At Thursday's post-Cabinet press conference, Works and Infrastructure Minister Suruj Rambachan blamed a long tendering process that began in April as the reason for the long delays in installing cable barriers on the Uriah Butler and Solomon Hochoy highways.The project will be finished too late for the Ramcharan family, who were annihilated when a garbage truck crossed the median and crushed their car near the Endeavour Flyover in Chaguanas.
That's only the most recent road accident to claim lives because of a continuing failure to move expeditiously to improve barrier control on the nation's highways.Dr Rambachan noted that several accidents involving vehicles crossing the median between the north and southbound lanes had been avoided since a 22-kilometre stretch of cable barriers was installed.
But the project will be measured more memorably by its failures than by its successes. It's unfortunate and perhaps a little unfair, but that's the nature of human tragedy, and it's something that everyone involved in the project and its tardy execution should consider.
According to the Works Minister, 400 vehicles have hit the cable barriers since that first stretch was installed, and more than 100 of them were prevented from crossing the median. Repairs to damage to the existing barriers from those accidents have already cost the ministry $2 million.
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