Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan gave the assurance yesterday that the Manzanilla/Mayaro Road will reopen before the start of the new school term.
He said the project would cost $12 million.
The Minister, who viewed the progress of repairs to the road which was extensively damaged in last month’s severe floods, said two breaches on the roadway should be closed off within the next few days.
“Then we have to compact and fill at least the second portion of this road, definitely before January, but we still hoping to try and get it done before schools open. The aim is to try to get access before school reopens for the new school term,” he said.
Sinanan said the remedial works were temporary just to allow for connectivity and designs for the more permanent solution are being completed.
“There’s consultation between the PURE Unit, the Coastal Unit, and the Drainage Division. We have the IMA involved and we are using all the information that we have to come up with a design that will suit the area and take into consideration the new norm,” he said.
“We are hoping that once the designs are completed we should be able to go out for tender for that by probably the beginning of February because we can’t utilise this temporary road in the next rainy season. So we are trying to fast-track the permanent solution and to get it off the ground, you know before the rainy season starts in 2023.”
Sinanan said the Works Ministry is fast-tracking remedial work on alternative routes between Mayaro and Manzanilla.