Works on crumbling Mahaica sea defence to be completed in two weeks

Georgetown: Work on the undermining sea defence is currently underway at Mosquito Hall/Lancaster, Mahaica and is 80 per cent complete.

The ministry noted that the contractor – M&B Construction – hired to rehabilitate a section of the earthen embankment and slope has begun stockpiling materials that include rocks and clay to begin capping the undermined area. It is expected that within another two weeks, work in that area will be completed.

According to the ministry, as was reported previously, two major contracts involving the rehabilitation of concrete river defences at Mosquito Hall/Lancaster were executed during the period 2011 to 2012. These works addressed problematic sections of sea defences which were undermined and frequently overtopped during spring tides.

In addition to concrete works, a total of 700 metres of eroded earthen embankment was rehabilitated and adjacent façade drains constructed for the storage and conveyance of overtopping discharge in order to reinforce the flood defence system.

These works commenced during December 2013. The ministry’s Force Account Unit will be engaged in the execution of maintenance works in the area.

According to the ministry, the Mahaica area was recently included in a list of vulnerable coastal/ riverine communities specifically mentioned in its monthly spring tide advisory published in the local print media.

There were no reports of flooding at the Mosquito Hall/Lancaster area during the recent spring tides period.