By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE government will spend about $400,000 repairing the condemned Fresh Creek Bridge in Andros after abandoning plans for a temporary crossing that contractors estimated would cost more than $10m.

Repairs are expected to begin on October 1 and take four to six weeks, according to Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting.

The decision marks a reversal from plans announced in August, when officials said a temporary bridge would be installed to maintain vehicular access while a permanent replacement was built.

Mr Sweeting said the temporary bridge estimate “wasn't feasible to the ministry”.

The Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs said its engineers assessed the bridge and surrounding site after its closure, examining both a temporary crossing and repairs to the existing structure.

Director of Public Works Robert Mouzas said officials initially believed the damaged bridge could not be repaired and began examining constructing a temporary crossing alongside it.

However, Mr Mouzas said officials concluded the proposal did not represent value for money because the temporary bridge would only be required for a relatively short period while a permanent replacement was built.

Further investigations subsequently produced a repair solution for the existing bridge.

Mr Mouzas said the bridge was closed because of a defect in one of its spans and that repairs would involve installing four steel tubular piles and using steel beams to jack up the bridge and support the weight of the affected span.

The work will be carried out from the water and requires a barge to be brought in from another Family Island.

Mr Mouzas said securing the barge contributed to the delay before repairs could begin and that the approach would be similar to repairs previously carried out on another section of the bridge.

He said vehicles were expected to return to the bridge once the work was completed, allowing the temporary ferry service to end, although officials would continue monitoring the structure.

The bridge was condemned after engineers discovered that an intermediate pier had sunk, shifting weight onto two external supports and causing three slabs to sink collectively by about nine inches.

Central, South Andros and Mangrove Cay MP Leon Lundy stressed the importance of restoring the crossing, which links communities in Central Andros.

“It's the economic bridge,” Mr Lundy said, “between the north central side of Andros and the south central side of Andros.”

He said the communities shared in economic activity and residents wanted normal travel arrangements restored.

“That's what we're hoping to do in the month of October,” Mr Lundy said, “bring some normalcy back and then move towards getting a final permanent bridge fixed.”

The government, meanwhile, plans to issue a request for proposals in the coming months for the engineering, design and construction of a new permanent bridge.

Mr Mouzas said preliminary plans envisage a possible crossing extending from the dock on the northern side to the creek bank on the southern side.

He said the new bridge could be built alongside the existing crossing or roughly in the same area, although the final arrangement would have to be determined with the contractor.

The permanent project would also involve removing part of the existing causeway that obstructs a section of the creek.

Mr Mouzas said the strongest current runs through the deeper water and removing the obstruction would allow water to flow more evenly across the creek.

He said the change would also benefit boats using the dock and mangroves farther west.

Mr Mouzas described part of the water as stagnant and said human alterations to the creek had contributed to the obstruction.

The ministry said further updates would be provided as repairs proceed and procurement for the permanent bridge advances.