Excavator in McDougal Street has destroyed the road

Dear Editor,

Even though my first emotion should be anger whilst writing this letter, it is sad to say that it has turned to pity, pity for where our country is heading when it comes to infrastructure.

For approximately 8 months now, employees of Courtney Benn Contracting Services Ltd have had a set of metal contraptions lining the parapet of McDougal Street, Kitty (a very short street between Station and Owen Streets). Upon enquiry, we were told that this company was contracted to build a
concrete drain to replace the existing one. For months the equipment stayed there, to the point where it rusted.  During that period, an employee (I presume he is a Foreman) came daily, had nothing to do all day long since there were no workers there, and a security guard came at night to keep watch over these rusting  pieces. If the government was paying the contracting service during this time, it would be a total waste of money.

Obviously the day worker and the night security had to be paid indirectly. At this point in time, I must indicate that McDougal Street is the only proper entrance/exit to Owen Street, since the other end of the street has huge holes. Vehicles which are low would incur damage whilst traversing this area.

A few weeks ago, works finally commenced.  An excavator was brought to dig the drains. Road blocks were put up to close traffic during the day.  You do not have to be a technical person to conclude that the excavator is too heavy for this narrow and weak road.  It has caused severe damage to the road which is in a deplorable state. It came to a point where the contractors stopped removing the excavator and the road is completely closed off both in the day and in the night. If it rains, the road would be extremely dangerous for motorists since it is now slanted.

I cannot believe that we have such incompetent professionals who would go ahead with a project even though it is not feasible and is costing a lot of money.  Imagine we are breaking a road to build a drain? So now when this project is over, we have no proper road to drive on; maybe we would have to resort to driving in the concrete drains?

I am appealing to the government officials and whichever authority is responsible for roads to visit the area and have a firsthand look at the damage that is being done, taking into consideration the taxpayers’ money that is being wasted, and address this situation.

I would also like to take this opportunity to appeal to the relevant authorities, on behalf of the residents of Owen Street, to fix the huge holes at the western end of this street so that we can have an alternative entrance/exit especially in the case of an emergency.

Yours faithfully,
Jennie Charran

Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Courtney Benn Contracting Services Ltd for any comment they might wish to make.