Re-construction of Cascade bridge-Work on target |26 December 2006
Engineers at the site told Mr Belmont, who is also the Minister for Tourism and Transport, that the now-visible parts of the bridge that will carry the beams are resting on the many more deeper structures.
He also said that way for fishermen to pass under the bridge will be reopened.
The vice-president was accompanied by the principal secretary for Transport, Gerard Lafortune, and the Member of the National Assembly for Cascade, Charles de Comarmond among other people from the Land Transport Division.
“Many people have observed that the construction seemed to be going slowly, but the piling work has taken some time. It was a delicate job to do, but now the piling work is done and the contractors are going to start the proper construction of the bridge,” Mr Belmont said.
He said this last phase will go faster with a completion date that could be as early as April, March or even before, he said.
He said that work would then start on the Roche Caiman bridge, where he said work is likely to go faster with the smaller bridge being ready by June 2007.
Both bridges were damaged by the December 2004 tsunami.
The vice-president said that the Roche Caiman bridge will also be constructed with a width that will allow it to take a dual carriageway when one is built in the future.
Mr de Comarmond commended the people of Cascade for being patient, especially in bearing the noise from hammering, as metal structures are forced into place by heavy machinery.
It was Mr de Comarmond who said he had been assured by the engineers that the bridge will be tsunami-proof.