The Ministry of Public Works and Communication is reconstructing 15 metres of concrete slope at the Cornelia Ida sluice as part of its rehabilitation and sea defence programme.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release remedial works were done on this site last year after a cavity was discovered in the structure. This prevented further deterioration and collapse of the sluice.
In August the ministry started expediting reconstruction works to strengthen and improve the sluice. These works can only be done during the low tide and will be completed next month. It entails driving toe-piles, casting a concrete capping beam, grouted boulder slope and mass concrete wall. The contractor is currently working on the foundation of the slope.
Chief Sea and River Defence Officer at the ministry Agnes Dalrymple indicated that the contractor had to start from below first by driving piles and carrying out excavation works. The ministry has also constructed sea defence works at La Retraite, West Bank Demerara. The La Retraite area had been experiencing floods during the high tides and as such 300 meters of rip-rap sea defence structure was constructed at a cost of $115M. Other areas on the coast including Stewartville have been identified for construction and rehabilitation of sea defences.
