrian crossings. I have been consistent in my posting regarding Government wastage of taxpayer’s money in the building of these unnecessary flyovers that will never solve our massive traffic problem caused by backups leading into the city area. On Wednesday October 31, residents received in the post; a “Barbados Road Network Infrastructure Improvement Project – Pedestrian Survey”, stating that two pedestrian crossing will be situated in this section of the highway and residents must inform which type of pedestrian cross-over they prefer. This survey is dated October 26, 2007 and must be returned by November 2, 2007.
The top picture resembles a water canal and the bottom photo is actually a flyover for vehicles with a pedestrian area at the side consisting of steps leading from the top section to the lower section. The actual highway is under the bridge. These pictures are not a true representation of under or over passes. Within the letter were diagrams for over and under passes copied from some other part of the world. The underpass resembles a classic canal waiting for water to gush from one side to the other. The overpass is really a flyover with steps leading from the flyover to ground level. None of the two diagrams have provisions for the aged or for the physical challenged. What was submitted to residents is nonsense with no real solution to resident’s problems. That is why we have been asking about the Impact Assessment and Environmental Studies that should have been in the public domain prior to commencement of any work.
With that, we are calling for these studies NOW.
BU, this is what I have been complaining daily regarding this highway. How on earth that a so-call contractor without any prior experience should be given a contract to deal with a multi-million dollar contract without any tendering process and overlooking an outstanding Barbadian construction company. Everyday, we are seeing digging-up Barber-green for no apparent reason because someone seems to be engaging with the ad hoc system. A classic example is the last minute rush for residents to indicate our preference of either an underpass or an overpass. Plans for these infrastructures should have been approved before hand. However, we are just wasting our time since we are still awaiting Studies for the road widening, the Flyovers; and finally, the erection of Jersey Barriers. Another area of concern is the Bermuda Triangle. What I am seeing is the hill being minus the gradient that was mooted by a certain Project Manager. As far as I can see, we will have vehicles aquaplaning due to the movement of water on both sides of the highway. I wrote at lengths about the rationale regarding the digging up of this section and up to now, we have not heard a word from Government or the Opposition about the concerns of the Barbadian public about this $360 million dollar highway.The bottom picture shows an overpass with a provision for pedestrian which leads to street level.
Frankology
Note From David:
Barbados Underground continue to give voice to many of our commenters by publishing their views. Although a blog usually spells out the views of the blog owner, at BU we recognize that we need to play a different role in the Barbados which currently exist. Overtime a large number of Barbadians have become disillusioned at the ease with which mainstream media has elected to prostitute itself at the altar of greed and fear. One issue which has rammed home this view is the unwillingness of our journalists to report forcibly on the issue of the mismanagement of Operations Free Flow. The tendering process, general management, planning, public relations and several other aspects of the project has left many Barbadians wondering about our system of government. There has been a token voice of dissension by the Barbados Association of Engineers (BAPE) which has joined the feeble voices of the people on the several call-in shows and the blogs. The SILENCE around this issue has caused many of us to ask: Is our democracy failing the people?
We have previously advised that we are in possession of information about Operations Free Flow and will publish at the appropriate time in order to protect our sources. It might explain why we have written more than most about the mis-management which has become synonymous with the Operations Free Flow Project AKA Flyovers.
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