By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Davey’s Creek Bridge project in Lowe Sound, North Andros, is expected to be completed within the next few weeks, according to North Andros MP Leonardo Lightbourne, as residents continue to await a resolution to a long-standing transportation issue.

Mr Lightbourne said he recently spoke with contractor Stephon Knowles, who assured him that the project should be completed within three weeks.

“I had the opportunity to speak to the contractor, Mr Stephon Knowles, a few weeks ago, who assured me that within three weeks, and less than a month, the project should be completed under Davey’s Creek Bridge. However, this bridge has been a long-standing issue in the settlement of Lowe Sound North Andros, and we're happy to see now that it's ongoing and it's on the way to completion,” he said yesterday outside of the Office of the Prime Minister.

The MP said the bridge is important to residents who rely on the crossing to travel to work and for other daily transportation needs.

“As far as the residents goes, we all have the same goal to see that it's completed. However, some of the locals have been engaging in the local work aspect of the bridge. Some other Bahamians have also been on the island from New Providence and various Family Islands, so it's an ongoing project, and I'm happy that the government sees that it's essential for those passages and those residents in those areas to get back and forth to work and for other means of transportation.”

The expected completion of the Davey’s Creek project comes as Andros faces renewed concerns over the condition and reliability of its bridges.

In Central Andros, the Fresh Creek Bridge was closed in August after engineers found serious structural problems, including a sunken intermediate pier that shifted weight onto other supports. Officials said three bridge slabs had also sunk by roughly nine inches, forcing the government to close the crossing and arrange temporary transportation for residents.

The Fresh Creek Bridge has been a long-standing concern for residents. In 2023, the Ministry of Works said the single-lane bridge was more than 50 years old, was in poor condition and had a 10-ton weight limit. Residents also raised concerns about its narrow width, lack of sidewalks and clearance for vessels.

The Stafford Creek Bridge has also previously been identified as an infrastructure concern. Government officials had said its condition was similar to that of the Fresh Creek Bridge, while the road approaching the Stafford Creek crossing had curves on either side that created safety concerns for motorists. Plans presented in 2023 included replacing the Stafford Creek Bridge with a new two-lane structure.