After months battling equipment shortages, the recent arrival of brand new gear worth more than CI$1 million is helping the National Roads Authority to return to normal, says a government press release.
Two mobile office trailers were included in the shipment, affording NRA staff the luxury of a clean and dust free workplace for the first time since Hurricane Ivan.
‘The arrival of new trucks, heavy duty equipment, and the office trailers has been a tremendous boost to staff morale. We are finally approaching some semblance of normalcy and have a place we can call home,’ said NRA Director Colford Scott.
The authority had been established for just two months when Hurricane Ivan hit, damaging 50 per cent of its vehicles and equipment and destroying its offices. The hurricane also caused damage to at least 39 sections of the island-wide road network, cutting off some districts completely, with East End’s roads sustaining the most damage following a strong storm surge. South Sound Road also suffered severe wash out and the rupture of underlying utilities, the release said.
All eight signalized intersections sustained some damage and Hurricane Ivan impacted more than 500 vertical drain well systems, placing a tremendous maintenance burden on the NRA. The total emergency road repair and cleanup came close to CI$15 million, with road damage alone set at approximately CI$10 million.
Even with these odds stacked against them, the employees of the NRA rose to the challenge. Within a day and a half of the storm, staff, assisted by private sector colleagues, had made all public roads accessible for emergency vehicles.
‘I am extremely proud of my staff,’ said Mr. Scott. ‘Despite many of them suffering great personal losses, they continued to work with limited resources. Two days after the storm everyone was back at work.’
Although the NRA has managed to complete all Ivan-related repairs, and has started work on the new Hyatt roundabout, the equipment situation had bordered on critical, explained Mr Scott. ‘It was therefore heartening when the authority managed, with the help of our Minister, Permanent Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, to secure supplementary funding for much needed equipment.’
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