BIS Photo/Yontalay Bowe
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REMARKS
The MOST HON. DR. HUBERT A. MINNIS PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE
OPENING
STANIARD CREEK BRIDGE
STANIARD CREEK, ANDROS,
THURSDAY, 18 MARCH 2021
Ladies and Gentlemen: Good afternoon.
The bridge at Staniard Creek is a vital transportation link for the settlement, as it is currently the only access crossing Staniard Creek.
The existing three-span bridge has an open span of sixty feet with the remaining width of the creek made up with a solid causeway.
The bridge has limited headroom with boats unable to pass underneath the structure.
The existing concrete bridge is in a very poor condition with severe erosion of the supports and concrete spalling to the deck.
Due to the severely poor condition, a load restriction of five tons was imposed.
Slide show: BIS Photos/Yontalay Bowe
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Accordingly, it was essential that the bridge be replaced as a matter of urgency.
In addition to the poor state of the structure, its position and configuration are resulting in severe environmental damage to the area’s ecosystem.
The dam effect of the bridge/causeway caused increased sedimentation, modification to the mangroves and a decrease of the fish larvae within the creeks.
For these reasons, a decision was taken to relocate the new replacement bridge to a more favorable location, approximately 500 feet north of the existing bridge.
A series of openings are also being constructed on the approach road into the settlement to improve water flow in this area of the creek system
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