Government will move to stabilise the landslide-affected section of the Aux Delices road and improve the Delices to Petite Savanne route to provide residents of the Southeast with more reliable access.
Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit outlined the interventions during a visit to the area on Thursday, where he met with technical officers and residents to assess conditions following the recent landslide which temporarily blocked the road.
At the immediate landslide site, Government will pursue further excavation and removal of unstable material, with technical advice to be sought on the possible use of controlled blasting.
The Government is also examining options to create additional road width through the affected area as part of measures to improve safety while a more comprehensive solution is developed.
“The question will be what can we do that can enhance road safety while we look at a bigger project,” the Prime Minister said.
He acknowledged that the area has presented a longstanding challenge because of the terrain and the cost associated with major stabilisation works.
“Even if you build a retaining wall, you must stabilise the slope,” he explained. “And so the cost is always high.”
“It’s absolutely important that we firm up a course of action for this area and come back to you to discuss an approach to it,” he said. “We do not want to spare any effort towards enhancing the security and the thoroughfare here.”
As part of the immediate response, Government will also move to improve the Petite Savanne–Delices alternative route, providing another means of access to residents of the Southeast.
According to the Prime Minister, the bridge along the route has already been constructed, leaving road surface improvements among the main works required.
“It’s just to do the resurfacing, so I’ll give instructions to go ahead with that,” he said.
Prime Minister Skerrit said approximately EC$1 million will be made available to advance the works.
“So at least it gives greater peace of mind to the residents that if this is blocked, we can certainly use an alternative route,” he said.
Government will also undertake drainage and vegetation-clearing works along the route, with the Prime Minister identifying uncontrolled water as one of the factors contributing to deterioration of the roadway.
The Prime Minister Skerrit said local knowledge will be taken into account as Government determines the most appropriate long-term solution.
“You guys are the ones who have been using the road for decades, so you know the place better than anybody else,” he said.
