NWC accused of creating traffic hazard in Hanover

WESTERN BUREAU:

David Pryce, regional manager for the National Water Commission in Hanover, says the company will be undertaking corrective measures to address the concerns of residents of Pond Piece in Hopewell, Hanover, who are distressed about extensive excavation in several areas of the community roadways.

The frustrated residents report that several weeks ago, workers from the National Water Commission (NWC) dug up the entrance road to the community and left it unrepaired, resulting in at least three minor motor vehicle accidents as persons tried to navigate the holes.

“They say they are searching for the main that takes water from the Great River Treatment Plant through this area, so that they can direct more water up through this area to the pump that services the Bamboo, Lookout and Seaview areas,” one resident told The Gleaner. “Look at the roadway, the NWC has to dig four different areas to find the water main that they must have laid originally.”

When The Gleaner visited the area, four areas at the entrance to the community had holes left behind. Three were immediately across from the newly constructed Hopewell Police Station, and another one some 20 metres up the road.

“The dug out areas have caused the roadway at the entrance to the community to be reduced to single lane traffic, so if a vehicle is coming out of the community to enter the main road, and a vehicle is trying to turn off the main road to enter the community, everything comes to a standstill,” the resident explained.

“So far, three minor accidents have occurred at that spot because of the sudden halt in traffic flow, which the holes in the entrance road to the community have caused.”

The residents say that while they understand the need for the excavations, the job should have been completed by backfilling the holes that were created.

But Pryce told The Gleaner that he was unaware of the traffic hazard being caused by the holes, and promised that remedial work would be carried out soon.

“I will get on that (filling the holes) once we can identify a backhoe it will be done. I did not know that it had reached to that point,” added Pryce.

He confirmed that the areas were dug in search of the water main from the Great River Treatment Plant that passes through the communities, and that the pipeline was found when the last of the four holes was dug.

“We are really doing some improvement to the Seaview water lines, and we had to identify the water main. I think we should be able to cover that excavation now, because the last one we dug is where the main is located, and that is where we are going to focus most of our work,” said Pryce.