Warner promises better road, drains as Christmas present

Jack Warner, accompanied by several officials, on Sunday cut a ribbon to formality reopen the Godineau Bridge, which had been under repairs since August last year.

The project cost about $12 million although the original estimate by the previous government was $6.8 million. However the cost did not bother the minister. His concern was the quality of the work.

The works and transport minister said the bridge will now be in good shape for at least another 34 years. "But if that increase was necessary to ensure that the job was well done, then so be it," he said.

The flow of two-way traffic on the bridge will end frustration for commuters between San Fernando and the deep south who had to endure long waits for the single carriageway that was open during the repairs.

Warner opened the bridge as part of a tour of several areas in south Trinidad that had been neglected for years. One of that areas is Gasparillo where the minister visited a collapsed bridge.

"We just came from Gasparillo where I have seen the worst roads. I saw 40 years of neglect by the PNM and it made me embarrassed down to my gut," he told reporters. 

"The people are angry because they voted us with high expectations and after months they feel we are not delivering. I can understand that. But their Christmas gift must be better roads and drains," he said.
 
Warner also spoke of the traffic experiment on the Priority Bus Route that allowed private vehicles to use the roadway during designated off-peak hours. 

He said his ministry's technical staff will have to study the results of the three-moth experiment, which ended on September 30. "And if all goes well it will be opened on January 1," he said.