JNHT signs contract for work to start on Historic Spanish Town Iron Bridge
October 07, 2008
The historic iron bridge in Spanish Town is getting a facelift at last. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 signed a contract with Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company Ltd. valued at just over J$12 million to begin repair work on the bridge. The news of the pending work was met with applause from members of the community who attended a meeting at the Greendale Basic School organized by the JNHT to discuss the project.
"You have been asking for this for years. Your parents have asked for it before you and now it is finally happening," remarked Hon. Olivia Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports as she spoke to residents. Minister Grange while endorsing the project, asked that residents give it their full co-operation.
Minister Grange noted that the development of Spanish Town and its environs is the future. She promised that if all goes right with this project then "other things will follow."
Director of Estate Management and Business Development at the JNHT, Gavern Tate, outlined the scope of work to be done in this the first phase. Mr. Tate told the group that work will include the restoration of the damage to the eastern face of the abutment wall in authentic masonry construction, the reconstruction in brickwork of the archway and the fixing of the roadway surface. He also noted that a critical component to the sustainability of the works to be undertaken by the JNHT would be the necessary river training and river bank protection by the NWA as the erosion of the river banks was obvious after the passage of Gustav.
Member of the Spanish Town Iron Bridge Foundation Mr. Stephen Hodges also endorsed the work to be done on the bridge and also requested the full co-operation of the community in the successful execution of the project. The Spanish Town Iron Bridge Foundation a group of engineers committed to the protection and restoration of the historic bridge collaborated with the JNHT in the completion of the pre-contract work on the project. This included the design of the restoration works the production of the Bills of Quantities and contract documents and overseeing the tendering and evaluation process. This collaboration will continue between the agencies as they will provide additional monitoring of the works in conjunction with the Project Supervisor Mr. Patrick Aitcheson.
Executive Director of the JNHT Laleta Davis-Mattis told the residents that construction activity will begin two weeks after the contracts have been signed. The contractors have promised a time period of three months for strengthening the bridge and making it passable for pedestrians.
Also endorsing the project were Mayor of Spanish Town Andrew Wheatley, Member of Parliament Mrs. Sharon Hay Webster, chairman of the St. Catherine Heritage Foundation Mrs. Rosemarie Green and the Iron Bridge Foundation
The historic iron-bridge was built in 1801 and is the first one of its kind in the western hemisphere. It marked the birth and maturity of the industrial revolution and therefore the value and historicity of Spanish Town in world history. In 1998 World Monument Watch, an affiliate UNESCO body listed the historic iron-bridge as one of the most threatened sites in the world.
Executive Director of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust Mrs. Laleta Davis-Mattis (left) looks on as Mayor of Spanish Town Andrew Wheatly (centre) and Member of Parliament Mrs. Sharon Hay-Webster sign as witnesses on the contract with Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company Ltd to undertake restorative work on the historic Iron Bridge in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. The bridge is over 200 years old
Mr. Earl Taylor of Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company Ltd and Executive Director of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust Mrs. Laleta Davis-Mattis (left) sign the contract to undertake restorative work on the historic Iron Bridge in Spanish Town, St. Catherine on Wednesday, October 2, 2008.
For further information contact:
Andrea Braham
922-1287-8/922-3990
