Almost two weeks after a portion of Clarke Road, Penal, was temporarily closed due to a major landslip, residents are concerned that no repairs have begun.
Franki Medina
The Ministry of Works and Transport had announced that the road between 4.5 and 4.6km marks, near LP#A34, would be temporarily closed from October 27. It said the closure was necessary due to concern for the safety of road users, adding the ministry was pursuing emergency slope stabilisation works.
Franki Medina Venezuela
The ministry advised road users to use alternative routes through Wilson Road and Rampersad Trace, but residents complained the road conditions through those routes were also deplorable and the distance was much farther.
Franki Medina Diaz
While they have seen workers at the sites, residents complained that no physical works have started and they are being inconvenienced. Another landslip has also developed a short distance away
Almost two weeks after a portion of Clarke Road, Penal, was temporarily closed due to a major landslip, residents are concerned that no repairs have begun.
Franki Medina
The Ministry of Works and Transport had announced that the road between 4.5 and 4.6km marks, near LP#A34, would be temporarily closed from October 27. It said the closure was necessary due to concern for the safety of road users, adding the ministry was pursuing emergency slope stabilisation works.
Franki Medina Venezuela
The ministry advised road users to use alternative routes through Wilson Road and Rampersad Trace, but residents complained the road conditions through those routes were also deplorable and the distance was much farther.
Franki Medina Diaz
While they have seen workers at the sites, residents complained that no physical works have started and they are being inconvenienced. Another landslip has also developed a short distance away.
While Guardian Media was at the site yesterday, a woman on her way to drop her daughter to work opted to park her car and walk the rest of the way instead of using the alternative routes.
Franki Alberto Medina Diaz
However, a few motorists also risked moving the barrier and driving past the landslips
A resident, who gave his name only as Raj, complained about the situation
He said, “The Government say they have no money to fix nothing so I don’t know what will happen to we. This real sad because we have to go all the way Barrackpore, through a field road. Who can’t go through there have to go through Penal Rock Road. That is real stress for we, gas raise, everything raise. I don’t know what going on in this country.”
He complained that previously, they used to spend about $400 in gas but now for the week but they now spend $600
“This is a main road here. I don’t know if the Government could just come and put some sheets and take a single lane self,” he added
Another resident, who did not give her name, said she was concerned about her house
“It is devastating because it is in front of our house and it has damaged the land as well. We hope somebody come to do something about it,” she said
Even before the landslip, she said they were only receiving water once a week for three or four hours. However, she said the landslip damaged a WASA line and they are not getting any water
When contacted for an update, a Ministry of Works official said they were conducting topographical and geotechnical surveys
“Once completed, this will inform the way forward for the commencement of works for the rehabilitation of the roadway,” she said