Deplorable road conditions in Debe

There was an article in the daily newspaper some time last month in which a visit was conducted within the Debe area by the Ministry of Works and Transport along with the Minister so as to relieve the traffic congestion caused by the construction of the bridge at the said intersection.

The following options were sighted:-

1) Using Suchit Trace and Debe Trace as a detour, or

2) Construction of a second Bailey bridge so as to facilitate a normal two lane flow of traffic.

The Ministry of Works and Transport, suggested the latter since Debe Trace and Suchit Trace is narrow and will need widening, etc.

As of 12/01/2006, there still exists a single Bailey bridge over the Oropouche River and as such this causes frustrating traffic at peak hours along the SS Erin Road.

Due to the traffic caused by the construction of the bridge, motorists are using Suchit Trace and Debe Trace as a detour even though it was not intended as such.

As a result of the increased flow of traffic including all trucks and articulated vehicles using this route the roadway now contains the following defects which continue to intensify:-1) Potholes, 2) Depressions, 3) Shoulder failure.

Imagine some of the depressions are almost one foot deep. There are sections of the road (400 metres) which are filled with so much depressions that the right term to describe a drive on it is undulating. Driving on the roadway is like an obstacle course with all the potholes and depressions.

The increased traffic on the Suchit Trace stretch is also a hazard for the students going to and from school (Suchit Trace Hindu School) since there is no sidewalk along the roadway except for a 20 metres stretch at the school.

Apart from the large and numerous depressions and potholes, the edges of the roadway have failed which in turn decreased the width of an already narrow road.

In light of the above mentioned, and the fact that the bridge project may be extended from a promised six-month completion date to maybe 10 or 12 months or heavens knows when, the Minister of Works and Transport needs to visit Debe Trace and Suchit Trace at a peak hour to see for himself the condition of the road.

PRAKASH SOOKRAM

Debe