Works Minister pledges repairs after Beef Island Bridge inspection
One of the concrete pillars supporting the Beef Island bridge . (Photo provided.)
Following a recent site visit to the Beef Island Bridge, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said the ministry will be performing remedial works on sections of the ageing structure.
The engineers recommended minor remedial work and continued annual inspections, according to a Facebook post from Rymer after a recent inspection. They reported that the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge was in fairly good condition considering its age, which they put at 30 years.
During the inspection, a Systems Engineering representative identified deteriorated concrete and steel requiring replacement. He explained that the outer concrete protected the steel reinforcement from rusting but said the affected concrete no longer provided that protection.
He also recommended welding in new steel where too much had been lost and checking the other areas because they were the same age.
Rymer said the visit followed news reports and concerns about the bridge’s structure.
“We’ll be doing some remedial works to get this done, get this repaired. And as you just mentioned, this is basically just to do some plastering, do some additional works, welding some steel. And it should be okay,” Rymer stated.
The bridge connects Tortola and Beef Island, where the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport is located.
The engineering representative described the deterioration as a symptom of ageing and said other areas would also require attention.
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A better use of tax payers dollars than removing sidewalks and trees on DeCastro street
The sea water from that fish net rotted the steel and concrete
“During the inspection, a Systems Engineering representative identified deteriorated concrete and steel requiring replacement. He explained that the outer concrete protected the steel reinforcement from rusting but said the affected concrete no longer provided that protection.”
That part the Systems Engineering representative’s explaination is no more than what the man on the street could have come up with. However, his idea of welding in new steel to existing rebar is certainly not good engineering practice.
We want our dock to be inspected Without any puss footing