KSAMC cites developer for crane use - Neighbours, motorists express concern over equipment

A crane being used at a construction site along Wellington Drive in St Andrew has been lifting tension sky high as residents of the area and motorists traversing the roadway express safety concerns.

“Up to Tuesday, I drove up there and said, ‘What on earth is this? Which law could constitute this?’ a motorist told The Gleaner. ‘I was scared, and I am sure others noticed it.”

Residents who spoke to our news team also said that the crane had been causing some trepidation.

“I thought it was in the middle of the property. Where it is right now, it’s still on the property and not on the road, but when dem swing and come around, it was over my house,” one resident said.

The Gleaner was told that this was the second set of Chinese workers on the site, which is now currently been managed by ZDA Construction. Residents complain that unlike the previous workers, who were friendly and approachable, they have been unable to have dialogue with the current managers of the site.

“One of the things that hurt me, the first set of Chinese that were there, I had a good rapport with them. They came and they met me, and this place was all open because they were building the wall, and we had communication, but this set that come, if I look over there, they look away,” the resident said. “I don’t want to create a problem with it hanging over my house, but I know dem not to swing that long part like that.”

Our news team was told of a recent scare with the crane.

“It got away from them and went over that apartment (Wellington Court). It should have something to prevent it from moving when it stops (not in operation), and nobody, apparently, was in it, and it swung all the way over to that apartment with the breeze, and it had a cable hanging on it, and if these [power] lines had extended any further, it would have been major problems,” a resident said.

KEEPING WATCH

“I know about construction and I know about electricity, and I understand the implications of the wires and all of that. ... These people are here, and they doing a lot of things contrary to the law, and is that I have an issue with. The construction is taking up their entire property, and I heard they are building underground parking and the structure that I see coming up with all these columns, I am waiting to see what’s going to happen.”

Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) Town Clerk Robert Hill confirmed yesterday that there have been reports about operations of the crane at the location.

“We got reports and we responded and have cited them for the activity,” he said. “They were cited for operating a crane over moving traffic. We are now monitoring it.”

The Gleaner contacted ZDA Construction and spoke briefly with Carrie Zhang.

When asked about the issue, she declined to comment, saying that she was at lunch. Further calls went unanswered.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com