National Works Agency assures Westmoreland Bridge near Chovey/Georgia area in St. Mary is safe

The National Works Agency (NWA) has sought to assure the public that the Westmoreland Bridge near the Chovey/Georgia area in St. Mary is safe.

The reassurance follows concerns raised by Member of Parliament for St. Mary South Eastern, Christopher Brown and residents who traverse the bridge.

They fear mining activity has threatened the integrity of the structure.

When IRIE FM News visited the area yesterday, an embankment on the roadway approaching the bridge was observed to be partially collapsed.

Cracks could also be seen on the thoroughfare.

Speaking with IRIE FM News today, NWA’s Communications Manager, Stephen Shaw, said the bridge will not collapse.

Mr. Shaw said the bridge was designed to withstand any natural channel degradation.

He assured that the work being done by the NWA in the channel is to manage the situation in the vicinity of the bridge.

Meanwhile, Mr. Shaw reiterated that the mining works at the bridge are being done to remove heavy deposits of sand and silt from the area.

As it relates to the embankment, he said river training works will be conducted upstream and downstream of the bridge.