Land slippage, failed retaining walls affect traffic in Tobago

Commuters in Tobago are being asked to note that there may be several changes to their usual traffic route as a result of land slippage and the critical failure of a retaining wall on the seaward side of Windward Road.

A statement from Tobago’s Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development (DIQUID) issued on Sunday advised motorists that the Windward Road will therefore be reduced to one-way traffic heading west from Kendal to Belle Garden from today Monday, November 7.

The statement said this arrangement is necessary to restore basic functionality to this essential roadway and is expected to be completed within short order.

Accordingly, all motorists attempting to access this area are asked to use alternative routes.

Motorists heading East are asked to traverse the route from the Seventh Day Church of God or Zion Hill Road, unto Job Street, unto Longbed Road, Belle Garden.

Larger vehicles heading East will be permitted access through Bad Rock.

As he noted the continuous issues affecting the roadways on the island, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine in a Facebook post said more permanent solutions are required.

“Some weeks ago we had to close off this road due to landslides and to do the geotechnical surveys. The truth is, at some point, we will have to close the road for a longer period to arrive at a permanent solution,” Augustine said.

“The challenge will be Job Street and the fact that whenever we reroute traffic through that street it is a traffic nightmare. All in all, we need to expect some inconvenience to have this road fixed. Another reason why we need to simultaneously fix our alternative roads,” he added.