Gridlock over Beetham water works

Unexpected delays in the completion of water main works along the St Ann’s River, Sea Lots, caused massive traffic gridlock for commuters leaving Port-of-Spain yesterday. The project involved relocating a 36-inch transmission main along the Beetham Highway. The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), in a release sent yesterday afternoon, said the work was expected to be completed by midnight on Sunday but took longer than expected and was only finished almost nine hours later. 

“The workers encountered complications during the project causing it to be delayed,” WASA’s head of corporate communications Ellen Lewis said. One of the issues Lewis identified was a National Gas Company (NGC) pipeline which runs alongside the water main. She said the water supply to several communities in and around Port-of-Spain was partially restored by 1 pm yesterday and was expected to be fully back to normal by 6 pm.

The affected areas were downtown Port-of-Spain, Woodbrook, Cascade, St James, St Ann’s, Cocorite, Belmont, Gonzales, Laventille, Morvant, Barataria and Aranguez. The unusual traffic congestion began shortly after midday and did not subside until late yesterday evening.  (DA)