Historic Spanish Town Iron Bridge repair on target
March 12, 2009
Kingston, Jamaica
Citizens of Spanish Town will soon be able to use the historic iron bridge, a valuable link between Thompson Pen, adjoining communities and Burke Road in the old capital. Work on the Historic Spanish Town Iron Bridge is progressing well despite some work stoppage in December according to the Director of Estate Management at the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) Gavern Tate. The main scope of work is expected to be completed by the end of March.
So far the restoration of the Eastern face of the abutment wall in authentic masonry, as well as the reconstruction of the main support archway have been completed. The interior 'skin' of the abutment walls is now being reinforced with more stone work prior to the infilling and compacting of the cavity upon which the roadway will be built. The fixing of the roadway surface will be the final facet of the project which began in October last year.
Several members of the community have been working on the project alongside the contractor. The JNHT also trained four persons employed to the project, sending them on a specialized course where they learnt to mix and apply lime mortar, a key ingredient used in the restoration. This has placed them in a better stead to work on future projects of this nature.
On October 1, 2008 the JNHT 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 Trust is working in collaboration with the Spanish Town Iron Bridge Foundation, a non-government organisation, established in 1996 towards preserving the bridge and enhancing the environment around it.
The bridge was declared a National Monument by the JNHT and was at one time placed on the UNESCO list of endangered world sites. It was designed by British Engineer Thomas Wilson, cast in 1801 and shipped to Jamaica in prefabricated parts which were assembled and mounted on its stone abutments in 1802.
